First Regular Session Seventieth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO INTRODUCED LLS NO. 15-0549.01 Brita Darling x2241 HOUSE BILL 15-1190 HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Windholz, Dore, Coram, Becker J., Lawrence SENATE SPONSORSHIP (None), House Committees Senate Committees State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Education Appropriations A BILL FOR AN ACT Concerning coordinating Colorado's public schools and industries for workforce opportunities for students. Bill Summary (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://www.leg.state.co.us/billsummaries.) The bill requires the state work force development council (state council) in the department of labor and employment and the department of education to coordinate efforts to: Provide technical assistance to schools regarding federal and state programs and statutory requirements relating to career and workforce opportunities; Identify local industry and workforce needs; Identify existing apprenticeship and training programs; Develop resources for public schools to partner with industry sector partnerships; Facilitate industry engagement in middle school and high school classrooms; Work with other state agencies and industry to develop industry internships and opportunities for high school students; Identify and share best practices for implementing career pathways and career-ready skills for students; and Strengthen relationships with state agencies to be an effective point of contact for information and assistance to maximize opportunities for students. The bill requires the department of education and the state council to report annually on progress in the Colorado talent report. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 24-46.3-104 as follows: 24-46.3-104. Coordination with department of education - career pathways - reporting - legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly finds and declares that: (a) Colorado has one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the country; (b) Thousands of jobs across the state require an industry certificate for employment; (c) In partnership with Colorado businesses and industries and in response to industry needs, Colorado has developed sector partnerships with local industry and multiple career clusters and career pathways for entry into the workforce; (d) Colorado's public secondary schools can assist in meeting workforce and industry needs by preparing high school students with work-ready skills and affording them the industry credentials necessary to move seamlessly into Colorado's high-demand industries; (e) Public schools need additional support to better understand workforce needs and connect with local industry partners and to navigate the career and technical education programs and workforce opportunities available to their students; and (f) The best way to ensure that public schools receive effective support is to strengthen the collaboration between the department of education and the department of labor and employment, thereby more effectively integrating Colorado's workforce needs into Colorado's public education system for the benefit of students. (2) As part of facilitating stronger partnerships between public schools and industry to provide students with career opportunities upon graduation, the department of education, created in section 24-1-115, and the state work force development council, created in section 24-46.3-101, shall work in close collaboration to: (a) Provide technical assistance to public schools regarding the federal and state programs and statutory requirements relating to career and workforce opportunities for high school students and any funding that may be available for those programs; (b) Identify local industry and workforce needs and existing educational tools and resources to meet those needs; (c) Identify existing apprenticeship and training programs; (d) Develop new tools and resources to assist public schools in partnering with industry sector partnerships to strengthen Colorado's talent pipeline; (e) Facilitate and promote opportunities for industry to engage in the classroom with students in grades six through twelve; (f) Inform public school practices to ensure that students graduate with high-demand skills; (g) Collaborate with other state agencies, local industry, and public schools to develop industry internships and other work experiences for students enrolled in high school; (h) Identify best practices for effective implementation in grades nine through twelve of career pathways and career-ready skills for students and create templates for public schools based upon these best practices; and (i) Strengthen relationships among the department of education, the department of higher education, the department of labor and employment, the Colorado office of economic development, and industry partners to create an effective point of contact for public schools and local industry to maximize opportunities for a student's entry into and success within the state's workforce. (3) The department of education and the state work force development council shall review the duties described in this section and report annual progress in implementing the goals of this section as part of the state work force development council's annual Colorado talent report prepared pursuant to section 24-46.3-103 (3). SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-7-1015, add (5) as follows: 22-7-1015. Postsecondary and workforce readiness program - technical assistance. (5) The department of education shall also work in close collaboration with the state work force development council, pursuant to the provisions of section 24-46.3-104, C.R.S., to identify best practices and provide technical assistance and resources relating to career pathways and industry partnerships with local education providers. SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August 5, 2015, if adjournment sine die is on May 6, 2015); except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in November 2016 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.