Rhode Island 2023 Regular Session

Rhode Island Senate Bill S0825 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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5	5	2023 -- S 0825
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7	7	LC002618
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9	9	S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
10	10	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11	11	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
12	12	____________
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14	14	A N A C T
15	15	RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- REAL JOBS RHODE ISLAND ACT
16	16	Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, Pearson, Gallo, DiPalma, LaMountain, and Tikoian
17	17	Date Introduced: March 23, 2023
18	18	Referred To: Senate Labor
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21	21	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
22	22	SECTION 1. Title 28 of the General Laws entitled "LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS" 1
23	23	is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 2
24	24	CHAPTER 60 3
25	25	REAL JOBS RHODE ISLAND ACT 4
26	26	28-60-1. Short title. 5
27	27	This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Real Jobs Rhode Island Act." 6
28	28	28-60-2. Legislative purpose. 7
29	29	The purpose of the real jobs Rhode Island act is to create an industry-led system to advance 8
30	30	the skills of the state's workforce, grow the state's economy and increase sustainable employment 9
31	31	for middle class working families. 10
32	32	28-60-3. Definitions. 11
33	33	As used in this chapter the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings, 12
34	34	unless the context clearly requires otherwise: 13
35	35	(1) "Credential" means any recognized: 14
36	36	(i) Educational diploma; 15
37	37	(ii) Certificate or degree; 16
38	38	(iii) Occupational license; or 17
39	39	(iv) Apprenticeship certificate, including, but not limited to: 18
40	40	(A) Industry-recognized certification; or 19
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44	44	(B) Award for skills attainment and completion, issued by an approved training provider 1
45	45	in the state or third-party credential provider. 2
46	46	(2) "Department" means the department of labor and training. 3
47	47	(3) "High-demand occupations" means occupations that have a significant presence within 4
48	48	target industries, that are in demand by employers, and that pay or lead to payment of a family 5
49	49	sustaining wage. 6
50	50	(4) "Identifiable skill" means the attainment of a proficiency in a specific work-related 7
51	51	skill, that is likely to lead to future job advancement and improvement in an individual's hiring 8
52	52	potential. 9
53	53	(5) "Job readiness training" means: 10
54	54	(i) Training for the purpose of assisting and supporting jobseekers in overcoming 11
55	55	individual barriers to employment and developing the skills necessary to maintain employment and 12
56	56	to qualify for skills training opportunities. 13
57	57	(ii) Job readiness training includes: 14
58	58	(A) Occupational skills development; 15
59	59	(B) GED preparation; 16
60	60	(C) Literacy advancement; 17
61	61	(D) Financial stability services, including financial coaching; 18
62	62	(E) Credit counseling; 19
63	63	(F) Transportation; and 20
64	64	(G) Childcare. 21
65	65	(6) "Local board" means a local workforce investment board. 22
66	66	(7) "Real jobs Rhode Island program" means the program created under this chapter. 23
67	67	(8) "Strategic industry partnership" means collaboration that brings together a regional 24
68	68	group of employers, nonprofits, institutions of higher education, community colleges, local boards, 25
69	69	local governments, or other relevant partners to: 26
70	70	(i) Identify common workforce needs for high-demand occupations, within a target 27
71	71	industry; and 28
72	72	(ii) Develop and implement workforce solutions to meet the common workforce needs and 29
73	73	shortages, based on regional needs. 30
74	74	(9) "Target industry" means a group of employers closely linked by a common product or 31
75	75	service, workforce skills, similar technologies, supply chains, or other economic ties. 32
76	76	28-60-4. Program administration. 33
77	77	The department, in consultation with the governor's workforce board, as established by § 34
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81	81	42-102-1, shall administer the real jobs Rhode Island program. 1
82	82	28-60-5. Administrative grants. 2
83	83	(a) The department shall provide grants, on a competitive basis, for: 3
84	84	(1) An approved partnership for development of a plan consistent with the purpose of the 4
85	85	real jobs Rhode Island program; 5
86	86	(2) Workforce training programs and other qualified entities that provide industry valued 6
87	87	skills training to individuals, resulting in an industry-recognized credential or identifiable skill, 7
88	88	consistent with an approved industry partnership plan; and 8
89	89	(3) Job readiness training and skills training, resulting in an industry-recognized credential 9
90	90	or identifiable skill. 10
91	91	(b) Applications for strategic industry partnership grants shall include: 11
92	92	(1) Evidence of skills shortages within the target industry over a sustained period of time; 12
93	93	(2) A description of specific high demand occupations or sets of occupations, within the 13
94	94	target industry; and 14
95	95	(3) The specifics of training programs that would result in individuals obtaining industry-15
96	96	recognized credentials or identifiable skills, to facilitate their employment or advancement in the 16
97	97	targeted industry. 17
98	98	(c) Grants may be awarded for skills training consistent with an approved partnership plan 18
99	99	to: 19
100	100	(1) Targeted industries with identified positions and a demonstrated need for incumbent 20
101	101	worker training; 21
102	102	(2) Industries with an identified workforce shortage, that will be seeking to hire individua ls 22
103	103	to train to meet a specific skill need; 23
104	104	(3) A partnership member that can provide supportive services to qualified individua ls 24
105	105	receiving training; and 25
106	106	(4) Educational providers, consistent with the goals of the plan. 26
107	107	(d) The competitive grant process shall give priority to strategic industry partnerships, that 27
108	108	maximize the potential of the collaboration through direct financial or in-kind contributions by 28
109	109	members of the target industry. 29
110	110	(e) The supportive services provided on behalf of an individual, by a partnership member 30
111	111	may be used to pay for: 31
112	112	(1) Job readiness training; and 32
113	113	(2) Approved transportation, childcare or other approved needs of an individual to allow 33
114	114	participation in job readiness and skills training opportunities. 34
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118	118	28-60-6. Monitoring and evaluation. 1
119	119	(a) The department shall monitor all grants awarded under this chapter, to ensure 2
120	120	compliance with all applicable statutes, rules and regulations. 3
121	121	(b) The department may require all recipients of strategic industry partnership grants to: 4
122	122	(1) Demonstrate an ability to collaborate successfully with grant partners; and 5
123	123	(2) Include additional provisions in a grant proposal to ensure accountability. 6
124	124	(c) The department may revoke grant funding from a strategic industry partnership, 7
125	125	workforce training program or a partnership member if goals consistent with a grant agreement 8
126	126	approved by the department are not met. 9
127	127	28-60-7. Funding. 10
128	128	Effective in fiscal year 2024, and in each year thereafter, the real jobs Rhode Island 11
129	129	program shall be funded with fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) provided from the general fund 12
130	130	upon appropriation by the general assembly. 13
131	131	28-60-8. Annual report. 14
132	132	(a) On or before December 31 of each year, the department shall report to the governor, 15
133	133	the senate president and the speaker of the house, on the real jobs Rhode Island program. 16
134	134	(b) The report required under this section shall include: 17
135	135	(1) A description of each strategic industry partnership receiving grant funding and the 18
136	136	status of the partnership; 19
137	137	(2) The number of individuals participating in each component of the real jobs Rhode 20
138	138	Island program; and 21
139	139	(3) The number of participants that have obtained an industry-recognized credential or 22
140	140	identifiable skill, a new employment position, a title promotion and a wage increase. 23
141	141	28-60-9. Regulations. 24
142	142	The department may promulgate such regulations necessary to implement the provisions 25
143	143	of this chapter, including, but not limited to, sections of the Rhode Island administrative code 26
144	144	relevant to grant-making such as 220-RICR-30-00-10. 27
145	145	SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 28
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152	152	EXPLANATION
153	153	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
154	154	OF
155	155	A N A C T
156	156	RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- REAL JOBS RHODE ISLAND ACT
157	157	***
158	158	This act would establish a real jobs Rhode Island program, which would be an industry-1
159	159	led system to advance the skills of the state's workforce to grow the state's economy and increase 2
160	160	sustainable employment for middle-class families. The program would be administered by the 3
161	161	department of labor and training, which would provide grants to promote job skills training and 4
162	162	industry partnership from a yearly fifteen million dollar ($15,000,000) appropriation by the general 5
163	163	assembly. 6
164	164	This act would take effect upon passage. 7
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