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: 5 TLSB 6536HV 82 6 tw/nh/24 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. 3 18 LSB 6536HV 82 3 19 tw/nh/24