PRINTER'S NO. 764
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
778
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY BIZZARRO, SANCHEZ, HILL-EVANS, ISAACSON,
SCHLOSSBERG, FREEMAN, DEASY, SCHWEYER, CIRESI AND
PISCIOTTANO, MARCH 4, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND INDUSTRY, MARCH 4, 2021
AN ACT
Amending the act of December 18, 2001 (P.L.949, No.114),
entitled "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," in industry
partnerships, further providing for definitions, for industry
clusters, for grant program, for grant program operation, for
interdepartmental cooperation and for industry and labor
market research.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The definition of "industry partnership" in
section 1301 of the act of December 18, 2001 (P.L.949, No.114),
known as the Workforce Development Act, is amended to read:
Section 1301. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
* * *
"Industry partnership." A collaboration which brings
together multiple employers and workers or[, when appropriate,]
worker representatives and career and technical educators, in a
targeted industry cluster to address common workforce needs.
* * *
Section 2. Section 1302(b) of the act is amended by adding a
paragraph to read:
Section 1302. Industry clusters.
* * *
(b) Identification of targeted industry clusters.--The
department shall work with State and regional workforce and
economic development agencies, with input from regional business
and labor leaders, to identify which industry clusters shall be
targeted for workforce and economic development investments
based on:
* * *
(7) The availability of career and technical educational
resources in a region.
* * *
Section 3. Section 1303(b)(1) and (2) of the act are amended
to read:
Section 1303. Grant program.
* * *
(b) Use of grant funding.--Industry partnerships shall, to
the extent funds are available, use a grant awarded under this
section to do any of the following:
(1) Organize businesses, employers, workers, career and
technical educators, labor organizations and industry
associations into a collaborative structure that supports the
20210HB0778PN0764 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
sharing of information, ideas and challenges common to their
industry cluster.
(2) Identify the training needs of multiple businesses,
including skill gaps critical to competitiveness and
innovation to their industry cluster and the availability of
career and technical resources for their industry cluster.
* * *
Section 4. Section 1304 of the act is amended by adding a
paragraph to read:
Section 1304. Grant program operation.
In order to receive grant funding under this section, an
industry partnership must, in its grant application, do all of
the following:
* * *
(5) If feasible, show evidence of participation of
career and technical educators in industry partnerships.
Section 5. Sections 1307(c)(4)(viii) and 1308 of the act are
amended to read:
Section 1307. Interdepartmental cooperation.
* * *
(c) Agencies.--The following agencies shall work with the
department as set forth below:
* * *
(4) The Department of Education shall:
* * *
(viii) [Within two years following the effective
date of this act, regulations may] Regulations shall be
promulgated by the Department of Education in
consultation with career and technical school
administrators. The regulations shall conform to career
20210HB0778PN0764 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
and technical schools' needs and assist to align their
needs with employer demands. Incentives shall be included
to increase alignment. Until this program and regulations
are in effect, secondary career and technical schools and
programs shall not be required to meet the requirements
for high-priority occupations for program approval.
* * *
Section 1308. Industry and labor market research.
(a) Research.--The department shall provide the necessary
industry and labor market research to support and further
develop the work of industry partnerships, including:
(1) Providing current data on all targeted industry
clusters.
(2) Providing the most current available analysis of
industry employment in this Commonwealth for the purpose of
determining trends in this Commonwealth which may lead to
changes in the targeted industry clusters.
(3) Maintaining and updating the annual list of this
Commonwealth's high-priority occupations.
(4) Providing the most currently available analysis of
high-priority occupations for the purpose of determining
trends which may lead to adjustments to the list.
(b) Sources.--In providing industry and labor market
research under subsection (a), the department may provide real-
time labor market data by utilizing credible research, analyses
and data from nongovernmental sources.
Section 6. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20210HB0778PN0764 - 4 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27