A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to further encourage workforce development reform by expanding the role of the state board of community colleges and increasing collaboration among certain state agencies in delivering services to assist unemployed individuals reenter the workforce.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

PART I. ALIGNMENT OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE COURSES WITH LABORSHED DEMANDS
SECTION 1.(a)  The State Board of Community Colleges (State Board), in collaboration with the Department of Commerce (NCDOC) and the Department of Transportation (DOT), shall align courses offered by community colleges with designated laborsheds to ensure that community colleges are effectively serving students participating in the State's workforce development programs. For the purposes of this act, "laborshed" shall mean the area or region from which an employment center draws its commuting workers. In order to align the community college courses with the needs of the laborshed in which a community college campus is located, the State Board, in collaboration with NCDOC and DOT, shall do at least all of the following:
(1)	Create an inventory of the current courses offered at community colleges aimed at workforce development and training and for noncollege student transfers.
(2)	Conduct a statewide laborshed analysis utilizing current data from the NC Back‑to‑Work program, Integrated Workforce System (IWS) program, and information regarding commuting patterns in relation to the geographical location of employers with high workforce demands.
(3)	Compare the suitability of current community college course offerings to the existing workforce demand and industries in each laborshed.
(4)	Identify overlapping courses offered at more than one community college within a laborshed and any unmet needs for certain courses within a particular laborshed.
(5)	Consolidate community college campuses, if necessary, to maximize accessibility to the workforce training courses applicable to designated laborsheds.
SECTION 1.(b)  The State Board, in collaboration with NCDOC and DOT, shall modify community college course offerings to align with laborshed areas and consolidate community college campuses, if necessary, to implement the requirements of this section. The measures taken by the State Board to implement this section shall be reported to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee and the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations on or before January 1, 2014.

PART II. INCREASE ACCESS TO A RANGE OF STATE SERVICES FOR UNEMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS
SECTION 2.(a)  The Department of Commerce (NCDOC), in collaboration with the State Board and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), shall streamline access for unemployed individuals to receive information regarding community college course offerings and workforce development training, social services eligibility and benefits, and job and training opportunities, particularly through local workforce development boards, NC JobConnector, and JobLink hosted by the NCDOC, Division of Workforce Solutions, and the development of the online One‑Stop Delivery System created by the NC Commission on Workforce Development.
SECTION 2.(b)  NCDOC shall also do at least the following to develop a plan to increase availability of unemployment services and provide guidance to unemployed individuals so that they may reenter the workforce:
(1)	Determine potential physical locations for one‑stop centers to serve every county and align with laborsheds designated in accordance with Section 1 of this act.
(2)	Analyze the current alignment of JobLink Career Centers with designated laborsheds.
(3)	Consult with the State Board on locating one‑stop centers on or near community college campuses located within designated laborsheds.
(4)	Determine staffing needs to ensure that every one‑stop center can provide assistance to unemployed individuals in at least all of the following ways:
a.	Access to the online One‑Stop Delivery System.
b.	Guidance on applying for unemployment benefits.
c.	Workforce skills assessments.
d.	Connection to any available job opportunities in the area.
e.	Connection to workforce training opportunities.
f.	Guidance on applying for supportive social services.
g.	Job coaches or case managers for unemployed individuals to assist in their employment searches.
SECTION 2.(c)  NCDOC, in collaboration with the State Board and DHHS, shall report on the implementation of subsections (a) and (b) of this section to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations, the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, and the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services on or before January 1, 2014.

PART III. INCREASE TUITION TO SUPPORT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN THE ENROLLMENT IN PROGRAMS FOR HIGH‑DEMAND OCCUPATIONS
SECTION 3.(a)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, effective July 1, 2013, the State Board of Community Colleges shall increase the rate of in‑State and out‑of‑state tuition at every community college institution by one dollar ($1.00) from the rate established for the 2012‑2013 fiscal year. Notwithstanding G.S. 115D‑39(a), the receipts from the increase in tuition shall be used to support financial assistance for students who do not qualify for need‑based assistance but who are enrolled in low‑enrollment programs that prepare students for high‑demand occupations through the Targeted Assistance program as described in G.S. 115D‑40.1(b)(1).
SECTION 3.(b)  The State Board of Community Colleges shall study the enrollment of students in low‑enrollment programs that prepare students for high‑demand occupations. In doing so, the State Board shall consider at least the following issues:
(1)	The definition of "low enrollment, high employment demand" programs by individual colleges and how local labor market needs inform that definition.
(2)	The development of State Board guidelines for individual institutions to make determinations on which programs qualify as "low enrollment, high employment."
(3)	The reporting by individual institutions to the State Board on existing local labor markets to more effectively align community college course offerings.
(4)	Strategies to increase student enrollment in these programs.
SECTION 3.(c)  The State Board of Community Colleges shall report on the study required by subsection (b) of this section and make recommendations to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on or before January 1, 2014, on strategies to increase student enrollment in "low enrollment, high employment demand" programs.

PART IV. TRANSFER OF THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM TO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES SYSTEM OFFICE
SECTION 4.(a)  The Apprenticeship program currently housed within the North Carolina Department of Labor is transferred to the North Carolina Community Colleges System Office, by a Type I transfer as defined in G.S. 143A‑6, with all the elements of such a transfer. Joint delivery of Apprenticeship and Community College workforce training programs shall ensure coordination of program delivery and appropriate classroom training supporting the needs of students and employers.
SECTION 4.(b)  G.S. 143A‑71 is repealed.
SECTION 4.(c)  Article 1 of Chapter 115D is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 115D‑5.2. Apprenticeship Council; transfer.
The Apprenticeship Council, as contained in Chapter 94 of the General Statutes and the laws of this State, is hereby transferred by a Type I transfer to the North Carolina Community Colleges System Office."
SECTION 4.(d)  G.S. 94‑1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 94‑1. Purpose.
The purposes of this Chapter are: to open to young people the opportunity to obtain training that will equip them for profitable employment and citizenship; to set up, as a means to this end, a program of voluntary apprenticeship under approved apprentice agreements providing facilities for their training and guidance in the arts and crafts of industry and trade, with parallel instruction in related and supplementary education; to promote employment opportunities for young people under conditions providing adequate training and reasonable earnings; to relate the supply of skilled workers to employment demands; to establish standards for apprentice training; to establish an Apprenticeship Council and apprenticeship committees and sponsors to assist in effectuating the purposes of this Chapter; to provide for a Director of Apprenticeship within the Community Colleges System Office; to provide for reports to the legislature and to the public regarding the status of apprentice training in the State; to establish a procedure for the determination of apprentice agreement controversies; and to accomplish related ends."
SECTION 4.(e)  G.S. 94‑2 reads as rewritten:
"§ 94‑2. Apprenticeship Council.
The State Board of Community Colleges shall appoint an Apprenticeship Council composed of four representatives each from employer and employee organizations respectively and three representatives from the public at large. One State official designated by the Department of Public Instruction and one State official designated by the Department of Labor shall be a member ex officio of said council, without vote. The terms of office of the members of the Apprenticeship Council appointed by the State Board of Community Colleges shall expire as designated by the State Board at the time of making the appointment: two representatives each of employers and employees, being appointed for one year and one representative of the public at large being appointed for two years; and one representative each of employers, employees, and the public at large being appointed for a term of three years. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term of his predecessor shall be appointed for the remainder of said term. Each member of the Council not otherwise compensated by public moneys, shall be reimbursed for transportation and shall receive such per diem compensation as is provided generally for boards and commissions under the biennial maintenance appropriation acts for each day spent in attendance at meetings of the Apprenticeship Council. The State Board of Community Colleges shall annually appoint one member of the Council to act as its chairman.
The Apprenticeship Council shall meet at the call of the State Board of Community Colleges and shall aid the State Board in formulating policies for the effective administration of this Chapter. Subject to the approval of the State Board of Community Colleges, the Apprenticeship Council shall establish standards for apprentice agreement which in no case shall be lower than those prescribed by this Chapter, shall issue such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the intent and purposes of said Chapter, and shall perform such other functions as the State Board may direct. Not less than once a year the Apprenticeship  Council shall make a report through the State Board of Community Colleges of its activities and findings to the legislature and to the public."
SECTION 4.(f)  G.S. 94‑3 reads as rewritten:
"§ 94‑3. Director of Apprenticeship.
The State Board of Community Colleges is hereby directed to appoint a Director of Apprenticeship which appointment shall be subject to the confirmation of the State Apprenticeship Council by a majority vote. The State Board of Community Colleges is further authorized to appoint and employ such clerical, technical, and professional help as shall be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Chapter."
SECTION 4.(g)  G.S. 94‑4 reads as rewritten:
"§ 94‑4. Powers and duties of Director of Apprenticeship.
The Director, under the supervision of the State Board of Community Colleges and with the advice and guidance of the Apprenticeship Council is authorized to administer the provisions of this Chapter; in cooperation with the Apprenticeship Council and apprenticeship committees and sponsors, to set up conditions and training standards for apprentice agreements, which conditions or standards shall in no case be lower than those prescribed by this Chapter; to act as secretary of the Apprenticeship Council; to approve for the Council if in the Director's opinion approval is for the best interest of the apprenticeship any apprentice agreement which meets the standards established under this Chapter; to terminate or cancel any apprentice agreement in accordance with the provisions of such agreement; to keep a record of apprentice agreements and their disposition; to issue certificates of completion of apprenticeship; and to perform such other duties as are necessary to carry out the intent of this Chapter, including other on‑job training necessary for emergency and critical civilian production: Provided, that the administration and supervision of related and supplemental instruction for apprentices, coordination of instruction with job experiences, and the selection and training of teachers and coordinators for such instruction shall be the responsibility of State and local boards responsible for vocational education."
SECTION 4.(h)  G.S. 94‑6 reads as rewritten:
"§ 94‑6. Definition of an apprentice.
The term "apprentice," as used herein, shall mean a person at least 16 years of age who is covered by a written apprenticeship agreement approved by the Apprenticeship Council, which apprenticeship agreement provides for not less than 2,000 hours of reasonably continuous employment for such person for his or her participation in an approved schedule of work experience and for organized, related supplemental instruction in technical subjects related to the trade. A minimum of 144 hours of related supplemental instruction for each year of apprenticeship is recommended. The required hours for apprenticeship agreements and the recommended hours for related supplemental instruction may be decreased or increased in accordance with standards adopted by the apprenticeship committee or sponsor, subject to approval of the State Board of Community Colleges"
SECTION 4.(i)  G.S. 94‑12 reads as rewritten:
"§ 94‑12. Fees.
The following fees are imposed on each apprentice who is covered by a written apprenticeship agreement entered into under this Chapter: (i) a new registration fee of fifty dollars ($50.00); and (ii) an annual fee of fifty dollars ($50.00). The fees are departmental receipts and must be applied to the costs of administering the apprenticeship program. The State Board of Community Colleges may adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 150B of the General Statutes to implement this section."
SECTION 4.(j)  If the transfer required by subsection (a) of this section is subject to approval by the Office of Apprenticeship, United States Department of Labor, this section shall be effective upon the date of such approval. No changes in the organizational structure of the programs transferred under this section, other than those provided by this section, shall take place prior to January 1, 2014.
Notwithstanding G.S. 94‑2, as amended by this act, the current members serving on the Apprenticeship Council as of the effective date of this act shall serve the remainder of their terms. Thereafter, as terms expire, or when a vacancy occurs prior to the expiration of a term, members on the Apprenticeship Council shall be appointed by the State Board of Community Colleges in accordance with G.S. 94‑2, as amended by this act. The State Board of Community Colleges shall present a plan for any organizational changes to the Apprenticeship Program required for implementation of this act to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee no less than 30 days before they are proposed to become effective.

PART V. EFFECTIVE DATE
SECTION 5.  Except as otherwise provided in this act, this act is effective when it becomes law.