(a) Oversight.--The department shall oversee the operation of the grant program, with appropriate agency staffing support from the participating agencies.
(b) Assistance.--In addition to the specific departmental duties under subsection (c), participating agencies shall assist the department in carrying out this chapter in relation to each agency's roles and responsibilities, including providing to the department all information relevant to the implementation of this chapter. The information shall include all performance measurement information necessary to evaluate any program or policy impacting workforce development in this Commonwealth.
(c) Agencies.--The following agencies shall work with the department as set forth below:
(1) The Department of Agriculture shall:
(i) Advise the department on the agriculture industry and agriculture education economic development strategies, programs and initiatives.
(ii) Facilitate agricultural industry clusters, to include production agriculture, at the State and local levels to ensure accurate representation of all sectors and inclusion of those fields typically categorized as self-employment.
(iii) Advise the department on career pathways available in the rural communities of this Commonwealth and nontraditional career pathways available to urban and disadvantaged students and citizens.
(iii.1) Work in collaboration with the department to use forward-facing employment data to project and identify future and emerging employment opportunities in the agriculture industry.
(iv) Work in collaboration with the department and the Department of Education to identify emerging career opportunities, including support in establishing career ladders and career pathways.
(v) Support initiatives to develop industry-recognized credentials and new credit-bearing programs in this Commonwealth's public and private postsecondary institutions, especially in critical occupations.
(2) The Department of Community and Economic Development shall:
(i) Advise the department of its workforce and economic development strategies, programs and initiatives.
(ii) Align existing training programs with industry partnerships.
(iii) Make relevant business assistance programs available to industry partnerships.
(iv) Coordinate with the department on areas of business retention.
(v) Advise the department of its industry competitiveness programs and cluster strategies.
(vi) Work in collaboration with the department to use forward-facing employment data to project and identify future and emerging employment opportunities to create workforce and economic development strategies.
(3) The Department of Corrections shall:
(i) Align training for inmates with industry clusters and high-priority occupations and annually review these training programs to assure that the training programs prepare individuals for high-priority occupations.
(ii) Align reentry programs to take advantage of information and career opportunities provided by industry partnerships.
(iii) Work in collaboration with the department to use forward-facing employment data to project and identify future and emerging employment opportunities for purposes of aligning reentry programs with current and emerging industry clusters and high-priority occupations.
(4) The Department of Education shall:
(i) Work with the department to support career pathways.
(ii) Support innovative programs to address literacy, including English as a second language, and numeracy shortcomings, especially in those occupations which are critical to targeted industry clusters and which lead to postsecondary education and employment.
(iii) Collaborate with the department to develop programs and strategies to reduce barriers to adult education.
(iv) Coordinate career education initiatives in middle and high schools, especially in Project 720 schools and career and technical education programs.
(v) Support initiatives to develop industry- recognized credentials and new credit-bearing programs in this Commonwealth's public and private postsecondary institutions, especially in occupations critical to targeted industry clusters.
(vi) Work in collaboration with the department to determine education and skill gaps associated with targeted industry clusters.
(vi.1) Work in collaboration with the department to use forward-facing employment data to project and identify future and emerging employment opportunities.
(vii) Advise and assist high-school-based career and technical education programs to develop high-priority occupation programs.
(viii) Within two years following the effective date of this act, regulations may be promulgated by the Department of Education in consultation with career and technical school administrators. The regulations shall conform to career and technical schools' needs and assist to align their needs with employer demands. Incentives shall be included to increase alignment. Until this program and regulations are in effect, secondary career and technical schools and programs shall not be required to meet the requirements for high-priority occupations for program approval.
(5) The Department of Human Services shall:
(i) Create and maintain innovative programs which connect qualified TANF clients with employment opportunities in the targeted industry clusters.
(ii) Support strategies to prepare TANF clients for success in postsecondary education and training programs.
(iii) Develop career education initiatives which provide TANF clients with information to guide their education and training plans.
(iv) Collect and share employment information with the department.
Credits
2001, Dec. 18, P.L. 949, No. 114, § 1307, added 2011, July 7, P.L. 289, No. 67, § 2, imd. effective. Amended 2022, July 7, P.L. 399, No. 31, § 9, effective in 60 days [Sept. 6, 2022].
24 P.S. § 6250.1307, PA ST 24 P.S. § 6250.1307
Current through Act 10 of the 2024 Regular Session. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
