SB 500 -- JOB TRAINING SPONSOR: Mathewson (Rizzo) COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Labor by a vote of 16 to 0. This bill expands certain state job training programs. It revises the definition of an industry which may enter into agreements with community colleges under the community college New Jobs Training Program, so that health or professional services are now included. The bill also expands the definition of an industry which may receive assistance from the Job Development Fund under the Department of Economic Development to include a consortium of entities organized to provide common training to the member entities' employees. Finally, the bill expands the Basic Industry Retraining Program under the Department of Economic Development to include all new investment in any industry, not just capital investment in manufacturing. FISCAL NOTE: Estimated Net Cost to the General Revenue Fund of $0 to Unknown in FY 2002, FY 2003, and FY 2004. PROPONENTS: Supporters say that the bill updates current job training law to include industries and business relationships that were not contemplated when the initial job training programs included in the bill were passed. The bill would provide help to the expansion of the health care and life sciences industries in Missouri. Testifying for the bill were Senator Mathewson; Joe Driskill, Director of the Department of Economic Development; City of Kansas City; Missouri Community Colleges Association; and St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association. OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee. Greg Linhares, Legislative AnalystCopyright (c) Missouri House of Representatives