AN ACT CONCERNING CONNECTICUT'S MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGY WORKFORCE.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) For purposes of this section, "advanced manufacturing and technology certificates program" means a program pursuant to which a postsecondary student may take courses toward a certificate in manufacturing or a technology-related industry at a regional community-technical college for two days per week while simultaneously learning such industry's trade from an employer, as either an employee or an apprentice, as defined in section 31-22m of the general statutes, in a related occupational field for the remaining three days per week.

(b) Not later than July 1, 2015, the Board of Regents for Higher Education, in consultation with the Office of Higher Education, shall develop an advanced manufacturing and technology certificates program to serve adult learners who are pursuing a career in manufacturing or a technology-related industry. Students shall complete such program in not more than five consecutive semesters.

(c) Not later than January 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education and employment advancement regarding:

(1) The number of students who are enrolled in the advanced manufacturing and technology certificates program;

(2) Each employer that is teaching a student enrolled in such program a trade that is related to the certificate such student is pursuing;

(3) The occupational field of each employer identified pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection; and

(4) The number of students who obtain a job upon completion of such program in the subject area of the certificate such students earned through participation in such program.