House Bill No. 549 establishes the Bayou Growth Opportunity Workforce Program in Louisiana, designed to enhance workforce development by providing competitive awards to qualified employers for training initiatives. The bill introduces Chapter 11-E of Title 23 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, defining key terms such as "approved plan," "awardee," and "qualified training provider." It also creates the Bayou Growth Opportunity Workforce Fund, a special fund within the state treasury dedicated to managing donations and grants for the program, which will be used exclusively for awarding qualified employers and administering the program.

The program will be managed by Louisiana Works in partnership with workforce development boards, which will conduct outreach to inform employers about training opportunities. The bill outlines the application process for employers, including the requirement for a training plan and evaluation of skills gaps, while specifying eligible expenses and capping awards at $2,000 per qualified employee or apprentice. It mandates annual reporting to legislative committees and allows Louisiana Works to develop application evaluation criteria by July 1, 2028, with the first annual report due by March 1, 2029. Additionally, the bill includes amendments from the House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations and the House Committee on Appropriations to ensure compliance with constitutional requirements regarding fund allocation. The bill will take effect upon the governor's signature or after the lapse of time for gubernatorial action.