Regular Session 2019-2020 House Bill 0796 P.N. 2160

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 875

PRINTER'S NO. 2160

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No.

796

Session of

2019

INTRODUCED BY SOLOMON, BERNSTINE, KLUNK, MURT, SIMS,

SCHLOSSBERG, HILL-EVANS, CIRESI, KEEFER, OTTEN, LAWRENCE,

MARKOSEK, NEILSON, ECKER, HARRIS, COX, GLEIM AND MADDEN,

MARCH 12, 2019

AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 17, 2019

AN ACT

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

powers and duties of the Department of Education LABOR AND

INDUSTRY.

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

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

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

which is participating under this act and whose shareholders,

partners or members are composed of owners or employees of other

business firms.

"Department." The Department of Education LABOR AND INDUSTRY

of the Commonwealth.

"Participating partnership." A school or schools partnered

with one or more businesses which have been awarded a grant

under the program.

"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. A

SCHOOL IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT, CHARTER SCHOOL, REGIONAL CHARTER

SCHOOL, CYBER CHARTER SCHOOL, INTERMEDIATE UNIT OR CAREER AND

TECHNICAL SCHOOL IN THIS COMMONWEALTH.

"SPONSOR." AN ENTITY WHICH IS OR WILL BE REGISTERED WITH THE

DEPARTMENT AS A PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM AND WHICH WILL HAVE

THE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION OF

THE PROGRAM.

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. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL, IN

CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, ESTABLISH A

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SCHOOLS-TO-WORK PROGRAM TO AWARD GRANTS ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS

TO SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT OR ENHANCEMENT OF WORKFORCE

DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN SCHOOLS, EMPLOYERS,

ORGANIZATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS TO CREATE EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING

PATHWAYS.

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

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

department. Subject to department and school district policy, a

school may join with other schools within or outside the school

district in submitting a proposal. The proposal may provide for

partnership with one or more businesses. 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.

(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 certifications.

(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 participating businesses. IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR

A GRANT UNDER THE PROGRAM, A SPONSOR MUST SUBMIT A GRANT

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PROPOSAL TO THE DEPARTMENT THAT INCLUDES ALL OF THE

FOLLOWING:

(1) PARTNERSHIP WITH AT LEAST ONE SCHOOL.

(2) LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTICIPATING STUDENTS,

INCLUDING CLASSROOM TRAINING, WORKPLACE VISITS, INTERNSHIPS,

APPRENTICESHIPS, MENTORSHIPS, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES,

SPECIAL EDUCATION TRANSITION, CAPSTONE COOPERATIVE EDUCATION,

JOB SHADOWING OR EXTERNSHIPS.

(3) IDENTIFICATION OF THE QUALIFICATIONS AND

CERTIFICATIONS NECESSARY TO FILL CURRENT AND ANTICIPATED

REGIONAL LABOR MARKET NEEDS.

(4) DESCRIPTION OF OUTCOMES FROM THE SUCCESSFUL

COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM, WHICH MAY INCLUDE THE ATTAINMENT

OF INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED QUALIFICATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS OR

COLLEGE CREDITS, AND AN EXPLANATION OF HOW COLLEGE CREDITS

EARNED WILL BE TRANSCRIPTED AND TRANSFERRABLE.

(5) PATHWAYS FOR TRANSITION TO A REGISTERED

APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION PROGRAM OR

EMPLOYMENT.

(6) DEMONSTRATION OF EXISTING QUALIFIED PROGRAM

PERSONNEL, OR IDENTIFICATION OF ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL NEEDED,

IF ANY, TO ESTABLISH OR INCREASE PROGRAM CAPACITY TO MEET OR

CONTRIBUTE TOWARD MEETING CURRENT AND ANTICIPATED REGIONAL

LABOR MARKET NEEDS.

(7) DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM CURRICULA.

(8) A PROGRAM BUDGET, INCLUDING THE AMOUNT OF GRANT

MONEY BEING REQUESTED AND ANY ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL RESOURCES

BEING USED FOR THE PROGRAM.

all of the following:

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(1) Participation of a local work force investment

board.

(2) Opportunity for students to earn college credit.

(3) A commitment of private matching funds.

(4) Participation of a chamber of commerce or other

similar business organization.

(d) (C) 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.

(3) Indicate the intent of a participating business to

hire students in the program upon graduation.

(4) Involve a partnership between multiple schools and

multiple businesses.

(5) Demonstrate additional financial or personnel

resources that will be used as matching support, in whole or

in part, for the grant proposal.

(1) DEMONSTRATE A STRONG NEED TO BUILD NEW OR EXISTING

PROGRAM CAPACITY TO MEET OR CONTRIBUTE TOWARD MEETING CURRENT

AND ANTICIPATED REGIONAL LABOR MARKET NEEDS.

(2) INCORPORATE STUDENTS FROM GRADES NINE THROUGH

TWELVE.

(3) PRIORITIZE PROGRAM COMPLETION AND TRANSITION TO

POST-SECONDARY TRAINING, EDUCATION OR EMPLOYMENT.

(4) INVOLVE A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MULTIPLE SCHOOLS OR

SCHOOL DISTRICTS, EMPLOYERS, ORGANIZATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS.

(5) DEMONSTRATE SUSTAINABILITY BY LEVERAGING ADDITIONAL

FINANCIAL OR PERSONNEL RESOURCES THAT WILL BE USED FOR THE

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PROGRAM.

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

total of eight grants under the program. No participating

partnership is eligible to receive more than two grants. Each

grant award is limited to no more than 25% of the total funds

appropriated for the program in any fiscal year. The department

shall consider geographic diversity when selecting grant

recipients. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AWARD GRANTS UNDER THE PROGRAM. THE

DEPARTMENT SHALL CONSIDER GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY WHEN SELECTING

GRANT RECIPIENTS.

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

the purposes stated in the school's grant proposal. A school

shall return to the department any remaining grant money not

used for the program.

Section 4. Memorandum of understanding.

A participating partnership 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 postsecondary

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.

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(4) Articulation language that ensures any postsecondary

credits earned in the program are transcripted and

transferrable.

(5) If the participating partnership includes multiple

schools or businesses:

(i) Delineation of the responsibilities of each

school and business.

(ii) How grant money and resources dedicated to the

program will be divided among the participants.

Section 5. Reporting requirements.

(a) Schools.--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

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.

(b) Annual reporting.--A school shall submit a report under

subsection (a) for each year in which the school participates in

the program. GRANT MONEY MAY BE USED ONLY FOR THE PURPOSES

STATED IN THE GRANT PROPOSAL. ANY REMAINING GRANT MONEY NOT USED

FOR THE PROGRAM SHALL BE RETURNED TO THE DEPARTMENT.

SECTION 4. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

(A) REPORTS TO THE DEPARTMENT.--A GRANT RECIPIENT SHALL BE

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REQUIRED TO REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT ANNUALLY DATA RELATED TO A

PROGRAM, INCLUDING ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:

(1) THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO ENTERED THE PROGRAM,

SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE PROGRAM OR EARNED INDUSTRY-

RECOGNIZED QUALIFICATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS OR COLLEGE CREDITS,

INCLUDING DESCRIPTIONS AND TOTALS OF EACH CREDENTIAL.

(2) THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO TRANSITIONED TO POST-

SECONDARY TRAINING, EDUCATION OR EMPLOYMENT.

(3) OTHER DATA DEEMED RELEVANT OR NECESSARY BY THE

DEPARTMENT IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

(B) ANNUAL REPORTING.--THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE AN

INITIAL REPORT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WITHIN TWO YEARS OF

COMMENCEMENT OF THE PROGRAM AND A REPORT EACH YEAR THEREAFTER

THAT THE PROGRAM IS IN EFFECT.

SECTION 5. NOTICE OF FUNDING.

UPON THE INITIAL APPROPRIATION OF SUFFICIENT MONEY TO CARRY

OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT OR A DETERMINATION BY THE

DEPARTMENT THAT SUFFICIENT MONEY IS AVAILABLE FROM EXISTING

SOURCES TO CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT, THE DEPARTMENT

SHALL TRANSMIT NOTICE THAT THE PROGRAM WILL BE IMPLEMENTED WITH

AVAILABLE FUNDS TO THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU FOR

PUBLICATION IN THE PENNSYLVANIA BULLETIN.

Section 6. Expiration.

This act shall expire June 30, 2024., OR FIVE YEARS AFTER THE

EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT, WHICHEVER IS LATER.

Section 7. Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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