Regular Session 2017-2018 House Bill 1522 P.N. 1957

PRINTER'S NO. 1957

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No.

1522

Session of

2017

INTRODUCED BY SOLOMON, BERNSTINE, HILL-EVANS, SIMS, McCLINTON,

THOMAS, SANTORA, FREEMAN, GODSHALL, CHARLTON, V. BROWN,

SCHLOSSBERG, PASHINSKI, BULLOCK, DAVIS, D. COSTA, MACKENZIE,

DRISCOLL, CEPHAS, W. KELLER, ROEBUCK AND DONATUCCI,

JUNE 9, 2017

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JUNE 9, 2017

AN ACT

Establishing the Schools-to-Work Program; providing for powers

and duties of the Department of Education; and making an

appropriation.

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 Schools-to-

Work 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:

"Business." An entity authorized to do business in this

Commonwealth and subject to taxes imposed under Article III, IV,

VI, VII, VIII, IX, XV or XX of the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6,

No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, or a tax under

Article XVI of the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known

as The Insurance Company Law of 1921. The term includes a pass-

through entity, including a pass-through entity the purpose of

which is the making of contributions under this article and

whose shareholders, partners or members are composed of owners

or employees of other business firms.

"Career and technical school." A public secondary school

established under the provisions of Article XVIII of the act of

March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code

of 1949.

"Department." The Department of Education of the

Commonwealth.

"Program." The Schools-to-Work Program established under

section 3.

"School." A public school, including a charter school, cyber

charter school, intermediate unit or area vocational-technical

school, operating in a school district in this Commonwealth.

Section 3. Schools-to-Work Program.

(a) Establishment.--The Schools-to-Work Program is

established in the department to distribute grants on a

competitive basis to schools to support the establishment or

enhancement of partnerships with local businesses in order to

fill current and anticipated needs for employees with necessary

job qualifications and certifications.

(b) Grant proposals.--In order to apply for a grant under

the program, a school must submit a grant proposal to the

department. The proposal shall include all of the following:

(1) Participation of at least one local business.

(2) Work-based learning opportunities for participating

students, including workplace visits, internships,

apprenticeships, mentorships or employment opportunities.

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(3) Identification of the qualifications and

certifications necessary to fill current and anticipated

employment needs of the participating business.

(4) Opportunities for students to earn industry-

recognized qualifications and certification.

(5) Identification of additional personnel needed, if

any, in order to matriculate the number of certificate-

holding and qualified students needed to fill positions

within participating businesses.

(6) Description of the relationship between the

participating business and the school in creating curricula

that will lead to certification of students, apprenticeships

and jobs with participants.

all of the following:

(1) Participation of a local work force investment

board.

(2) Opportunity for students to earn college credit.

(d) Priority of applications.--The department shall give

priority to proposals that:

(1) demonstrate a strong need for career and technical

instructors;

(2) provide internships or apprenticeships to students

from grade nine through graduation; or

(3) indicate the intent of a participating business to

hire students in the program upon graduation.

(e) Grant distribution.--The department shall award a total

of eight grants under the program. The department shall consider

geographic diversity when selecting grant recipients.

(f) Limitation.--A school may use grant money only for the

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purposes stated in its grant proposal. A school shall return to

the department any remaining grant money not used for the

proposal.

Section 4. Memorandum of understanding.

A school and a business participating in the program shall

execute a memorandum of understanding that outlines the

responsibilities of the participants. The responsibilities shall

include all of the following:

(1) Commitment to align high school and post-secondary

coursework with technical skills and workplace competencies

as defined by industry.

(2) Meaningful work-based learning opportunities for

participating students, including workplace visits,

internships, apprenticeships and mentorships.

(3) Commitment to develop a scope and sequence of

courses, curricula and work-based learning programs that

ensure students can earn relevant postsecondary credits or

industry certification.

(4) Articulation language that ensures any postsecondary

credits earned in the program are transcripted and

transferrable.

Section 5. Reporting requirements.

A school participating in the program shall be required to

report to the department data related to the program, including

all of the following:

(1) The number of students certified as a result of the

program.

(2) The number of students who secured internships or

apprenticeships with participating businesses.

(3) The number of students employed as a result of

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participating in the program.

(4) A detailed description of the use of grant money,

including an itemized list of expenditures.

(5) Other data deemed relevant or necessary by the

department.

Section 6. Appropriation.

The sum of $2,000,000, or as much thereof as may be

necessary, is annually appropriated from the General Fund to the

Department of Education for the Schools-to-Work Program for the

fiscal year July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018, and July 1, 2018, to

June 30, 2019.

Section 7. Expiration.

This act shall expire June 30, 2020.

Section 8. Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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