I hope your summers are off to a fun start!
It has been several weeks since the hectic regular session of the Connecticut General Assembly ended. This week and in the summer weeks ahead, I will be updating you on bills that were passed by the State Legislature. Many of these policies did not receive a lot of public attention, but many of them are important steps we need to take in order to grow our economy and become stronger as a state.
This week’s policy focus is workforce development. I hear from business owners all the time about how more needs to be done in order to meet the demand for unfilled jobs. I voted for the following bills, which received bipartisan support, to help us to meet that goal.
Senate Bill 356: An Act Establishing the Connecticut Apprenticeship and Education Committee. This bill broadens the scope of the state education commissioner’s committee on manufacturing careers to also include careers in insurance, health care, financial and bio-technology, STEM, construction trades, hospitality and other fields to help connect students with future job opportunities in various industries.
Senate Bill 854: An Act Promoting Careers in Manufacturing to Public School Students and Establishing a Task Force to Study the Demand for Career and Technical Education Teachers. This bill requires schools to help students explore careers including in manufacturing, military and law enforcement, including a focus on career paths for students choosing not to pursue advanced degrees. The legislation also requires the state to consider the demand for careers and technical education teachers.
House Bill 5833: An Act Establishing a Pilot Program for the Expansion of Advanced Manufacturing Certificate Programs. This bill creates and advanced manufacturing certificate program for Connecticut public high school students.
Senate Bill 607: An Act Concerning Apprenticeship Pathways to Earning a Bachelor’s Degree. This bill requires the state to create a plan for the establishment of nontraditional pathways to earning a bachelor’s degree at state colleges through credits earned through internships.
These bills – and these future Connecticut laws – are all about jobs, jobs, jobs. Passing policies which focus on workforce development will continue to be my focus at the State Capitol.
If you have ideas on how to improve out state workforce development policies and how to connect area residents with great jobs and careers, contact me anytime at John.A.Kissel@cga.ct.gov or call me at 860-240-0531.
John A. Kissel
State Senator (R – 7th District)
Previously published in the Enfield Press
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