HCS HB 190 -- JOB TRAINING AND COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS

SPONSOR:  Flook

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Job
Creation and Economic Development by a vote of 11 to 0.

This substitute changes the laws regarding job training and
community improvement districts.

JOB TRAINING

The Department of Economic Development is allowed to include
pre-employment training in its new or expanding industry
training.  The substitute specifies what services may be provided
including development of training plans, the provision of
training through qualified training staff, fees for training
professionals, and transportation expenses if the training can be
more effectively provided outside the community where the jobs
will be located.

COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS

Community improvement districts that are political subdivisions
are authorized to sponsor and operate a polytechnic institute for
science, technology, and related educational specialties for
grades kindergarten through 12.  The polytechnic institute will:

(1)  Not use any local school district tax levies;

(2)  Be under the Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education's oversight and standards; and

(3)  Be governed by a board consisting of at least seven members
appointed by the district.

The substitute specifies the qualifications and terms of board
members and requires admission slots into the polytechnic
institute to be equitably distributed throughout the polytechnic
district based on population.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of
$1,000,000 in FY 2010, $2,500,000 in FY 2011, and $4,000,000 in
FY 2012.  No impact on Other State Funds in FY 2010, FY 2011, and
FY 2012.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill allows people to
receive job training before they start their job and is similar
to the Quick Start Program in Georgia.  It will allow training to
occur while the new facility is being built, modified, expanded,
or retrofitted so that when the facility is ready to open, the
employees are able to begin work immediately.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Flook; Roderick Nunn,
Missouri Community College Associations; Missouri Chamber of
Commerce and Industry; Associated Industries of Missouri;
Taxpayers Research Institute of Missouri; Missouri Association
for Community Action; and Midwest Alliance for Renewable Energy.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say that customized
training has been very successful and pre-employment training
will be an advantage for Missouri so that employees can start
training early, which will allow businesses to be more productive
more quickly by eliminating the downtime between "doors open" and
"producing products."

Testifying on the bill was Steve Wyatt, Small Business
Development Centers.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:24 am