HB 5480 — Relating to establishing the West Virginia Youth Summer Employment and Career Readiness Program.

HB5480 S WRK AMTAM #1 3-10Wolfe 7816 The Committee on the Workforce moved to amend the bill by striking out everything after the titleenacting clause and substitutinginserting thereforin alieu newthereof title,the tofollowing:  readARTICLE as2P. follows:Eng.

Com.WEST VIRGINIA YOUTH SUMMER EMPLOYMENT AND CAREER READINESS PROGRAM.

Sub.§5B-2P-1.

forShort Housetitle.This Billarticle 5480—Amay Billbe tocited amend and reenact the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §5B-2P-1, §5B-2P-2, §5B-2P-3, §5B-2P-4, §5B-2P-5, §5B-2P-6, §5B-2P-7, §5B-2P-8, §5B-2P-9, and §5B-2P-10, relating to establishing the West Virginia Youth Summer Employment and Career Readiness Program;Act.§5B-2P-2.

providingPurpose; purpose and legislative findings;

defininglegislative terms;findings and declarations.

establishing(a) program;The purpose of this article is to establish a statewide summer employment program for West Virginia’s students and young adults that:

specifying(1) designProvides ofpaid program;work experience, career exposure, and skill development through public and private partnerships;

directing(2) coordinationSupports withemerging stateemployment sectors and localentrepreneurship governmentalin agencies;the state;

providing(3) forGrows awardthe ofstate’s grantworkforce; funding to employer partners;

specifyingand authorized(4) usesAttracts new businesses in search of funding;prepared and job-ready young adults to the state.

requiring(b) annualThe reporting;Legislature hereby finds and declares the following:

providing(1) Early paid work experience improves educational attainment and workforce outcomes for rulemaking;students and young adults in the state.

providing(2) forWest fundingVirginia throughfaces specialpersistent revenueworkforce accountshortages and grantsyouth out-migration, and donations;preparing students and young adults for careers within the state is a valuable tool not only for the retention of the state’s youth but also to prepare them for successful careers at a critical juncture in their lives.

(3) The creation of a paid summer employment program in the state will aid in retaining the state’s youngest citizens and providingwill forfurther immunities.   AdoptedRejectedboost the state’s economic vitality by helping to build a robust workforce that will incentivize businesses to locate in the state.

(4) Such a program will enhance West Virginia’s workforce with motivated and career-ready young citizens, reduce dependence on governmental assistance and services, help to carry the state forward toward economic prosperity, and is therefore one of the most valuable investments that can be made for the future of the state.

§5B-2P-3.

Definitions.

For purposes of this article:

(1) "Department" means the Department of Commerce.

(2) "Priority youth population" means youth who are at least 14 and not more than 20 years of age at the time of participation in the program.

(3) "Employer partner" means a private business, nonprofit organization, local or state agency or government, or public agency that provides paid work placements under the program.

(4) "Matching contribution" means a monetary or documented in-kind contribution from an employer partner or non-state entity.

(5) "Program" means the West Virginia Youth Summer Employment and Career Readiness Program created by this article and administered by the Division of Workforce Development within the Department of Commerce.§5B-2P-4.

Creation of West Virginia Youth Summer Employment and Career Readiness Program.

(a) Program created.

– The West Virginia Youth Summer Employment and Career Readiness Program is hereby established within the Department of Commerce’s Division of Workforce Development.

The department shall administer the program to provide youth who are at least 14 and not more than 20 years of age at the time of participation in the program with paid summer employment, structured work-based learning, and career exploration opportunities aligned with workforce needs of the State of West Virginia.

  (b) Grant placements.

– In awarding grants and approving placements in the program, the department shall direct funding across all regions of the state and shall emphasize training and exposure to employment opportunities that include apprenticeships, internships, and paid employment experiences that prepare participating youth for emerging and essential job growth sectors.

(c) Program design.

– The department shall, in administering the program, prioritize the facilitation of work experiences that emphasize:(1) High-demand and emerging industries identified through labor market data and workforce development plans;(2) Opportunities that provide foundational skills for long-term employment and career advancement;(3) Public service opportunities that provide participating youth with the chance to assist and improve their local community and to be exposed to the rewards and benefits of public service;(4) Exposure to entrepreneurship, self-employment, and small business development, including skills relevant to starting and operating a business;

and(5) Career pathways that align with regional economic development strategies.(d) Coordination.

– In administering the program and awarding grants, the department shall coordinate with the West Virginia Department of Education and with individual county boards of education to identify the types of training opportunities currently being provided in the state and in individual counties.

The department shall further coordinate with the Division of Labor and with its economic development partners to identify emerging job growth trends and to communicate those trends to employer partners and program participants.

The department shall actively engage with employers, industry associations, public and private educational institutions, and economic development partners to identify current and projected employment trends and to inform, recruit, and encourage employer partners to offer placements aligned with those trends.(e) Participation.

– In administering the program, the department shall provide equal access to all eligible youth.

 §5B-2P-5.

Employer partnerships and matching requirements.

Program funds shall be awarded by the department through state grants to private and public employer partners.