(Doc Name H:\LEGWORK\HOUSE\AMEND\H-WM\001\NR SUCCEED SCV3.DOCX):
EXPLANATION: Directs DEW to establish a program to provide subsidized direct training for eligible individuals at eligible training institutions for the purpose of improving employment outcomes for eligible individuals by using the most recent revenue certified by the revenue and fiscal affairs office for unclaimed property
Amend the bill, as and if amended, Part IB, Section 118, STATEWIDE REVENUE, page 573, after line 14, by adding appropriately numbered items to read:
/( ) R60 - Department of Employment and Workforce
Direct
Training (SucceedSC)
$15,000,000
( .1) From the funds
appropriated above to the Department of Employment and Workforce
(department) for direct training, the department shall, by
August 1, 2015, establish a program to provide subsidized direct
training for eligible individuals at eligible training
institutions for the purpose of improving employment outcomes
for eligible individuals pursuant to the requirements of this
section.
(A) Eligibility for individuals shall
be determined by the department but shall include, at a minimum,
negative screening for drugs of abuse, successful completion of
Silver WorkKeys certification, participation in employment
preparation activities as directed by the department, and
maintaining adequate attendance and vocational progress in
prescribed training programs subsidized by the program.
(B) Eligibility for institutions to
provide training services shall be determined by the department
but shall include, at a minimum licensure as an eligible
institution of higher education or postsecondary job skills
training, a demonstrable record of positive employment outcomes
as evaluated by the department, and a suitable return on
investment of training dollars, and assessed by the department
and steering committee.
(C) Eligible training programs
selected shall be those most likely to produce long-term
employment for the greatest number of eligible individuals, and
display potential for long-term wage growth.
(1) The department shall select
training programs at eligible institutions based on information
received from unfilled jobs reports, surveys of businesses
detailing employment needs, and feedback from local business
associations and economic development professionals.
(2) In order to make appropriate
determinations of employee demand and program eligibility, the
department shall divide the state into four distinct regions and
produce a separate analysis detailed in item (C)(1) for each
region. The department may choose to provide direct training
funds for different sets of eligible programs in each of the
four regions, based on regional need. Nothing in this section
precludes eligible individuals from seeking training in a region
in which they do not reside.
(3) The department may negotiate the
cost of eligible training programs with eligible training
providers and enter into memorandums of agreement with training
providers, including public institutions of higher education to
ratify negotiated fee schedules.
(4) The department may approve
training programs established to address the training needs of a
single employer or industry that does not result in a training
certificate or nationally recognized trade certification. Funds
used for this purpose shall not supplant those appropriated for
ReadySC and, to the extent practicable, employers who appear to
be eligible for participation in ReadySC must be referred by the
department to the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive
Education for inclusion in that program.
(D) Funding for eligible individuals
pursuant to item (A) participating in eligible training programs
pursuant to items (B) and (C) shall be made on a reimbursable
basis. Individuals electing to participate in a subsidized
training program pursuant to this section must agree to repay
the department on a schedule approved by the department. The
department shall provide explanation of this requirement on
applications and promissory notes produced by the department for
the administration of this program. The department shall
partner with the South Carolina Department of Revenue to
administer recovery of training funds through the state's income
tax program.
(E) The department shall, by August
1, 2015, report to the Governor, Chairman of Senate Finance, and
Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, on
accountability measures used to evaluate the success of training
programs in terms of cost, completion, employment outcomes, wage
growth, and other indicators deemed necessary by the department
to measure program effectiveness.
(F) The department may retain and
expend not more than seven percent of total funds appropriated
for the program to be used for program development, marketing
and recruiting efforts, and administration of the program.
(G) Unexpended funds appropriated for
this program and those recovered pursuant to item (D) of this
section shall be carried forward and used for the same purpose.
/
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend totals and titles to conform.