First Regular Session

Sixty-first General Assembly

LLS NO. 97­0330.01 DHG SENATE BILL 97­060

STATE OF COLORADO

BY SENATOR Feeley

STATE, VETERANS &

MILITARY AFFAIRS

A BILL FOR AN ACT

CONCERNING WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, ESTABLISHING A STATEWIDE NETWORK OF ONE­STOP CAREER CENTERS.

Bill Summary

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not necessarily reflect any amendments which may be subsequently adopted.)

Creates a framework for the establishment of a statewide network of one­stop career centers for the coordination or integration of various work­related programs such as those operated under the Colorado state employment service, job training partnership act programs, and the community college system and work activities under welfare reform. Expresses the goal that such centers be locally administered and include as core services basic labor exchange services provided free of charge.

Repeals provisions creating the work force training coordinating council in the office of the governor.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

SECTION 1.  Article 71 of title 8, Colorado Revised Statutes, 1986 Repl. Vol., as amended, is amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW PART to read:

PART 2

ONE­STOP CAREER CENTERS

8­71­201.  Legislative declaration ­ scope and purpose. (1)  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS, DETERMINES, AND DECLARES THAT:

(a)  THE STATE OF COLORADO HAS ESTABLISHED A DISTINGUISHED HISTORY OF PARTICIPATION IN PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING OF A SKILLED WORK FORCE ABLE TO COMPETE IN THE EMERGING GLOBAL ECONOMY. SUCH PARTICIPATION INCLUDES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FREE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT OFFICES PURSUANT TO FEDERAL LEGISLATION BEGINNING IN 1933.

(b)  CONTINUATION OF SUCH EFFORTS IS IN THE INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF COLORADO AND WILL PAY DIVIDENDS IN THE LONG TERM BY ENSURING THE CONTINUED HEALTH OF THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

(c)  EXISTING EFFORTS AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL, WHILE POSITIVE, COULD BENEFIT FROM INTEGRATION OR COORDINATION OF SERVICES IN A STATEWIDE, LOCALLY ADMINISTERED NETWORK PROVIDING EMPLOYERS AND JOB­SEEKERS WITH ACCESS TO VARIOUS PROGRAMS, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE COLORADO STATE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE CREATED IN SECTION 8­71­106, JOB TRAINING PARTNERSHIP ACT PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY COLLEGE JOB­TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND JOB TRAINING OR OTHER PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE WORK REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL AND STATE WELFARE REFORM LEGISLATION. SUCH EFFORTS WOULD INCREASE EFFICIENCY THROUGH JOINT PLANNING AND COORDINATION OR CONSOLIDATION OF EXISTING PROGRAMS.

(2)  THIS PART 2 IS INTENDED TO AUTHORIZE AND ENCOURAGE THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF STATE GOVERNMENT TO ENTER INTO A COOPERATIVE EFFORT WITH COUNTY AND LOCAL OFFICIALS AND WITH THE EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO CREATE A NETWORK OF ONE­STOP CAREER CENTERS THAT WILL MEET THE FOLLOWING GOALS:

(a)  Universality. THE NETWORK SHOULD PROVIDE ALL POPULATION GROUPS WITHIN THE STATE WITH THE WIDEST POSSIBLE ARRAY OF JOB­SEEKING AND EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

(b)  Customer choice. THE NETWORK SHOULD GIVE EMPLOYERS AND JOB­SEEKERS CHOICES IN WHERE AND HOW THEY CAN OBTAIN INFORMATION AND SERVICES AND SHOULD ALLOW THEM ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO MAKE INFORMED CHOICES AMONG EDUCATION AND TRAINING OPTIONS.

(c)  Integration. THE NETWORK SHOULD OFFER A SEAMLESS APPROACH TO SERVICE DELIVERY, PROVIDING ACCESS TO SERVICES UNDER A WIDE ARRAY OF EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING, AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS. SUCH INTEGRATION OF PROGRAMS WILL REQUIRE INTEGRATION OF GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES AT BOTH STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS.

(d)  Outcome­based performance criteria. THE NETWORK SHALL BE ADMINISTERED BY A METHOD THAT ENSURES THE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE DELIVERY OF SERVICES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FEEDBACK FROM USERS AND OBJECTIVE CRITERIA FOR MEASURING HOW WELL USERS HAVE BEEN SERVED.

8­71­202.  One­stop career center network ­ creation ­ administration. (1) (a)  THE DIVISION OF EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING IN THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT, REFERRED TO IN THIS SECTION AS THE "DIVISION", SHALL BE THE LEAD AGENCY FOR ESTABLISHING A NETWORK OF ONE­STOP CAREER CENTERS AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 8­71­201. THE DIVISION MAY REQUEST WAIVERS OF FEDERAL RULES AND SHALL APPLY FOR ANY AVAILABLE FEDERAL GRANTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS.

(b)  THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT MAY ADOPT RULES NECESSARY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NETWORK.

(2)  ONE­STOP CAREER CENTERS SHALL BE ESTABLISHED AT THE COUNTY LEVEL OR COOPERATIVELY IN MULTI­COUNTY REGIONS, AS DETERMINED BY THE CHIEF ELECTED OFFICIALS OF EACH REGION. THE CENTERS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE CHIEF ELECTED OFFICIALS OF EACH COUNTY OR REGION, AS THE CASE MAY BE, WITH POLICY GUIDANCE FROM WORK FORCE BOARDS APPOINTED BY THE CHIEF ELECTED OFFICIALS OF EACH REGION. AT THE OPTION OF SAID LOCAL OFFICIALS AND THE LOCAL WORK FORCE BOARD, CENTERS MAY BE OPERATED BY THE COUNTY, THE DIVISION, OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, OR NONPROFIT OR NOT­FOR­PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. ANY PERSON THAT APPLIES TO BECOME A CENTER OPERATOR AND IS NOT SELECTED MAY APPEAL SUCH DECISION VIA ANY AVAILABLE APPEAL PROCESS OF THE APPROPRIATE LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY.

8­71­203.  Core services. ONE­STOP CAREER CENTERS SHALL OFFER, AT A MINIMUM, BASIC LABOR EXCHANGE SERVICES AND SUCH OTHER CORE SERVICES AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE DIVISION FREE OF CHARGE. AT THE OPTION OF THE LOCAL OFFICIALS OPERATING A CENTER, OTHER SERVICES MAY BE OFFERED.

8­71­204.  Implementation ­ submission of plans. (1)  THE ONE­STOP CAREER CENTER PROGRAM SHALL RUN ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, WITH A NEW PROGRAM YEAR BEGINNING ON JULY 1 OF EACH YEAR. ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 1997, AND ON OR BEFORE MARCH 1 OF EACH YEAR THEREAFTER, THE CHIEF ELECTED OFFICIAL OR OFFICIALS OF EACH COUNTY OR REGION DESIRING TO OPERATE ONE­STOP CAREER CENTERS IN THE PROGRAM YEAR SHALL SUBMIT TO THE STATE WORK FORCE TRAINING COORDINATING COUNCIL THEIR PROPOSALS FOR THE METHOD OF SUCH OPERATION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE APPROPRIATE STATEWIDE OR REGIONAL STRUCTURE; MEANS OF INTERCONNECTION AND COOPERATION; THE PARTICULARS OF STAFFING, FACILITIES, HOURS, AND SERVICES TO BE OFFERED; AND OTHER MATTERS DEEMED RELEVANT TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE NETWORK. BEFORE SUCH PLANS ARE SUBMITTED, THE DIVISION SHALL PROVIDE EACH REGION WITH A PROJECTED ANNUAL BUDGET ALLOCATION.

(2)  THE STATE WORK FORCE TRAINING COORDINATING COUNCIL SHALL REVIEW THE PLANS SUBMITTED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (1) OF THIS SECTION AND SHALL FORWARD THEM WITH ITS RECOMMENDATIONS, IF ANY, TO THE DIVISION FOR FINAL APPROVAL. UPON FINAL APPROVAL, THE DIVISION SHALL ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH EACH REGION FOR OPERATION OF ONE­STOP CAREER CENTERS.

8­71­205.  Report. ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 1998, AND ANNUALLY THEREAFTER, THE DIVISION SHALL HAVE AVAILABLE AND SHALL, UPON REQUEST, PROVIDE TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY A REPORT ON THE STATUS AND PERFORMANCE OF THE ONE­STOP CAREER CENTER NETWORK.

SECTION 2.  8­71­106 (1), Colorado Revised Statutes, 1986 Repl. Vol., as amended, is amended to read:

8­71­106.  State employment service. (1)  The Colorado state employment service is established in the division of employment and training as a section thereof. The division, through such section, shall establish and maintain free public employment offices in such number and in such places as may be necessary for the proper administration of articles 70 to 82 of this title and for the purposes of performing such duties as are within the purview of the act of congress entitled "An Act To provide for the establishment of a national employment system and for cooperation with the States in the promotion of such system, and for other purposes.", approved June 6, 1933 (48 Stat. 113; U.S.C.A., Title 29, Sec. 49 (c)), as amended. THE DIVISION IS DESIGNATED THE AGENCY OF THIS STATE FOR PURPOSES OF CONSOLIDATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAMS AND MAY CONTRACT WITH REGIONAL AND LOCAL OFFICIALS FOR SERVICES THROUGH ONE­STOP CAREER CENTERS AND ANY ASSOCIATED SATELLITE OFFICES OR ELECTRONIC LINKAGES ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO PART 2 OF THIS ARTICLE. It is the duty of the division to cooperate with any official or agency of the United States having powers or duties under the provisions of the said act of congress, as amended, or under such other acts of congress as may be created for similar purposes; to cooperate with or enter into agreements with the railroad retirement board with respect to the establishment, maintenance, and use of free employment service facilities; and to do and perform all things necessary to secure to this state the benefits of the said act of congress, as amended, in the promotion and maintenance of a system of public employment offices. The provisions of the said act of congress, as amended, are accepted by this state in conformity with section 4 of said act, and this state will observe and comply with the requirements thereof. The Colorado division of employment is designated the agency of this state for the purposes of said act. The division is directed to appoint such officers and employees of the Colorado state employment service as necessary for the proper administration of articles 70 to 82 of this title.

SECTION 3.  Repeal. Article 46.3 of title 24, Colorado Revised Statutes, 1988 Repl. Vol., as amended, is repealed.

SECTION 4.  24­49­102 (2.5), Colorado Revised Statutes, 1988 Repl. Vol., as amended, is amended to read:

24­49­102.  Powers, duties, and functions of the Colorado economic development advisory board ­ repeal. (2.5)  The advisory board shall consult with the chair and vice­chair of the Colorado economic development commission and the chair and vice­chair of the work force training coordinating council in performing its duties with respect to the state's economic development strategic plan.

SECTION 5.  Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.