THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY PRESTON, V. BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, DEASY, JAMES, KOTIK, MAHONEY, MURT, SCHMOTZER, STABACK, WATERS AND WILLIAMS, JULY 11, 2012

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND INDUSTRY, JULY 11, 2012  

AN ACT

Establishing the Pennsylvania Council on Workforce Development;

and providing for its powers and duties as lead agency in

cooperation with other State agencies to promote workforce

development.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Pennsylvania

Council on Workforce Development Act.

Section 2.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Council."  The Pennsylvania Council on Workforce Development

established by this act.

"Member."  A member of the Pennsylvania Council on Workforce

Development.

Section 3.  Pennsylvania Council on Workforce Development.

(a)  Establishment.--The Pennsylvania Council on Workforce

Development is established. The council shall be responsible

directly to the Governor. The council shall consist of ten

members who shall be appointed by the Governor by and with the

advice and consent of two-thirds of all the members of the

Senate. The members of the council shall be broadly

representative of all fields of workforce development and shall

be appointed from among private citizens who are known for their

competence and experience in connection with the education and

workforce community.

(b)  Legislative members.--Two members of the Senate, one of

the majority party and one of the minority party, appointed by

the President pro tempore of the Senate and two members of the

House of Representatives, one of the majority party and one of

the minority party, appointed by the Speaker, shall be voting

members of the council and shall meet with, and participate in,

the work of the council. The members of the General Assembly

appointed to the council shall serve at the pleasure of the

appointing power, but not beyond their term of office in the

General Assembly.

(c)  Gubernatorial members.--In addition to the members of

the General Assembly six members of the council shall be

appointed to serve until July 1, 2016.

(d)  Terms.--After July 1, 2016, all members shall be

appointed for a term of three years. All members shall hold

office until their successors have been appointed and qualified.

Any vacancies, other than members of the General Assembly, shall

be immediately filled by the Governor for the unexpired portion

of the term in which they occur. Vacancies among members of the

General Assembly shall be filled by the appointing power which

made the appointment to the office in which the vacancy exists.

No member of the council shall be eligible for reappointment

during a one-year period following the expiration of his second

successive term.

(e)  Compensation prohibited.--Members shall serve without

compensation, but each member shall be reimbursed for his

necessary traveling and other expenses incurred in the

performance of his official duties.

(f)  Chairman and vice chairman.--The Governor shall appoint

a chairman and vice chairman of the council to serve at his

pleasure.

Section 4.  Meetings.

All meetings of the council shall be open and public in

accordance with 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings) and

all persons shall be permitted to attend any meetings of the

council.

Section 5.  Powers and duties.

The council shall have the powers and authority necessary to

carry out the duties imposed upon it by this act including the

power, but not limited to, the following:

(1)  To adopt rules and regulations necessary for proper

execution of the powers and duties granted to and imposed

upon the council by this act.

(2)  To employ such administrative, technical and other

personnel as may be necessary for the performance of its

powers and duties.

(3)  To fix the salaries of the personnel employed

pursuant to this section.

(4)  To hold hearings, make and sign any agreements and

to do or perform any acts which may be necessary, desirable

or proper to carry out the purposes of this act.

(5)  To request from any department, board, bureau,

commission or other agency of the Commonwealth such

assistance and data as will enable it properly to carry out

its powers and duties.

(6)  To appoint such advisory committees as it deems

advisable and necessary to the carrying out of its powers and

duties.

(7)  To accept any Federal funds granted, by act of

United States Congress or by executive order, for all or any

of the purposes of this act.

(8)  To accept any gifts, donations or bequests for all

or any of the purposes of this act.

Section 6.  Strategy for increasing productivity of training.

The commission shall:

(1)  Study and create a strategy for increasing

productivity of training for businesses in this Commonwealth.

(2)  Act as the lead agency in overseeing the workforce

development in this Commonwealth while cooperating with other

Commonwealth agencies.

(3)  Submit a report to the Governor and to the General

Assembly not later than ten calendar days following the

commencement of each regular session of the General Assembly

concerning such studies it has made and such actions it has

taken and recommending such legislation and other action as

is necessary for the implementation and enforcement of this

act. The council shall submit a first report to the Governor

and the General Assembly at the 2013 regular session.

Section 7.  Construction.

Nothing contained in this act shall be construed as limiting

or vesting power in the council to encroach upon or usurp the

power vested in any other commission or agency created under the

laws of this Commonwealth.

Section 8.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect immediately.