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2019 SESSION

19101378D
SENATE BILL NO. 1589
Offered January 9, 2019
Prefiled January 9, 2019
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 24 of Title 2.2 an article numbered 27, consisting of sections numbered 2.2-2491 through 2.2-2494, relating to education and workforce development; Virginia Works Portal created.
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Patron-- Dunnavant
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Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 24 of Title 2.2 an article numbered 27, consisting of sections numbered 2.2-2491 through 2.2-2494, as follows:

Article 27.
Virginia Works Portal.

§ 2.2-2491. Definitions.

As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Advisory Committee" means the Virginia Works Advisory Committee.

"Authority" means the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority.

"Board" means the Virginia Works Board.

"One-stop" means a conceptual approach to service delivery intended to provide a single point of electronic access for receiving a wide range of education, workforce, and employment information and data.

"Portal" means the Virginia Works Portal.

§ 2.2-2492. Virginia Works Board; purpose; membership.

A. The Virginia Works Board is established as a policy board in the executive branch of state government. The purpose of the Board is to connect, streamline, cultivate, and coordinate efforts in the Commonwealth related to the development of educational and career pathways, and workforce development needs and opportunities, with an ultimate goal of creating an adaptive, agile, and highly trained workforce in the Commonwealth responsive to the needs of employers, employees, job seekers, and students.

B. The Board shall have a total of five members as follows: the director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the president of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority, the Superintendent of State Instruction, the chancellor of the Virginia Community College System, and the Chief Workforce Advisor to the Governor. The president of the Authority shall serve as chair of the Board.

C. Staff support and technical assistance to the Board in carrying out the provisions of this article shall be provided by the Authority. Other agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide support to the Authority, upon request.

§ 2.2-2493. Virginia Works Portal created.

A. The Board shall develop the Virginia Works Portal, a one-stop portal to provide access to students, schools, educational institutions, job seekers, and potential employers to information regarding education pathways, career opportunities, and workforce development information available from agencies, institutions, and entities around the Commonwealth. The Portal shall provide an interactive, user-friendly environment for users. The Portal shall include access to:

1. The strategic workforce dashboard and tools overseen by the Virginia Board of Workforce Development pursuant to § 2.2-2472;

2. The online portal maintained by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia pursuant to § 23.1-908, including access to education pathways;

3. Information, services, and online resources related to the Training, Education, Employment, and Opportunity Program administered by the Department of Medical Assistance Services;

4. Information about and links to applications for the New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Program established pursuant to Article 4.1 (§ 23.1-627.1 et seq.) of Chapter 6 of Title 23.1;

5. Information, services, and online resources related to the Registered Apprenticeship Program administered by the Department of Labor and Industry; and

6. Information and links to any other state resources identified by the Board as being relevant to education, employment, or workforce development.

B. The Board shall identify and facilitate access to additional data, information, methodologies, or analytics through the Portal that would be beneficial to developing the Commonwealth's workforce.

C. The Board shall develop a methodology to provide for funding and maintenance of the Portal to be shared equitably among participating agencies and entities. Agency funding may be provided from existing funds appropriated in a general appropriation act for career or education pathway development, career development services, or economic development activities.

D. The Board shall provide an interim update annually by July 1 to the Joint Subcommittee on the Future Competitiveness of Virginia Higher Education, and shall report annually by December 1 to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance regarding the development and implementation of the Portal.

§ 2.2-2494. Virginia Works Advisory Committee.

A. The Board shall be advised by the Virginia Works Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee shall consist of representatives of the following: the Virginia Growth and Opportunity Board, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the Virginia Business Higher Education Council, the Virginia Board of Workforce Development, the Virginia Employment Commission, the Department of Labor and Industry, the Department of Social Services, the Department of Medical Assistance Services, and any other agency or entity identified by the Board as being necessary to the ongoing development and success of the Portal.

B. The Advisory Committee shall advise the Board regarding the creation, development, and maintenance of the Portal.