SB 2146

Abstract

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to create a Clean Water Workforce Pipeline Program to provide grants and other financial assistance to individuals for careers in water infrastructure. Provides requirements for funding, grants, and other financial assistance from the Program on a competitive and annual basis for specified activities. Provides that the Program shall have an annual goal of training and placing 2,500 specified individuals in water sector jobs annually. Directs the Department to coordinate with the Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois Finance Authority, and other State agencies that provide financial support for water infrastructure projects in order to encourage the employment of individuals trained through the Program onto projects receiving State financial assistance. Provides that the Department may select a Program Administrator to oversee the allocation of funds and select organizations that receive funding. Requires recipients under the Program to report annually to the Department on the success of their efforts and their contribution to reaching the goals of the Program. Requires the Department to compile the information and report specified information to the General Assembly annually. Within 90 days after the amendatory Act's effective date, requires the Department to propose a draft plan to implement amendatory Act's provisions for public comment and to finalize the plan within 180 days after the amendatory Act's effective date. Grants rulemaking authority to the Department to implement the Program and ensure compliance with the amendatory Act's provisions. Provides that moneys in the Water Workforce Development Fund shall only be used to fund the Program and to assist and enable implementation of clean water infrastructure capital investments. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Water Workforce Development Fund. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: Provides that the Program shall be funded by appropriations from the Build Illinois Bond Fund, Capital Development Fund, or General Revenue Fund or other funds as identified by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Provides that grants may be made, among other entities, to multi-craft labor organizations (currently, labor unions). Removes language providing that the continuing education for individuals to prepare for and build on workforce training and the training of individuals in various skill and trades necessary to build and maintain clean water infrastructure are activities for which grants and other financial assistance may be awarded. Provides that an annual goal of the Program is to train and place at least 300, or 25% of the number of annual jobs created by State financed water infrastructure projects, whichever is greater (currently, 2,500), specified persons in water sector-related apprenticeships (currently, jobs) annually. Provides that the Environmental Protection Agency, the Illinois Finance Authority, and other State agencies that provide financial support for water infrastructure projects shall support the Program in attaining the goal of employing specified individuals. Provides that the Water Workforce Development Fund shall receive moneys from the Build Illinois Bond, the Capital Development Fund, the General Revenue Fund, and any other funds. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Provides that "multi-craft labor organization" includes a labor-management apprenticeship program that is registered with and approved by a labor organization that has an accredited training program through the Higher Learning Commission or the Illinois Community College Board.