HLS 14RS-1569 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 1033
BY REPRESENTATIVE KLECKLEY AND SENATOR ALARIO
FUNDS/FUNDING: Provides for enactment of the Workforce and Innovation for a
Stronger Economy (WISE) Fund
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 17:3138.2, relative to public postsecondary funding to meet workforce needs;2
to establish the Workforce and Innovation for a Stronger Economy Fund; to provide3
for the dedication, deposit, use, and investment on monies in the fund; to provide for4
a statewide workforce demand and gap analysis; to provide for a Workforce and5
Innovation for a Stronger Economy Fund Strategic Planning Council as an6
independent subcommittee of the Board of Regents; to provide for reporting7
requirements; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for related matters.8
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:9
Section 1. R.S. 17:3138.2 is hereby enacted to read as follows: 10
ยง3138.2. Workforce and Innovation for a Stronger Economy Fund11
A. The "Workforce and Innovation for a Stronger Economy Fund",12
hereinafter referred to in this Section as the "fund", is hereby created within the state13
treasury as a special fund for the purpose of funding degree and certificate14
production and research productivity in high demand fields through programs offered15
by Louisiana's public higher education institutions to meet the state's current and16
future workforce needs.17
B. Monies in the fund shall be invested in the same manner as monies in the18
general fund. Interest earned on investment of monies in the fund shall be credited19 HLS 14RS-1569 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 1033
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to the fund. Unexpended and unencumbered monies in the fund at the end of the1
fiscal year shall remain in the fund.2
C. The state treasurer is directed to deposit into the fund at the beginning of3
each fiscal year no less than forty million dollars. Monies in the fund shall be4
appropriated and administered as provided in Subsections D, E, and F of this Section.5
D.(1) Monies in the fund shall be appropriated to the Board of Regents to be6
distributed and used in accordance with a statewide workforce demand and gap7
analysis to be developed as provided for in Subsections E and F of this Section.8
(2) Funding shall only be distributed by the Board of Regents upon receipt9
of certification by the management board on behalf of the receiving institution that10
a match of no less than twenty percent of the amount to be distributed has been11
guaranteed by a private non-state or non-federal entity. The certification shall detail12
the type of private match to be provided, which shall include cash, in-kind donation13
of technology, construction materials, facility modification or construction,14
internships, scholarships, sponsorship of staff or faculty, endowed faculty or tangible15
property. However, the Workforce and Innovation for a Stronger Economy Fund16
Strategic Planning (WISE) Council established pursuant to Subsection F of this17
Section may waive this Paragraph to allow donation types not herein authorized upon18
request of the system president.19
(3) The funds allocated pursuant to this Section shall be expended towards20
the degree and certificate production and research productivity targets pursuant to21
the workforce demand and gap analysis produced by the WISE Council and22
according to implementation plans which shall be created by each system president.23
E.(1) The president-chancellor of the Louisiana State University System,24
president of the Southern University System, president of the University of Louisiana25
System, president of the Community and Technical College System, and the26
commissioner of higher education in consultation with the secretary of the27
Department of Economic Development, executive director of the Louisiana28
Workforce Commission, and the chairman of the Louisiana Workforce Investment29 HLS 14RS-1569 ORIGINAL
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Council shall develop the distribution and allocation of monies in the fund in1
alignment with the statewide workforce demand and gap analysis as provided for in2
Subsection F of this Section.3
(2) A method of distribution of funds based on:4
(a) Degree and certificate production in fields required for Four and Five5
Star Jobs, or its successor, as defined by the Louisiana Workforce Commission and6
weighted by cost.7
(b) Federally funded research expenditures as defined by the National8
Science Foundation.9
F.(1) A Workforce and Innovation for a Stronger Economy Fund Strategic10
Planning Council, hereafter referred to as the "WISE Council", shall be established11
as an independent subcommittee of the Board of Regents and shall be comprised of12
the president-chancellor of Louisiana State University, the president of the Southern13
University System, the president of the University of Louisiana System, the president14
of the Community and Technical College System, the commissioner of higher15
education, the secretary of the Department of Economic Development, the executive16
director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, and the chairman of the17
Workforce Investment Council, or their successors.18
(2) The WISE Council shall review and approve a statewide workforce19
demand and gap analysis which shall be approved by the Board of Regents.20
(3) The statewide workforce and gap analysis shall include:21
(a) Statewide and regional degree and certificate production and research22
productivity targets based on an analysis of credential completion and workforce23
demand.24
(b) A prioritization of high demand degree and certificate production based25
on data provided by the Department of Economic Development and the Louisiana26
Workforce Commission.27 HLS 14RS-1569 ORIGINAL
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(4) The system presidents shall report annually to the WISE Council on1
progress towards degree and certificate and research productivity targets and2
implementation plans.3
G. The statewide workforce demand and gap analysis, including any4
revisions, distribution of funds, and implementation plans shall be posted on the5
Board of Regents' website.6
H. The WISE Council may create policies and procedures for its own7
management but may meet no less than four times per year.8
I. The Board of Regents, on behalf of postsecondary education, shall provide9
annual reporting to the Senate Committee on Education, Senate Committee on10
Finance, the House Committee on Education, and the House Committee on11
Appropriations as provided for in Subsection G of this Section.12
J. The Board of Regents shall promulgate rules developed jointly and13
collaboratively by the commissioner of higher education and the system presidents14
for the administration of the fund. Prior to final adoption, the rules shall be approved15
by the WISE Council.16
K. The fund is in addition to, and separate from, any monies appropriated or17
allocated to any postsecondary management board. Allocations from this fund shall18
not be included in the Board of Regents' funding formula calculation, nor shall it19
supplant any allocations provided to institutions through the funding formula. The20
availability of the fund shall not in any way substitute, limit, or otherwise affect the21
allocation of any funds otherwise available to those institutions under state or federal22
laws.23
Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not24
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature25
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If26
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become27
effective on the day following such approval.28 HLS 14RS-1569 ORIGINAL
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DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Kleckley HB No. 1033
Abstract: Establishes the "Workforce and Innovation for a Stronger Economy Fund" for
the funding of degree and certificate production and research productivity in high
demand fields to meet the state's current and future workforce needs.
Proposed law creates the "Workforce and Innovation for a Stronger Economy Fund,"
hereinafter referred to as the "WISE fund," within the state treasury as a special fund for the
purpose of funding degree and certificate production and research productivity in high
demand fields through programs offered by La.'s public higher education institutions to meet
the state's current and future workforce needs. Requires monies in the WISE fund to be
invested in the same manner as monies in the general fund and that interest earned on
investment of monies in the WISE fund be credited to the WISE fund.
Proposed law requires the state treasurer to deposit no less than $40 million into the WISE
fund at the beginning of each fiscal year.
Proposed law requires that monies in the WISE fund be appropriated to the Board of Regents
(board) to be distributed and used in accordance with a statewide workforce demand and gap
analysis to be developed and provided for in proposed law. Further requires that funding
only be distributed by the board upon receipt of certification by the management board on
behalf of the receiving institution that a match no less than 25% of the amount to be
distributed has been guaranteed by a private non-state or non-federal entity. Provides that
the certification shall detail the type of private match to be provided. However, the
Workforce and Innovation for a Stronger Economy Fund Strategic Planning (WISE) Council
may waive this requirement of proposed law to allow donation types not authorized by
proposed law upon request of the system president.
Proposed law requires that funds be expended towards the degree and certificate production
and research productivity targets pursuant to the workforce demand and gap analysis
produced by the WISE Council in accordance with implementation plans created by each
system president.
Proposed law requires the president-chancellor of the Louisiana State University System and
the presidents of the Southern University System, the University of Louisiana System, and
of the Community and Technical College System, and the commissioner of higher education
in consultation with the secretary of the Department of Economic Development (DED), the
executive director of the La. Workforce Commission (LWC), and the chairman of the La.
Workforce Investment Council to develop the distribution and allocation of monies in the
WISE fund in alignment with the statewide workforce demand and gap analysis.
Proposed law provides a method of distribution of funds based on:
(1)Degree and certificate production in fields required for Four and Five Star Jobs, or
its successor, as defined by the LWC and weighted by cost.
(2)Federally funded research expenditures as defined by the National Science
Foundation. HLS 14RS-1569 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 1033
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are additions.
Proposed law establishes the WISE Council comprised of the president-chancellor of the
Louisiana State University System, the president of the Southern University System, the
president of the University of Louisiana System, the president of the Community and
Technical College System, the commissioner of higher education, the secretary of DED, the
executive director of the LWC, and the chairman of the La. Workforce Investment Council.
Requires the WISE Council to review and approve a statewide workforce demand and gap
analysis which shall be approved by the board.
Proposed law requires the statewide workforce and gap analysis to include:
(1)Statewide and regional degree and certificate production and research productivity
targets based on an analysis of credential completion and workforce demand.
(2)A prioritization of high demand degree and certificate production based on data
provided by DED and the LWC.
Proposed law requires the system presidents to annually report to the WISE Council on
progress towards degree and certificate and research productivity targets and implementation
plans. Requires that the board provide annual reports to the Senate Committees on education
and finance and the House Committees on education and appropriations.
Proposed law requires that the statewide workforce demand and gap analysis, including any
revisions, distribution of funds, and implementation plans be posted on the board website.
Proposed law authorizes the WISE Council to create policies and procedures for its own
management. Requires the WISE Council to meet no less than four times per year.
Proposed law authorizes the promulgation of rules developed jointly and collaboratively by
the commissioner of higher education and the system presidents for the administration of the
fund and requires that prior to final adoption, the rules be approved by the WISE Council.
Proposed law provides that the WISE fund shall be in addition to, and separate from, any
monies appropriated or allocated to any postsecondary management board. Allocations from
the WISE fund shall not be included in the board funding formula calculation, nor shall it
supplant any allocations provided to institutions through the funding formula. Provides that
the availability of the WISE fund shall not in any way substitute, limit, or otherwise affect
the allocation of any funds otherwise available to those institutions under state or federal
laws.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 17:3138.2)