House File 2598 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC GROWTH
(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 763)
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to economic growth by creating a workforce
2 innovation for a regional economic development task force and
3 making an appropriation.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
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PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. FINDINGS. The general assembly finds that
1 2 Iowa's demographics and the projected skill level of Iowa's
1 3 workforce will result in as many as one hundred and fifty
1 4 thousand more jobs by the year 2012 than the state's workforce
1 5 can fill and that without better coordination of public and
1 6 private efforts to address this shortage, the long=term
1 7 economic health of the state is threatened.
1 8 Sec. 2. WORKFORCE INNOVATION FOR REGIONAL ECONOMIC
1 9 DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE.
1 10 1. The department of workforce development shall, in
1 11 cooperation and consultation with the department of economic
1 12 development, the department of education, the department of
1 13 management, the department of human services, and the
1 14 association of Iowa workforce partners, convene a workforce
1 15 innovation for regional economic development task force.
1 16 2. The task force shall develop a statewide workforce
1 17 innovation plan by January 1, 2009. The department of
1 18 workforce development may consult other agencies or
1 19 organizations as necessary. The task force shall submit the
1 20 plan to the general assembly and the governor by January 15,
1 21 2009.
1 22 3. The statewide workforce innovation plan shall include
1 23 all of the following:
1 24 a. Recommendations for coordinating state workforce
1 25 programs and initiatives in a more efficient and
1 26 cost=effective manner.
1 27 b. Recommendations regarding the use of comprehensive data
1 28 in integration and assessment tools for workforce development,
1 29 economic development, and education.
1 30 c. Recommendations on how to maximize participation in the
1 31 workforce by certain populations, including older Iowans,
1 32 young adults, persons with disabilities, recipients of
1 33 assistance under the family investment program pursuant to
1 34 section 239B.3, and new Iowans.
1 35 d. Recommendations for improving the delivery of services,
2 1 including programs such as the department of workforce
2 2 development's PROMISE JOBS program described in section
2 3 239B.17 and the workforce investment program described in
2 4 section 84A.8. The recommendations may encompass more
2 5 flexible training and educational approaches, new funding
2 6 mechanisms, and additional incentives for workers and
2 7 businesses.
2 8 e. A model framework for the development and
2 9 implementation of education and training systems that
2 10 establish and provide workplace competencies necessary for
2 11 Iowa's future workforce.
2 12 f. An analysis of national research data and an
2 13 examination of other states' experiences with recruitment,
2 14 retention, education, and training efforts. The analysis
2 15 shall include potential methods of funding a workforce system.
2 16 4. The task force shall complete its duties no later than
2 17 January 15, 2009, but may complete its duties and dissolve
2 18 itself prior to that date.
2 19 Sec. 3. WORKFORCE INNOVATION FOR REGIONAL ECONOMIC
2 20 DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE == APPROPRIATION. There is
2 21 appropriated from the general fund of the state to the
2 22 department of workforce development for the fiscal year
2 23 beginning July 1, 2008, and ending June 30, 2009, the
2 24 following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary, to be
2 25 used for the purposes designated:
2 26 For convening, staffing, and administering a workforce
2 27 innovation for regional economic development task force,
2 28 including salaries, support, maintenance, and miscellaneous
2 29 purposes:
2 30 .................................................. $ 140,000
2 31 Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys appropriated in this
2 32 section shall not revert at the end of the fiscal year but
2 33 shall remain available for the purposes designated until the
2 34 task force is dissolved and all costs associated with the task
2 35 force are paid.
3 1 EXPLANATION
3 2 This bill creates a workforce innovation for regional
3 3 economic development task force.
3 4 The bill provides legislative findings that the state will
3 5 face a labor shortage of as many as 150,000 workers by 2012,
3 6 and the task force is formed to make recommendations on ways
3 7 to address the shortage. The task force is to be comprised of
3 8 representatives from a number of government agencies working
3 9 together.
3 10 The task force is to study labor shortage issues and
3 11 examine the structure and efficiencies of current workforce
3 12 development programs. The task force must begin its
3 13 activities by July 1, 2008, and conclude them by January 15,
3 14 2009, when it must submit a report to the general assembly
3 15 with its recommendations.
3 16 The bill appropriates $140,000 to the department of
3 17 workforce development for administering the task force.
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