H0723B1312A02313 LKK:JSL 09/22/21 #90 A02313
AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILL NO. 723
Sponsor: SENATOR BARTOLOTTA
Printer's No. 1312
Amend Bill, page 1, line 25, by inserting after "for"
definitions, for
Amend Bill, page 1, line 26, by striking out "and" and
inserting a comma
Amend Bill, page 1, line 27, by inserting after "cooperation"
and for industry and labor market research and providing for
dissemination of industry and labor market research to
educational institutions
Amend Bill, page 45, line 7, by striking out the comma after
"(e)" and inserting
and
Amend Bill, page 45, lines 8 and 9, by striking out ",
1302(a) introductory paragraph, 1304(1) and, 1307(c)(5)
introductory paragraph AND 4901"
Amend Bill, page 47, lines 1 through 8, by striking out all
of said lines and inserting
Section 8. The definitions of "high-priority occupations"
and "targeted industry cluster" in section 1301 of the act are
amended and the section is amended by adding definitions to
read:
Section 1301. 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:
* * *
"Educational institution." Each school district, charter
school, cyber charter school, career and technical center and
public institution of higher education in this Commonwealth.
"Forward-facing employment data." Data on current and
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projected employment opportunities within this Commonwealth,
including factors such as geographical location or required
training and experience for such opportunities.
"High-priority occupations." Occupations which have or are
projected to have a significant presence in a targeted industry
cluster, are in demand by employers and pay or lead to payment
of a family-sustaining wage.
* * *
"Public institution of higher education." Any of the
following:
(1) A community college which is an institution created
under Article XIX-A of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30,
No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, or the act
of August 24, 1963 (P.L.1132, No.484), known as the Community
College Act of 1963.
(2) A State-owned institution which is part of the State
System of Higher Education pursuant to Article XX-A of the
Public School Code of 1949.
(3) A State-related institution which includes The
Pennsylvania State University, including the Pennsylvania
College of Technology, the University of Pittsburgh, Temple
University and Lincoln University.
(4) Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.
(5) A rural regional college, as defined under section
1903-G of the Public School Code of 1949.
* * *
"Targeted industry cluster." An industry cluster identified
by the department as having or being projected to have a
Statewide economic impact, immediate workforce development needs
[and] or emerging or competitive career opportunities.
Section 9. Sections 1302, 1304, 1307(c) and 1308 of the act
are amended to read:
Section 1302. Industry clusters.
(a) Identification of industry clusters.--The department
shall work with businesses, industry associations, career and
technical associations and organizations, participating
agencies, State and local workforce [investment] development
boards and economic development entities to identify industry
clusters based on the following:
(1) Statistics showing the competitiveness of a
potential industry cluster.
(2) Importance of an industry cluster to the current or
future economic development of this Commonwealth.
(3) Identification of other employers that supply
materials, technology and services to the industry.
(4) Research studies on industry clusters.
(4.1) Forward-facing employment data compiled by the
department.
(5) Any other criteria deemed relevant by the
department.
(b) Identification of targeted industry clusters.--The
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department shall work with State and regional workforce and
economic development agencies, with input from regional business
and labor leaders, to identify which industry clusters shall be
targeted for workforce and economic development investments
based on:
(1) Importance of the cluster to the economy of this
Commonwealth and the region.
(2) [Workforce] Current and projected workforce
development needs.
(3) Economic growth potential.
(4) Competitiveness.
(5) Employment base.
(6) Wages, benefits and career opportunities.
(7) Forward-facing employment data compiled by the
department.
(c) Ongoing evaluation.--The department shall [periodically]
annually evaluate the targeted industry clusters and the
forward-facing employment data compiled by the department to
determine the need for any changes to the targeted industry
clusters or the need for addition of new industry clusters.
(d) Publication of information.--The department shall issue
by July 1 of each year, on its Internet website, information and
statistics on the targeted industry clusters, including labor
market information highlighting the clusters. The information
shall include an occupational analysis depicting the employment
[and], wages, geographic location and required training or
experience within the targeted industry cluster and the forward-
facing employment data compiled by the department.
(e) List of occupations.--The department shall annually
issue a list of Statewide and regional high-priority occupations
which will guide workforce and educational investments by the
department and participating agencies.
Amend Bill, page 47, lines 16 through 23, by striking out all
of said lines and inserting
Section 1307. Interdepartmental cooperation.
* * *
(c) Agencies.--The following agencies shall work with the
department as set forth below:
(1) The Department of Agriculture shall:
(i) Advise the department on the agriculture
industry and agriculture education economic development
strategies, programs and initiatives.
(ii) Facilitate agricultural industry clusters, to
include production agriculture, at the State and local
levels to ensure accurate representation of all sectors
and inclusion of those fields typically categorized as
self-employment.
(iii) Advise the department on career pathways
available in the rural communities of this Commonwealth
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and nontraditional career pathways available to urban and
disadvantaged students and citizens.
(iii.1) Work in collaboration with the department to
use forward-facing employment data to project and
identify future and emerging employment opportunities in
the agriculture industry.
(iv) Work in collaboration with the department and
the Department of Education to identify emerging career
opportunities, including support in establishing career
ladders and career pathways.
(v) Support initiatives to develop industry-
recognized credentials and new credit-bearing programs in
this Commonwealth's public and private postsecondary
institutions, especially in critical occupations.
(2) The Department of Community and Economic Development
shall:
(i) Advise the department of its workforce and
economic development strategies, programs and
initiatives.
(ii) Align existing training programs with industry
partnerships.
(iii) Make relevant business assistance programs
available to industry partnerships.
(iv) Coordinate with the department on areas of
business retention.
(v) Advise the department of its industry
competitiveness programs and cluster strategies.
(vi) Work in collaboration with the department to
use forward-facing employment data to project and
identify future and emerging employment opportunities to
create workforce and economic development strategies.
(3) The Department of Corrections shall:
(i) Align training for inmates with industry
clusters and high-priority occupations and annually
review these training programs to assure that the
training programs prepare individuals for high-priority
occupations.
(ii) Align reentry programs to take advantage of
information and career opportunities provided by industry
partnerships.
(iii) Work in collaboration with the department to
use forward-facing employment data to project and
identify future and emerging employment opportunities for
purposes of aligning reentry programs with current and
emerging industry clusters and high-priority occupations.
(4) The Department of Education shall:
(i) Work with the department to support career
pathways.
(ii) Support innovative programs to address
literacy, including English as a second language, and
numeracy shortcomings, especially in those occupations
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which are critical to targeted industry clusters and
which lead to postsecondary education and employment.
(iii) Collaborate with the department to develop
programs and strategies to reduce barriers to adult
education.
(iv) Coordinate career education initiatives in
middle and high schools, especially in Project 720
schools and career and technical education programs.
(v) Support initiatives to develop industry-
recognized credentials and new credit-bearing programs in
this Commonwealth's public and private postsecondary
institutions, especially in occupations critical to
targeted industry clusters.
(vi) Work in collaboration with the department to
determine education and skill gaps associated with
targeted industry clusters.
(vi.1) Work in collaboration with the department to
use forward-facing employment data to project and
identify future and emerging employment opportunities.
(vii) Advise and assist high-school-based career and
technical education programs to develop high-priority
occupation programs.
(viii) Within two years following the effective date
of this act, regulations may be promulgated by the
Department of Education in consultation with career and
technical school administrators. The regulations shall
conform to career and technical schools' needs and assist
to align their needs with employer demands. Incentives
shall be included to increase alignment. Until this
program and regulations are in effect, secondary career
and technical schools and programs shall not be required
to meet the requirements for high-priority occupations
for program approval.
(5) The Department of [Public Welfare] Human Services
shall:
(i) Create and maintain innovative programs which
connect qualified TANF clients with employment
opportunities in the targeted industry clusters.
(ii) Support strategies to prepare TANF clients for
success in postsecondary education and training programs.
(iii) Develop career education initiatives which
provide TANF clients with information to guide their
education and training plans.
(iv) Collect and share employment information with
the department.
Section 1308. Industry and labor market research.
The department shall provide the necessary industry and labor
market research to support and further develop the work of
industry partnerships, including:
(1) Providing current data on all targeted industry
clusters.
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(2) Providing the most current available analysis of
industry employment in this Commonwealth for the purpose of
determining trends in this Commonwealth which may lead to
changes in the targeted industry clusters.
(2.1) Compiling and providing forward-facing employment
data on projected employment opportunities in this
Commonwealth, including future and emerging industry clusters
and high-priority occupations.
(3) Maintaining and updating the annual list of this
Commonwealth's high-priority occupations.
(4) Providing the most currently available analysis of
high-priority occupations for the purpose of determining
trends which may lead to adjustments to the list.
Section 10. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 1308.1. Dissemination of industry and labor market
research to educational institutions.
(a) Dissemination of information.--By July 1, 2022, and each
July 1 thereafter, the department, in coordination with the
Department of Education, shall provide the information under
sections 1302(d) and (e) and 1308 to educational institutions.
(b) Additional information.--In addition to the information
provided under subsection (a), beginning July 1, 2022, on a
regular basis the department shall provide to each educational
institution specific labor market information and forward-facing
employment data for the labor market in which the educational
institution is located.
(c) Analysis.--The following shall apply:
(1) When the department and the Department of Education
jointly determine that labor market information or forward-
facing employment data prepared by the department requires an
explanatory analysis for the information or data to be
utilized to its fullest potential, the department, in
collaboration with the Department of Education, shall provide
an analysis of the information or data, written in clear,
concise and easily understandable language.
(2) The analysis under paragraph (1) shall consider, but
not be limited to a consideration of, the following:
(i) instructions for the proper use of the
information or data by individuals involved in the
planning and development of career education;
(ii) the proper use of the information or data by
individuals involved in career and technical and
educational guidance; and
(iii) the proper use of the information or data by
current and prospective career education pupils in the
selection of career education programs likely to offer
the greatest potential for employment upon graduation.
(d) Dissemination of data.--Each educational institution
that receives labor market information and forward-facing
employment data under subsections (b) and (c) shall provide
copies of the information and data to the individuals
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responsible for career and technical and educational guidance at
an educational institution for use in planning and developing
career education programs and providing career and technical and
education guidance to career education pupils.
Section 11. Section 4901 of the act is amended to read:
Amend Bill, page 47, line 30, by striking out "8" and
inserting
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