HSB 136 (LSB 2367YC (1) 86)

HOUSE FILE _____

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC GROWTH BILL BY CHAIRPERSON HANUSA)

A BILL FOR

An Act establishing a human capital enrichment advisory council and operations team.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  15K.1  Findings and purpose.
   1.  The general assembly finds all of the following:
   a.  That aligning education, workforce, and economic development policies will result in a holistic, career-focused approach that will help the state meet the needs of employers, grow family incomes, improve the skills of both individuals and the workforce generally, and make communities more vibrant and attractive places to live.
   b.  That the alignment of education, workforce, and economic development policies can be more effectively achieved by building on the state’s foundation of innovative workforce and education programs to further improve collaboration between the public and private sectors.
   2.  Therefore, it is the purpose of this chapter to implement the better alignment of education, workforce, and economic development policies through the collaboration of representatives from the public and private sectors by establishing a human capital enrichment advisory council and an operations team as provided in this chapter.
    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  15K.2  Definitions.

   As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

   1.  “Authority” means the economic development authority created in section 15.105.
   2.  “Council” means the human capital enrichment advisory council created in section 15K.3.
   3.  “Operations team” means the human capital enrichment operations team established pursuant to section 15K.4.
    Sec. 3.  NEW SECTION.  15K.3  Human capital enrichment advisory council.
   1.  A human capital enrichment council is created. The purposes of the council are to advise the governor, the general assembly, and the state on the alignment of education, workforce, and economic development policies that will help the state meet the needs of employers, grow family incomes, improve the skills of both individuals and the workforce generally, and make communities more vibrant and attractive places to live. The operations team shall provide the council with staff and administrative support.
   2.  The council shall consist of the following members:
   a.  The lieutenant governor; the auditor of state or the auditor’s designee; the executive director of the college student aid commission or the executive director’s designee; and the directors or the directors’ designees of the authority and the departments of management, education, and workforce development.
   b.  The following members appointed by the governor:
   (1)  One member representing community colleges.
   (2)  One member representing the state board of regents.
   (3)  One member representing an organized labor entity with an apprenticeship training program.
   (4)  One member representing an entity with an apprenticeship program that is not an organized labor entity.
   (5)  One member representing the governor’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics advisory council.
   (6)  One member representing a nonprofit organization that serves unemployed and underemployed Iowans.
   (7)  One member representing private colleges and universities in the state.
   (8)  One member representing the workforce development board.
   (9)  Twelve members, each representing one of the state’s leading industry clusters. The twelve leading industry clusters of the state for purposes of this subparagraph are agriculture and food production; automation and industrial machinery; avionics and communications electronics; biosciences; building and construction products; health services; heavy machinery; information services, digital media, and technology; insurance and finance; primary metals manufacturing; renewable energy; and transportation, distribution, and logistics.
   3.  Appointed members of the council shall serve four-year terms beginning and ending as provided in section 69.19. A vacancy on the council shall be filled in the same manner as the original selection and shall be for the remainder of the term.
   4.  The lieutenant governor shall serve as chairperson of the council.
   5.  The council shall do all of the following:
   a.  Create, in consultation with the operations team, a comprehensive strategic plan for implementing specific policies that further the purposes of the council as described in subsection 1.
   b.  Review, on a continuing basis, all of the education, workforce training, and economic development programs administered by an entity represented by a member of the council. A program is subject to review by the council upon majority vote of the members of the council. In reviewing programs, the council shall, to the greatest extent possible, utilize data and research in order to make objective, data-driven recommendations.
   c.  Act as a forum where issues affecting the business, education, workforce, and economic development communities can be discussed and addressed, and where collaborative relationships can be formed. In addition, assist in the development of networks to further the purposes of the council as described in subsection 1.
   d.  Assist in advising state agencies, community colleges, regents institutions, and political subdivisions on the administration and improvement of education, workforce training, and economic development programs they administer.
   e.  Study and recommend strategies and tactics for aligning economic development, workforce, and education policies that can be implemented by an entity represented by a member of the council, including comprehensively communicating a shared vision to relevant stakeholders.
   f.  Make recommendations to the general assembly as necessary for changes to law or public policy in order to help better align economic development, workforce, and education programs.
   g.  Coordinate with personnel of the division of vocational rehabilitation services of the department of education and the department on aging and other relevant stakeholders, as deemed appropriate, to further the purposes of the council.
   h.  In conjunction with the operations team, conduct research, compile data, and draft documents that provide background information for use in decision making by the general assembly, the governor, state agencies, community colleges, the state board of regents, and other policymaking bodies within state government.
   6.  In performing its duties, the council shall only recommend those policies and alignment strategies that are designed to do all of the following:
   a.  Provide workers the skills they need to have rewarding careers in a dynamic, global economy.
   b.  Improve the state’s talent supply to provide employers with more and better trained workers.
   c.  Deliver programs and services efficiently and in a manner that provides taxpayers with the best return for the tax dollars spent.
    Sec. 4.  NEW SECTION.  15K.4  Human capital enrichment operations team.
   1.  The auditor of state, the executive director of the college student aid commission, and the directors of the authority and the departments of management, education, and workforce development shall establish a human capital enrichment operations team to assist the council with its duties.
   2.  a.  The operations team shall be comprised of staff members appointed by the auditor of state, the executive director of the college student aid commission, and the directors of the authority and the departments of management, education, and workforce development.
   b.  The director of the authority shall designate the person to coordinate and direct the operations team.
   3.  The operations team shall do all of the following:
   a.  Coordinate and staff the activities of the council.
   b.  Facilitate and coordinate all research, reports, data, analysis, and recommendations associated with the council and its purposes.
   c.  Ensure that any state agency or public entity represented by a member of the council is responsive to the recommendations of the council and accountable for implementing the recommendations. The operations team shall have the authority to obtain and review all information reasonably necessary from state agencies and public entities for such purposes.
   d.  Provide regular updates to the council on the status of program reviews and the progress entities represented by members of the council are making in aligning programs pursuant to the purposes of the council.
   4.  Staffing and administrative costs for the council and the operational team shall be provided by the department of management, the department of education, the department of workforce development, the college student aid commission, and the authority.
   5.  The authority may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to administer this section.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill creates a human capital enrichment advisory council and operations team and provides that the purposes of the council and team are to implement the better alignment of education, workforce, and economic development policies through the collaboration of representatives from the public and private sectors.
   New Code section 15K.3 creates the human capital enrichment advisory council. The lieutenant governor serves as chairperson of the council. Members of the council include representatives from the auditor of state, the college student aid commission, the economic development authority, and the departments of management, education, and workforce development. In addition, the governor appoints numerous members to the council representing industry, education, labor, and workforce development. Appointed members of the council serve four-year terms.
   The new Code section provides that the purposes of the council are to advise the governor, the general assembly, and the state on the alignment of education, workforce, and economic development policies that meet the needs of employers, grow family incomes, improve worker skills of both individuals and the workforce generally, and make communities more vibrant and attractive places to live. The council is directed to create a comprehensive strategic plan, review programs, and study and recommend strategies related to the purposes of the council. The bill directs the operations team, as established by the bill, to provide administrative and staffing support for the council, and to assist the council in implementing the recommendations of the council.
   New Code section 15K.4 creates the human capital enrichment operations team to assist the council with its duties. The bill provides that the auditor of state, the executive director of the college student aid commission, and the directors of the economic development authority and the departments of management, education, and workforce development shall establish the operations team and provide staffing and administrative support for the team. The operations team shall be directed by a person designated by the director of the economic development authority. The bill provides that the operations team coordinate and staff the activities of the council, facilitate and coordinate all research, reports, data, analysis, and recommendations associated with the council and its purposes, assist the council in providing program reviews, and ensure that state agencies are responsive and accountable to the recommendations of the council. The bill provides that the economic development authority may adopt administrative rules regarding its duties.