2012 -- S 2693 SUBSTITUTE A

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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A N A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS - JOBS MATCH PROGRAM

     Introduced By: Senators Sheehan, Lynch, Paiva Weed, Bates, and Ruggerio

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2012

     Referred To: Senate Labor

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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

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     CHAPTER 55

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THE RHODE ISLAND ENHANCED JOBS MATCH PROGRAM

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

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Island Enhanced Jobs Match Program Act.”

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

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

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and industry needs;

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

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

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

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companies can afford;

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

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

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and skills development;

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

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

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unemployed individuals in Rhode Island.

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     28-55-3. The Rhode Island enhanced jobs match system. -- On or before July 2, 2013,

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the department of labor and training shall implement the enhanced jobs match system which shall

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utilize the current department of labor and training web-based workforce and job system as a

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basis, with significant enhancements, as follows:

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

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seekers, addressing potential barriers to participation;

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

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measures to ensure literacy based accessibility;

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

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

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

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training and/or education;

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

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

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gap reports for the department;

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

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

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

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desired skill sets for potential new hires.

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     28-55-4. Reporting. -- On or before October 1, 2012, the department of labor and

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training shall report to the president of the senate and the speaker of the house on the progress

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toward implementing the enhanced job match system, along with an estimate of any additional

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costs related to the purchase of the enhancements set forth in section 28-55-3.

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

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training’s web-based workforce and job system shall be contingent upon available funding.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS - JOBS MATCH PROGRAM

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     This act would authorize the state department of labor and training to investigate the

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adoption of an enhanced jobs match system and estimate the cost of its implementation.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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