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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5399
February Session, 2022
LCO No. 2623
Referred to Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY
Introduced by:
(PS)
AN ACT CONCERNING PROJECT LONGEVITY.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 4-68bb of the 2022 supplement to the general 1
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 2
(Effective from passage): 3
(a) For purposes of this section, "Project Longevity Initiative" means 4
a comprehensive community-based initiative that is designed to reduce 5
gun violence in the state's cities and "secretary" means the Secretary of 6
the Office of Policy and Management. 7
(b) Pursuant to the provisions of section 4-66a, the secretary shall (1) 8
provide planning and management assistance to municipal officials in 9
the city of New Haven in order to ensure the continued implementation 10
of the Project Longevity Initiative in said city and the secretary may 11
utilize state and federal funds as may be appropriated for such purpose; 12
and (2) do all things necessary to apply for and accept federal funds 13
allotted to or available to the state under any federal act or program 14
which support the continued implementation of the Project Longevity 15 Raised Bill No. 5399
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Initiative in the city of New Haven. 16
(c) The secretary, or the secretary's designee, in consultation with the 17
United States Attorney for the district of Connecticut, the Chief State's 18
Attorney, the Commissioner of Correction, the executive director of the 19
Court Support Services Division of the Judicial Branch, the mayors of 20
the cities of Hartford, Bridgeport and Waterbury, and clergy members, 21
nonprofit service providers and community leaders from the cities of 22
Hartford, Bridgeport and Waterbury, shall implement the Project 23
Longevity Initiative in the cities of Hartford, Bridgeport and Waterbury. 24
(d) Pursuant to the provisions of section 4-66a, the secretary shall (1) 25
provide planning and management assistance to municipal officials in 26
the cities of Hartford, Bridgeport and Waterbury in order to ensure 27
implementation of the Project Longevity Initiative in said cities and the 28
secretary may utilize state and federal funds as may be appropriated for 29
such purpose; and (2) do all things necessary to apply for and accept 30
federal funds allotted to or available to the state under any federal act 31
or program which will support implementation of the Project Longevity 32
Initiative in the cities of Hartford, Bridgeport and Waterbury. 33
(e) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management may accept 34
and receive on behalf of the office, subject to the provisions of section 35
4b-22, any bequest, devise or grant made to the Office of Policy and 36
Management to further the objectives of the Project Longevity Initiative 37
and may hold and use such property for the purpose specified, if any, 38
in such bequest, devise or gift. 39
[(f) The secretary, in consultation with the federal and state officials 40
described in subsection (c) of this section, shall create a plan for 41
implementation of the Project Longevity Initiative on a state-wide basis. 42
Such plan shall, at a minimum, consider how to provide clients served 43
by the Project Longevity Initiative with access to courses of instruction 44
and apprentice programs provided by, but not limited to, a college, a 45
university, a community college or the Technical Education and Career 46
System. Not later than February 1, 2022, the secretary shall submit such 47 Raised Bill No. 5399
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plan to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 48
cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security in 49
accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a.] 50
(f) The secretary, or any entity awarded funding to coordinate the 51
activities of the Project Longevity Initiative implemented in Bridgeport, 52
Hartford, New Haven or Waterbury, shall seek to maximize the 53
educational, employment and career services that are offered to clients 54
served by the Project Longevity Initiative. The Governor's Workforce 55
Council, established pursuant to section 31-3h, as amended by this act, 56
the regional workforce development board, established pursuant to 57
section 31-3k, as amended by this act, serving the applicable city, and 58
the Board of Regents for Higher Education, established pursuant to 59
section 10a-1a, shall coordinate with the secretary or such entity, as 60
appropriate, to develop strategies and ensure the delivery of 61
educational, employment and career services to Project Longevity 62
Initiative clients. The secretary or such entity, as appropriate, shall also 63
consult with (1) trade unions and other entities that may be able to assist 64
in offering employment opportunities and career pathways to Project 65
Longevity Initiative clients, and (2) private providers and the 66
Department of Motor Vehicles regarding the availability of commercial 67
driver's license training for Project Longevity Initiative clients. 68
(g) The secretary, or any entity awarded funding to coordinate the 69
activities of the Project Longevity Initiative implemented in Bridgeport, 70
Hartford, New Haven or Waterbury, shall supplement the programs 71
and services of the Project Longevity Initiative by: 72
(1) Increasing the ability to connect clients to nonprofit and public 73
agencies with a primary mission of vocational education and workforce 74
development to assist clients in developing their careers; 75
(2) Expanding the employment services provided to clients in a 76
manner that meets the needs of clients in alignment with job 77
opportunities in the state; 78 Raised Bill No. 5399
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(3) Using more effectively the job training programs operated by 79
regional workforce development boards and community providers that 80
specialize in vocational education and workforce development services 81
for people facing employment barriers because of a criminal record, 82
work history or other factors; 83
(4) Increasing client participation in the Technical Education and 84
Career System, community colleges, colleges and universities; 85
(5) Developing partnerships with the Court Support Services 86
Division of the Judicial Branch, the Department of Correction and other 87
criminal justice agencies to coordinate programs for people who may 88
become clients after release from incarceration or supervision; 89
(6) Expanding connections with social service and other community-90
based service organizations; 91
(7) Identifying business and training programs committed to hiring 92
or providing services to clients; 93
(8) Increasing coordination with the Department of Motor Vehicles to 94
increase clients' access to driver's licenses and with the Department of 95
Social Services to improve client access to other supports; 96
(9) Developing relationships with local chambers of commerce to 97
coordinate reentry services in the community and expand training and 98
employment opportunities with businesses; 99
(10) Supporting the development of short-and long-term public and 100
private investments in clients; 101
(11) Improving coordination with federal, state and local violence 102
reduction strategies and programs; 103
(12) Including providers and employers who have successfully 104
helped clients in activities that reach prospective clients; and 105
(13) Analyzing program and service delivery to ensure that programs 106 Raised Bill No. 5399
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and services are coordinated and aligned with the goals of the Project 107
Longevity Initiative. 108
Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 10a-6 of the 2022 supplement to the 109
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 110
thereof (Effective from passage): 111
(a) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall: (1) Establish 112
policies and guidelines for the Connecticut State University System, the 113
regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State 114
College; (2) develop a master plan for higher education and 115
postsecondary education at the Connecticut State University System, 116
the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State 117
College consistent with the goals identified in section 10a-11c; (3) 118
establish tuition and student fee policies for the Connecticut State 119
University System, the regional community-technical college system 120
and Charter Oak State College; (4) monitor and evaluate the 121
effectiveness and viability of the state universities, the regional 122
community-technical colleges and Charter Oak State College in 123
accordance with criteria established by the board; (5) merge or close 124
institutions within the Connecticut State University System, the regional 125
community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College in 126
accordance with criteria established by the board, provided (A) such 127
recommended merger or closing shall require a two-thirds vote of the 128
board, and (B) notice of such recommended merger or closing shall be 129
sent to the committee having cognizance over matters relating to 130
education and to the General Assembly; (6) review and approve mission 131
statements for the Connecticut State University System, the regional 132
community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College and 133
role and scope statements for the individual institutions and campuses 134
of such constituent units; (7) review and approve any recommendations 135
for the establishment of new academic programs submitted to the board 136
by the state universities within the Connecticut State University System, 137
the regional community-technical colleges and Charter Oak State 138
College, and, in consultation with the affected constituent units, provide 139 Raised Bill No. 5399
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for the initiation, consolidation or termination of academic programs; 140
(8) develop criteria to ensure acceptable quality in (A) programs at the 141
Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical 142
college system and Charter Oak State College, and (B) institutions 143
within the Connecticut State University System and the regional 144
community-technical college system and enforce standards through 145
licensing and accreditation; (9) prepare and present to the Governor and 146
General Assembly, in accordance with section 10a-8, consolidated 147
operating and capital expenditure budgets for the Connecticut State 148
University System, the regional community-technical college system 149
and Charter Oak State College developed in accordance with the 150
provisions of said section 10a-8; (10) review and make 151
recommendations on plans received from the Connecticut State 152
University System, the regional community-technical college system 153
and Charter Oak State College to implement the goals identified in 154
section 10a-11c; (11) appoint advisory committees with representatives 155
from public and independent institutions of higher education to study 156
methods and proposals for coordinating efforts of the public institutions 157
of higher education under its jurisdiction with The University of 158
Connecticut and the independent institutions of higher education to 159
implement the goals identified in section 10a-11c; (12) evaluate (A) 160
means of implementing the goals identified in section 10a-11c, and (B) 161
any recommendations made by the Planning Commission for Higher 162
Education in implementing the strategic master plan pursuant to section 163
10a-11b through alternative and nontraditional approaches such as 164
external degrees and credit by examination; (13) coordinate programs 165
and services among the Connecticut State University System, the 166
regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State 167
College; (14) assess opportunities for collaboration with The University 168
of Connecticut and the independent institutions of higher education to 169
implement the goals identified in section 10a-11c; (15) make or enter into 170
contracts, leases or other agreements in connection with its 171
responsibilities under this part, provided all acquisitions of real estate 172
by lease or otherwise shall be subject to the provisions of section 4b-23; 173
(16) be responsible for the care and maintenance of permanent records 174 Raised Bill No. 5399
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of institutions of higher education dissolved after September 1, 1969; 175
(17) prepare and present to the Governor and General Assembly 176
legislative proposals affecting the Connecticut State University System, 177
the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State 178
College; (18) develop and maintain a central higher education 179
information system and establish definitions and data requirements for 180
the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-181
technical college system and Charter Oak State College; (19) until June 182
30, 2024, report all new programs and program changes at the 183
Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical 184
college system and Charter Oak State College to the Office of Higher 185
Education; (20) coordinate with the Project Longevity Initiative, as 186
defined in section 4-68bb, as amended by this act, to develop strategies 187
and ensure the delivery of educational, employment and career services 188
to Project Longevity Initiative clients; and [(20)] (21) undertake such 189
studies and other activities as will best serve the higher educational 190
interests of the Connecticut State University System, the regional 191
community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College. 192
Sec. 3. Section 31-3h of the 2022 supplement to the general statutes is 193
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 194
passage): 195
(a) There is created, within the Office of Workforce Strategy, the 196
Governor's Workforce Council. The Governor's Workforce Council shall 197
constitute a successor council to the Connecticut Employment and 198
Training Commission in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-199
38d and 4-39. 200
(b) The duties and responsibilities of the council shall include: 201
(1) Carrying out the duties and responsibilities of a state workforce 202
board pursuant to the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 203
Act of 2014, P.L. 113-128, as amended from time to time, and such other 204
related responsibilities as the Governor may direct; 205 Raised Bill No. 5399
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(2) Supporting the implementation of the federal Workforce 206
Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, P.L. 113-128, as amended from 207
time to time; 208
(3) Making recommendations to the General Assembly concerning 209
the formula for allocation of funds received by the state under the 210
federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, P.L. 113-211
128, as amended from time to time, pursuant to the provisions of 212
sections 31-11m and 31-11s; [and] 213
(4) Convening state agencies, educational institutions, business 214
leaders and others to (A) inform state policy regarding workforce 215
development, (B) help state agencies and educational institutions align 216
with the needs of employers, and (C) help businesses understand how 217
to contribute to the state's workforce efforts; and 218
(5) Coordinating with the Project Longevity Initiative, as defined in 219
section 4-68bb, as amended by this act, to develop strategies and ensure 220
the delivery of educational, employment and career services to Project 221
Longevity Initiative clients. 222
Sec. 4. Section 31-3k of the 2022 supplement to the general statutes is 223
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 224
passage): 225
(a) There is established within the Labor Department a regional 226
workforce development board for each workforce development region 227
in the state. 228
(b) Each board, within its region, in accordance with the Connecticut 229
workforce development plan approved by the Governor and developed 230
by the Governor's Workforce Council pursuant section 31-11p, the state 231
workforce strategy approved by the Governor and developed by the 232
Chief Workforce Officer pursuant to section 4-124w, any guidance 233
issued by the Chief Workforce Officer pursuant to section 4-124w and 234
any guidance issued by the Labor Commissioner, shall: 235 Raised Bill No. 5399
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(1) (A) Assess the needs and priorities for investing in the 236
development of human resources within the region and shall coordinate 237
a broad range of employment, education, training and related services 238
that shall be focused on client-centered, lifelong learning, (B) be 239
responsive to the needs of local business, industry, the region, its 240
municipalities and its residents, and (C) be the lead agency for any local 241
workforce development initiative. 242
(2) Within existing resources and consistent with the state 243
employment and training information system (A) assess regional needs 244
and identify regional priorities for employment and training programs, 245
including, but not limited to, an assessment of the special employment 246
needs of unskilled and low-skilled unemployed persons, including 247
persons receiving state-administered general assistance or short-term 248
unemployment assistance, (B) conduct planning for regional 249
employment and training programs, (C) coordinate such programs to 250
ensure that the programs respond to the needs of labor, business and 251
industry, municipalities within the region, the region as a whole, and all 252
of its citizens, (D) serve as a clearinghouse for information on all 253
employment and training programs in the region, (E) review grant 254
proposals and plans submitted to state agencies for employment and 255
training programs that directly affect the region and inform the 256
Governor's Workforce Council and each state agency concerned of the 257
results of the review, (F) ensure the effective use of available 258
employment and training resources in the region, and (G) allocate funds 259
where applicable for program operations in the region. 260
(3) Provide information to the commissioner, Chief Workforce Officer 261
or Governor's Workforce Council that the commissioner, Chief 262
Workforce Officer or Governor's Workforce Council deems essential for 263
effective state planning. 264
(4) Carry out the duties and responsibilities of the local workforce 265
development board for purposes of the Workforce Innovation and 266
Opportunity Act. 267 Raised Bill No. 5399
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(5) Coordinate with the Project Longevity Initiative, as defined in 268
section 4-68bb, as amended by this act, to develop strategies and ensure 269
the delivery of educational, employment and career services to Project 270
Longevity Initiative clients. 271
(c) Each board shall make use of grants or contracts with appropriate 272
service providers to furnish all program services under sections 31-3j to 273
31-3r, inclusive, unless the Governor's Workforce Council concurs with 274
the board that direct provision of a service by the board is necessary to 275
assure adequate availability of the service or that a service of 276
comparable quality can be provided more economically by the board. 277
Any board seeking to provide services directly shall submit to the 278
commissioner, the Chief Workforce Officer and the Governor's 279
Workforce Council a plan of service and appropriate justification for the 280
need to provide services directly. Such plan of service shall be subject to 281
review and approval by the Governor's Workforce Council. 282
(d) On October 1, 2021, and annually thereafter, each board shall 283
submit in accordance with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 284
Act, data and comprehensive performance measures detailing the 285
results of any education, employment or job training program or 286
activity funded by moneys allocated to the board, including, but not 287
limited to, programs and activities specified in said act. The Labor 288
Commissioner and the Chief Workforce Officer may require the 289
submission of additional data and performance measures through 290
guidance jointly by said commissioner and officer. 291
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 from passage 4-68bb
Sec. 2 from passage 10a-6(a)
Sec. 3 from passage 31-3h
Sec. 4 from passage 31-3k
PS Joint Favorable Raised Bill No. 5399
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APP Joint Favorable