1Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
2conduct a comprehensive study of workforce investment
3programs of the Commonwealth and their effectiveness.

4WHEREAS, The workforce investment system of the Commonwealth
5is comprised of multiple programs housed in various State
6government agencies including the Department of Labor and
7Industry, the Department of Education, the Department of
8Community and Economic Development, the Department of Public
9Welfare, the Department of Aging and the Department of
10Corrections; and

11WHEREAS, The Commonwealth currently spends in excess of $650
12million of Federal and State funds on workforce investment
13initiatives; and

14WHEREAS, The taxpayers and workers of this Commonwealth
15rightfully deserve to have the most robust, innovative,
16successful and cost-effective workforce investment system that
17can be achieved; and

1WHEREAS, There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that
2Pennsylvania's workforce investment system may be too fragmented
3by virtue of being administered by multiple agencies, there may
4not be sufficient coordination and communication between
5agencies and a more refined and streamlined system may return
6more effective outcomes; and

7WHEREAS, Many of this Commonwealth's leading employers in
8industry have expressed concerns that far too many recent high
9school graduates lack the proper skills upon leaving high school
10to be productive and successful employees; and

11WHEREAS, Additional efforts toward collaboration between
12community colleges and employers to develop programs designed to
13provide training and certificate programs to prepare employees
14for the work force would be beneficial in preparing employees
15for today's work force; therefore be it

16RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
17be directed to conduct a comprehensive study of workforce
18investment programs of the Commonwealth; and be it further

19RESOLVED, That the study be focused on an outcome-based
20system that strives for success; and be it further

21RESOLVED, That the committee identify all workforce
22investment programs contained in all State agencies and evaluate
23the effectiveness of the programs in terms of coordination of
24efforts toward successful outcomes achieved with the dollars
25spent; and be it further

26RESOLVED, That the committee identify and review any
27conditions placed on funding received from the Federal
28Government that is passed through to State agencies for
29workforce investment programs in this Commonwealth; and be it
30further

1RESOLVED, That the committee study the cost of all workforce
2investment programs in this Commonwealth as compared to three
3comparable states in terms of population and diversity of work
4force; and be it further

5RESOLVED, That in compiling this report the committee seek
6input from the Department of Labor and Industry, the Department
7of Education, the Department of Community and Economic
8Development, the Department of Public Welfare, the Department of
9Aging, the Department of Corrections, the Pennsylvania Workforce
10Investment Board, the Pennsylvania Commission for Community
11Colleges, the Team Pennsylvania Foundation, labor unions and any
12other groups or individuals who may have information relevant to
13the study; and be it further

14RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
15report its findings and recommendations to the Senate no later
16than December 31, 2014.