2013 -- S 0403

=======

LC00785

=======

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

____________

A N A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS - THE RHODE ISLAND JOBS MATCH

ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

     Introduced By: Senators Sheehan, P Fogarty, Paiva Weed, Ruggerio, and Algiere

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Labor

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1-1

     SECTION 1. Title 28 of the General Laws entitled "LABOR AND LABOR

1-2

RELATIONS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

1-3

     CHAPTER 55

1-4

THE RHODE ISLAND JOBS MATCH ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

1-5

     28-55-1. Short title. – This chapter shall be known and may be cited as "The Rhode

1-6

Island Jobs Match Enhancement Program."

1-7

     28-55-2. Legislative findings. – The general assembly finds and declares that:

1-8

     (1) Rhode Island’s statewide career pathways systems must be driven by local business

1-9

and industry needs;

1-10

     (2) Despite high unemployment, businesses report difficulties and frustration in locating

1-11

employment candidates with the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities they need;

1-12

     (3) Locating, training and preparing candidates to fill job openings is an expense that few

1-13

companies can afford;

1-14

     (4) The state needs a focused interagency collaboration to provide easy access for

1-15

businesses to find competent employees and job seekers to obtain necessary resources, training

1-16

and skills development; and

1-17

     (5) The state needs to build upon the efforts of the department of labor and training to

1-18

facilitate employers’ access to high quality, skilled job seekers and reduce the number of

1-19

unemployed individuals in Rhode Island.

2-1

     28-55-3. The Rhode Island enhanced job match system. – On or before July 2, 2014,

2-2

the department of labor and training shall implement the jobs match enhancement program using

2-3

the current department of labor and training web based workforce and job system as a basis, with

2-4

significant enhancements, as follows:

2-5

     (1) It shall be easy for employers to participate in, update and receive responses from job

2-6

seekers, addressing potential barriers to participation;

2-7

     (2) It shall be understandable, accessible and productive for job seekers, including

2-8

measures to ensure literacy-based accessibility;

2-9

     (3) It shall allow for the prompt identification of workers who are partially, but not fully

2-10

matched for job openings, resulting in timely skill gap remediation plans;

2-11

     (4) It shall have the ability to address identified skill gaps through the provision of

2-12

training and/or education;

2-13

     (5) It shall notify the department of labor and training of the nature of the skill gaps

2-14

which exist between job openings and job seekers, and shall have the ability to aggregate skill

2-15

gap reports for the department.

2-16

     (6) It shall be promoted and advertised to maximize business and employment use; and

2-17

     (7) In an effort to ensure that employers’ hiring needs are being met, employers shall be

2-18

encouraged to engage with the system and provide information pertaining to job openings and

2-19

desired skill sets for potential new hires.

2-20

     28-55-4. Reporting. – On or before October 1, 2013, the department of labor and training

2-21

shall report to the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives on the

2-22

progress toward implementing the jobs match enhancement program, along with an estimate of

2-23

any additional costs related to the purchase of the enhancements listed in section 28-55-3.

2-24

     28-55-5. Funding. – The implementation of enhancements to the department of labor and

2-25

training’s web based workforce and job system shall be contingent upon available public and/ or

2-26

private financing.

2-27

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

=======

LC00785

=======

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS - THE RHODE ISLAND JOBS MATCH

ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

***

3-1

     This act would establish the Rhode Island jobs match enhancement program to streamline

3-2

and enhance the efficiency of the department of labor and training.

3-3

     This act would take effect upon passage.

=======

LC00785

=======