The proposed General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1260 seeks to enhance manufacturing workforce training opportunities for women in Connecticut by establishing the Connecticut Career Accelerator Program Account within the Office of Workforce Strategy. This program will focus on providing training for commercial driver's licenses and other identified careers, with a mandate to design a supportive program by July 1, 2024, and to identify additional training opportunities requiring less than one year of training by July 1, 2025. The bill emphasizes the inclusion of women in manufacturing-related training and mandates the provision of information regarding career and financial counseling services available through Connecticut State Community College.

Key provisions of the bill include the development of metrics for qualified training providers, incentive-based payments for these providers, and a targeted marketing plan for underserved populations, particularly women. The legislation also requires regional workforce investment boards to specifically promote youth manufacturing training programs to female high school students in grades eleven and twelve. Additionally, it removes certain existing language to streamline the focus on women's participation in these training opportunities. The Office of Workforce Strategy is tasked with annual reporting on the program's design, implementation, and demographic participation starting July 1, 2025, while also ensuring that women are informed about interest-free loans and counseling services available to them. The effective date for these provisions is set for July 1, 2025, and the bill amends existing statutes to incorporate these new requirements.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 4-124mm