THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY SEIP, BELFANTI, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, FREEMAN, GERGELY, JOSEPHS, MELIO, SIPTROTH AND YOUNGBLOOD, MARCH 13, 2009

AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON LABOR RELATIONS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, MARCH 25, 2009   

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

authorizing local workforce investment boards," further

providing for membership of the Pennsylvania Workforce

Investment Board; and establishing the Pennsylvania Center

for Health Careers.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 302(a) of the act of December 18, 2001

(P.L.949, No.114), known as the Workforce Development Act,

amended December 16, 2002 (P.L.1930, No.224), is amended to

read:

Section 302.  Membership.

(a)  General rule.--The board shall be established as

follows:

(1)  The Governor or a designee.

(2)  Four members of the General Assembly:

(i)  Two senators, one appointed by the President pro

tempore of the Senate and one appointed by the Minority

Leader of the Senate.

(ii)  Two representatives, one appointed by the

Speaker of the House of Representatives and one appointed

by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(3)  Representatives appointed by the Governor who are:

(i)  Representatives of business, including private

sector employers, representatives from each of the

Commonwealth's marketing regions, owners of businesses,

chief executive officers, other business executives with

optimum policymaking or hiring authority, members of

local workforce investment boards and businesses that

reflect the employment opportunities in this

Commonwealth, including large and small employers.

(ii)  Chief elected officials nominated by Statewide

organizations or associations representing elected

officials.

(iii)  Representatives of labor organizations who

have been nominated by State labor federations.

(iv)  Representatives of individuals and

organizations experienced with respect to youth

activities.

(v)  Representatives of organizations which have

experience and expertise in the delivery of workforce

investment activities, including chief executive officers

of community colleges, technical colleges and community-

based organizations in this Commonwealth.

(v.1)  The chair or a co-chair of the Health Careers

Leadership Council of the Pennsylvania Center for Health

Careers.

(vi)  Lead Commonwealth agency officials, including:

(A)  The Secretary of Aging.

(B)  The Secretary of Community and Economic

Development.

(C)  The Secretary of Education.

(D)  The Secretary of Labor and Industry.

(E)  The Secretary of Public Welfare.

(F)  The Director of the Governor's Policy

Office.

(vii)  Any other representative or Commonwealth

agency official the Governor deems necessary.

(4)  A majority of the board under this subsection must

be representatives of business.

(5)  The Governor shall solicit recommendations from

State, regional and local business organizations in making

appointments to the board.

* * *

Section 2.  The act is amended by adding a chapter to read:

CHAPTER 11

PENNSYLVANIA CENTER FOR HEALTH CAREERS

Section 1101.  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:

"Center."  The Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers.

"Leadership council."  The Health Careers Leadership Council

of the Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers.

Section 1102.  Pennsylvania Center for Health Careers.

(a)  Establishment.--The Pennsylvania Center for Health

Careers is hereby established within the Department of Labor and

Industry.

(b)  Purpose.--The center shall provide a focused direction

and purpose for the development of strategies to address the

Commonwealth's short-term and long-term health care workforce

challenges to ensure the quality and supply of such work force

by:

(1)  Increasing the capacity of nursing education in this

Commonwealth.

(2)  Retaining health care workers.

(3)  Increasing diversity of health care workers.

(4)  Responding to the demand for allied health

professionals that provide critical care.

(5)  Addressing the needs of direct care workers.

(c)  Powers and duties.--The center shall have the following

powers and duties:

(1)  Determine the health care workforce needs of this

Commonwealth through research, outreach and study.

(2)  Research best practices in addressing similar

workforce needs in other states.

(3)  Assess the effectiveness of the initiatives,

programs and projects the center undertakes.

(4)  Assist and implement the initiatives and strategies

of the leadership council.

(5)  Develop recruitment and workplace tools that assist

health care facilities to increase the diversity of their

work force and promote the delivery of culturally appropriate

care.

(6)  Assess the current capacity of medical education

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within this Commonwealth's medical schools and training

programs.

(7)  Assess current and needed efforts addressing

recruitment and retention of physicians and other health care

professionals.

Section 1103.  Leadership council.

(a)  Membership.--The center shall be governed by the Health

Careers Leadership Council which shall consist of the following

members:

(1)  The Secretary of Labor and Industry or a designee.

(2)  The Secretary of State or a designee.

(3)  The Secretary of Health or a designee.

(4)  The Secretary of Public Welfare or a designee.

(5)  Four members of the General Assembly:

(i)  Two senators, one appointed by the President pro

tempore of the Senate and one appointed by the Minority

Leader of the Senate.

(ii)  Two representatives, one appointed by the

Speaker of the House of Representatives and one appointed

by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(6)  Additional members that are representatives of

health care-related professionals and organizations,

including employers, employees, educators, Statewide health

care associations and labor organizations in such number as

may be determined by the Governor and to be appointed by the

Governor in consultation with the Pennsylvania Workforce

Investment Board established by this act.

(7)  Members of the leadership council shall serve at the

pleasure of their respective appointing authorities. Members

shall not receive compensation for their service as members

of the leadership council but shall be reimbursed for

reasonable and necessary expenses in the performance of their

duties in accordance with Commonwealth policy with the

approval of the Secretary of Labor and Industry.

(8)  The Governor shall designate a member or members of

the leadership council to serve as chair or co-chairs.

(b)  Powers and duties.--The leadership council shall have

the following powers and duties:

(1)  Determine the organization, procedures and

priorities of the center.

(2)  Develop initiatives, programs and projects for the

center to address the health care workforce needs of this

Commonwealth.

(3)  Apply for grants and seek other revenue sources,

including General Fund appropriations through the Department

of Labor and Industry's budget.

(4)  Submit by January 31 of each year a report to the

Chief Clerk of the Senate and the Chief Clerk of the House of

Representatives, summarizing its activities and making

recommendations as to prospective legislation.

(5)  Do all other acts necessary to carry out the

purposes and policies of this chapter.

Section 1104.  Administration.

(a)  General rule.--The Department of Labor and Industry

shall provide administrative support to the center and the

leadership council.

(b)  Access.--The center shall use and have access to any

information, services, functions and other resources in the

possession of Commonwealth agencies deemed necessary to the

fulfillment of its responsibilities under this chapter.

Section 3.  This act shall take effect immediately.