Senate Bill 187 mandates the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) to conduct a study on the establishment of a job guarantee and full employment grant program. This program aims to provide grants to public and nonprofit employers in the care economy, which includes sectors such as healthcare, childcare, and social services, to create job opportunities for specific groups. These groups include individuals with disabilities, heads of households earning 150% or less of the federal poverty line, long-term unemployed individuals, previously incarcerated individuals, and young adults aged 18 to 24. The study will assess the necessary positions, costs, eligibility, training strategies, and pathways to full-time employment, with a requirement for DWD to report its findings and recommendations within 18 months.

To support this initiative, the bill includes a fiscal provision that increases the appropriation for the DWD by $250,000 for the fiscal year 2025-26, specifically for conducting the study and preparing the report. The bill is set to take effect the day after publication or on the second day after the publication of the 2025 biennial budget act, whichever is later.