PRINTER'S NO. 434
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
441
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY GORDNER, BARTOLOTTA, ALLOWAY, VOGEL, MCGARRIGLE,
AUMENT, VULAKOVICH, WARD, YUDICHAK, SMITH, BOSCOLA, SCHWANK
AND TEPLITZ, FEBRUARY 13, 2015
REFERRED TO LABOR AND INDUSTRY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015
AN ACT
Amending the act of December 18, 2001 (P.L.949, No.114),
entitled, as amended, "An act establishing a unified
workforce investment system; restructuring certain
administrative functions, procedures and entities;
transferring workforce development functions of Commonwealth
agencies; establishing the Pennsylvania Workforce Investment
Board; providing for critical job training grants, for
guarantees for program quality and performance for workforce
development programs, for workforce leadership grants and for
industry partnerships; establishing the Keystone Works
Program; and authorizing local workforce investment boards,"
establishing the Workforce Development Commission and
providing for its powers and duties.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of December 18, 2001 (P.L.949, No.114),
known as the Workforce Development Act, is amended by adding a
chapter to read:
CHAPTER 7-B
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
Section 701-B. Workforce Development Commission.
(a) Establishment.--There is hereby established the
Workforce Development Commission.
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(b) Purpose.--The commission shall review and make
recommendations related, but not limited to:
(1) Improving the workforce development system in this
Commonwealth.
(2) Identifying and expanding educational opportunities
that are linked to occupations that are in demand by
employers in this Commonwealth.
(3) Determining what Federal and State funding sources
are available for workforce development and how to implement
best practices Statewide to maximize the use of those funds.
(c) Membership.--
(1) The commission shall consist of the following
members:
(i) Three legislators from each of the four
legislative caucuses, to be appointed by the President
pro tempore of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the
Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and
the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
(ii) Three individuals appointed by the Governor
from within the Governor's Administration.
(2) The President pro tempore of the Senate, the
Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the Minority Leader of the House of
Representatives shall each designate a chair from their
selected delegations to lead the commission.
(d) Initial meeting.--The commission shall hold its first
meeting within 45 days of the effective date of this section,
regardless of whether the Governor or all legislative caucuses
have actually approved members to the commission.
(e) Meetings.--The commission shall hold meetings at the
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call of all of the chairs.
(f) Expenses.--The members may not receive compensation for
their services but shall be reimbursed for all necessary travel
and other reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the
performance of their duties as members of the commission.
(g) Administrative support.--The General Assembly shall
provide administrative support, meeting space and any other
assistance required by the commission to carry out its duties
under this section in cooperation with the departments. The
departments shall provide the commission with data, research and
other information upon request by the commission.
(h) Quorum.--A quorum constituting 10 members of the
commission who are present and in person shall be required to
take any action related to powers and duties of the commission
in making recommendations, approving draft legislation or
regulations or approving the commission's report on its findings
and recommendations under subsection (j).
(i) Voting.--An affirmative vote of 10 members of the
commission who are present and in person shall be required to
make recommendations, approve draft legislation or regulations
or approve the commission's report on its findings and
recommendations under subsection (j).
(j) Powers and duties.--The commission shall have all of the
following powers and duties:
(1) Review and make findings and recommendations related
to workforce development in this Commonwealth.
(2) Consult with and utilize experts to assist the
commission in carrying out the duties under this subsection.
(3) Receive input from interested parties, including,
but not limited to, local workforce development entities,
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educational institutions, employers, employees, the
unemployed and representatives from the departments.
(4) Hold public hearings in different regions of this
Commonwealth.
(5) Review and consider workforce development strategies
utilized throughout the United States.
(6) Review the administration of State and regional
workforce development programs and services to determine if
improvements can be made and make recommendations to
implement those improvements.
(7) Determine best practices in workforce development
programs throughout this Commonwealth and make
recommendations on how other entities should implement
similar practices.
(8) Identify educational programs that align with the
needs of employers in this Commonwealth and make
recommendations on how other educational institutions should
implement similar programs.
(9) Draft proposed regulations and proposed legislation
based on the commission's findings.
(10) Issue a report of the commission's findings and
recommendations to the Governor, the President pro tempore of
the Senate, the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the
Senate, the Community, Economic and Recreational Development
Committee, the Education Committee and the Labor and Industry
Committee of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of
the House of Representatives, the Commerce Committee, the
Education Committee and the Labor and Industry Committee of
the House of Representatives, the Secretary of Community and
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Economic Development, the Secretary of Education and the
Secretary of Labor and Industry not later than one year after
the initial meeting of the commission.
(k) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
works and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Commission." The Workforce Development Commission
established under this section.
"Departments." The Department of Community and Economic
Development, the Department of Education and the Department of
Labor and Industry.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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