PRINTER'S NO. 1223
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
861
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY BLAKE, FONTANA, K. WARD, BREWSTER, COSTA, VOGEL,
HAYWOOD, BOSCOLA, AUMENT, BROWNE AND TARTAGLIONE,
SEPTEMBER 30, 2019
REFERRED TO LABOR AND INDUSTRY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2019
AN ACT
Establishing the Pennsylvania Career Readiness Council; and
providing for its powers and duties.
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
Career Readiness Council 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:
"Charter school." A charter school, regional charter school
or cyber charter school established under Article XVII-A of the
Public School Code of 1949.
"Chief school administrator." The superintendent or chief
executive officer of a school district, director of an area
vocational-technical school, executive director of an
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intermediate unit or chief executive officer of a charter
school, regional charter school or cyber charter school.
"Community college." An institution created under either of
the following:
(1) Article XIX-A of the Public School Code of 1949.
(2) The act of August 24, 1963 (P.L.1132, No.484), known
as the Community College Act of 1963.
"Council." The Pennsylvania Career Readiness Council
established under this act.
"High-priority occupation." A job category, within selected
industry clusters, that is identified by the Department of Labor
and Industry as:
(1) being in demand by employers; and
(2) likely to provide family-sustaining wages.
"Independent institution of higher education." The term as
defined under section 2001-C of the Public School Code of 1949.
"Intermediate unit." A geographic unit as described under
Article IX-A of the Public School Code of 1949.
"Labor organization." As follows:
(1) The term as defined under section 3(f) of the act of
June 1, 1937 (P.L.1168, No.294), known as the Pennsylvania
Labor Relations Act.
(2) An "employe organization," as defined under section
301(3) of the act of July 23, 1970 (P.L.563, No.195), known
as the Public Employe Relations Act.
"Local workforce investment board." The term as defined
under section 103 of the Workforce Development Act.
"Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board." The Pennsylvania
Workforce Investment Board established under section 301 of the
Workforce Development Act.
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"Public School Code of 1949." The act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949.
"Rural public school district." A public school district
that has a population of less than 300 people per square mile.
The term also includes an intermediate unit or area vocational-
technical school if the composite data for all participating
school districts meet the criteria specified under this
definition.
"School entity." A school district, intermediate unit, area
vocational-technical school or charter school.
"State-related institution." The Pennsylvania State
University, the University of Pittsburgh, Temple University,
Lincoln University and their branch campuses.
"State System of Higher Education." The State System of
Higher Education established under Article XX-A of the Public
School Code of 1949.
"Suburban public school district." A public school district
that has a population of at least 300 people per square mile and
not more than 850 people per square mile. The term also includes
an intermediate unit or area vocational-technical school if the
composite data for all participating school districts meet the
criteria specified under this definition.
"Urban public school district." A public school district
that has a population of more than 850 people per square mile.
The term also includes an intermediate unit or area vocational-
technical school if the composite data for all participating
school districts meet the criteria specified under this
definition.
"Workforce Development Act." The act of December 18, 2001
(P.L.949, No.114), known as the Workforce Development Act.
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Section 3. Pennsylvania Career Readiness Council.
(a) Establishment.--The Pennsylvania Career Readiness
Council is established within the Department of Community and
Economic Development.
(b) Membership.--The Pennsylvania Career Readiness Council
shall consist of the following members:
(1) One representative of directors of a local workforce
development board appointed by the Governor from a list of
three qualified director representatives recommended by the
Pennsylvania Workforce Development Board.
(2) One member of the Pennsylvania Workforce Development
Board appointed by the Secretary of Labor and Industry.
(3) One representative of presidents of institutions of
the State System of Higher Education appointed by the
Governor from a list of three qualified president
representatives recommended by the Chancellor of the State
System of Higher Education.
(4) One representative of presidents of community
colleges appointed by the Governor from a list of three
qualified president representatives recommended by the
Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges.
(5) One representative of chief school administrators
appointed by the Governor from a list of three qualified
chief school administrators recommended by the Pennsylvania
Association of Intermediate Units.
(6) One member of the State Board of Education appointed
by the Secretary of Education.
(7) One representative of public school educators
appointed by the Governor from a list of three qualified
educators recommended by the Pennsylvania State Education
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Association.
(8) One representative of career and technical education
appointed by the Governor from a list of three qualified
professionals in career and technical education recommended
by the Pennsylvania Association of Career and Technical
Administrators.
(9) One representative of directors of economic
development entities appointed by the Governor from a list of
three qualified director representatives recommended by the
Pennsylvania Economic Development Association.
(10) One representative of presidents of local chambers
of business and industry appointed by the Governor from a
list of three qualified presidents recommended by the
Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry.
(11) Six chief executive officers in high-growth
industries that collectively represent the business diversity
of this Commonwealth, accounting for size, geography and
industry appointed by the following:
(i) Two members appointed by the Governor from a
list of three qualified chief executive officers
recommended in a letter of interest by the staff of the
council.
(ii) One member appointed by the President pro
tempore of the Senate.
(iii) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of
the Senate.
(iv) One member appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives.
(v) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of
the House of Representatives.
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(12) One representative from the Pennsylvania State
Education Association appointed by the Pennsylvania State
Education Association.
(13) One representative of school administrators
appointed by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association.
(14) One representative of a labor organization
appointed by the labor organization.
(15) One member appointed by the Governor who is the
president of a State-related institution.
(16) One member appointed by the Governor who is the
president of an independent institution of higher education.
(17) The Governor, the Secretary of Community and
Economic Development, the Secretary of Education, the
Secretary of Labor and Industry, the President pro tempore of
the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of
the House of Representatives and the Minority Leader of the
House of Representatives, who shall be ex officio members.
(c) Designees.--Governmental members may appoint a designee
to attend and vote at meetings of the council. Each governmental
member who appoints a designee shall do so by sending a letter
to the chairperson stating the name of the designee.
(d) Terms.--The following shall apply:
(1) The initial terms of members appointed under
subsection (b) shall be staggered as follows:
(i) Seven members shall serve a term of one year.
(ii) Seven members shall serve a term of two years.
(iii) Seven members shall serve a term of three
years.
(2) The subsequent terms of members appointed under
subsection (b) shall be three years.
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(e) Vacancies.--If a vacancy on the council occurs, the
appointing authority shall appoint an individual to fill the
vacancy in accordance with the criteria under subsection (b).
(f) Executive director.--The following shall apply:
(1) The Governor shall nominate an individual as
executive director to the council. The council shall ratify
the nomination for executive director with a vote of a simple
majority of the members of the council.
(2) The executive director may hire additional staff as
necessary and as funding allows.
(3) The executive director may solicit funding for the
operation of the council and in order to comply with
subsection (k)(2).
(g) Council leadership.--The following shall apply:
(1) The Governor shall serve as the chairperson of the
council.
(2) The Governor shall select an appointed business
chief executive to serve as vice-chairperson of the council
in accordance with subsection (b).
(h) Meetings.--The following shall apply:
(1) The council shall meet at the call of the
chairperson, but no less than four times a year.
(2) The chairperson, in consultation with the vice-
chairperson, shall establish the agenda for each meeting of
the council.
(i) Quorum and official action.--The following shall apply:
(1) A majority of voting members of the council shall
constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting business.
(2) The affirmative votes of a majority of voting
members of the council are necessary for the council to take
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official action.
(j) Reimbursement.--The members of the council may not
receive a salary or per diem allowance for serving as members of
the council, but shall be reimbursed for the actual and
necessary expenses incurred in the performance of the members'
duties.
(k) Funding.--
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the council may receive
appropriations directly or indirectly from the General
Assembly, grants from the Federal Government, grants from the
Commonwealth, money from private entities or any combination
thereof.
(2) The council shall, not later than the third fiscal
year that commences after the effective date of this section,
operate only with funding from sources enumerated in
paragraph (1), excluding appropriations from the General Fund
to the council or the Department of Community and Economic
Development.
(l) Conflict of interest.--A member of the council may not
vote on a matter under consideration by the council:
(1) regarding the provision of services by the member or
by an entity that the member represents; or
(2) which would provide direct financial benefit to the
member or the immediate family of the member.
Section 4. Duties of council.
(a) Duties.--The council shall:
(1) Within 180 days of the effective date of this
section, develop a vision and mission statement that makes
clear the council's purpose as well as the respective roles
and responsibilities of council members.
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(2) Within one year of the effective date of this
section, develop a plan in consultation with the Pennsylvania
Workforce Investment Board to improve this Commonwealth's
career readiness preparation system. The plan developed under
this paragraph shall include, but not be limited to:
(i) Proposed changes to:
(A) improve the transition from K-12 education
and postsecondary education to the workforce; and
(B) ensure that programs are aligned with
current or anticipated business and industry needs.
(ii) Proposed changes, including recommended
legislation and rules, to increase coordination, data
sharing and communication among State, local and private
agencies, groups and associations that are involved in
education, job skills development and career training.
(iii) Proposed changes to make this Commonwealth a
leader in employment opportunities related to the fields
of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
(3) Identify appropriate information and request
appropriate data disaggregated by subgroups from council
members in order to make recommendations for system
improvement and set goals regarding, at a minimum, the
following areas:
(i) Availability of and access to high-quality
career pathways in high-demand industry occupations
spanning secondary and postsecondary education.
(ii) Availability of and access to high-quality
work-based learning and preapprenticeship/apprenticeship
opportunities.
(iii) Availability of and access to postsecondary
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credit and industry-recognized credentials in high-demand
occupations, especially those related to the fields of
science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
(4) Develop a sustainable process for identifying and
addressing equity gaps in the career preparation delivery
system.
(5) Develop a sustainable process for identifying
opportunities to align this Commonwealth's education and
training pipeline in response to labor market needs,
including, but not limited to:
(i) Cataloging all funding sources, including
Federal, State and private, that can be utilized for
education, career training and workforce preparation.
(ii) Reviewing funding streams for overlaps and gaps
with a special focus on identifying areas with
inequitable student access.
(iii) Developing and implementing plans to improve
alignment and more effectively prepare all secondary
students for postsecondary success in high-demand
occupations.
(iv) Identifying strategies for leveraging and
aligning Federal, State and private funding sources.
(6) Create a public repository that includes, but is not
limited to, national and state model partnerships between
industry and education, career pathway programs in this
Commonwealth and other national and state best practices in
career readiness preparation.
(7) Coordinate Statewide and regional conventions to:
(i) highlight national and state best practices;
(ii) connect the work within this Commonwealth; and
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(iii) benchmark the work toward national standards.
(8) Develop and maintain a marketing, communications and
stakeholder engagement strategy, with a website and other
public materials, to be maintained by the executive director
and council staff.
(9) Obtain input from the following:
(i) Employers and employer organizations located in
this Commonwealth.
(ii) State System of Higher Education institutions,
State-related institutions, community colleges and
independent institutions of higher education.
(iii) Regional and local economic development
organizations.
(iv) Labor organizations located in this
Commonwealth.
(v) Individuals with expertise in career readiness
preparation activities.
(vi) Local workforce investment boards.
(vii) School entities.
(viii) Military and veterans organizations.
(ix) Organizations representing women, African
Americans, Latinos and other significant minority
populations and having an interest in issues of
particular concern to these populations.
(x) Any other individual or organization that a
majority of the voting members of the council determines
has information that is important for the council to
consider.
(b) Report.--The council shall submit an annual report to
the General Assembly, the Secretary of the Senate and the Chief
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Clerk of the House of Representatives that details the progress
made by the council according to the plan referenced under
subsection (a)(2), with accompanying recommendations for further
action to be taken.
Section 5. Notice in Pennsylvania Bulletin.
In the event that the council lacks sufficient funding to
comply with section 3(k)(2), the executive director shall
transmit notice thereof to the Legislative Reference Bureau for
publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Section 6. Expiration.
This act shall expire upon publication of the notice in
section 5.
Section 7. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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