Earlier this year, 1A released a Regional Workforce Development Strategy (RWDS), partnering with workforce development stakeholders across the region on initiatives that strengthen our workforce pipeline. 1A tracked several bills this session in line with RWDS goals. Two of the successful bills 1A supported were SB102 by Sen. Ronnie Johns and HB584 by Rep. Walt Leger.
SB102 (Johns) creates the La. Educational Workforce Training Fund. The purpose of this fund is to provide for degree and certificate production through workforce training programs offered by Louisiana’s public two-year, community, and technical colleges. The fund enables targeted funding for short-term, high-demand workforce training programs that lead to industry-based certifications or other credentials of value to employers. Distribution of funds is outcomes-based and requires a 20 percent match from a private entity. Other states like Indiana and Virginia have created similar funds, which allow for addressing the state’s unique workforce challenges. The fund is subject to future appropriation.
HB584 (Leger) creates the La. Early Childhood Education Fund and provides for awards to local entities for certain early childhood education programs. Louisiana is losing about $1.1 billion per year due to absences from work, given that nearly 70 percent of children age birth through 5 have both parents or their single parent in the workforce with limited access to child care. At the same time, Louisiana has cut funding for the Child Care Assistance Program by 70 percent since 2008. This bill would create an incentive for local governments to identify revenue for the purpose of child care assistance programming, by establishing a mechanism for the state to offer partial matching funds. Like SB102 (Johns), there is no funding attached to this bill, and the fund is subject to future appropriation.
Another successful bill 1A supported related to our workforce development priorities was HB113 (Broadwater), which extends the authority of the public postsecondary education management boards to establish and increase student fees. This is in line with 1A’s policy of supporting increased autonomy for higher education institutions.