ENGROSSED SENATE
BILL NO. 1172 	By:	Leftwich of the Senate

			and

		Morgan of the House

[ labor - the Oklahoma Recently Unemployed Worker Training Fund Act of 2009 - noncodification - codification - 		effective date ]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     NEW LAW     A new section of law not to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows:
This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma Recently Unemployed Worker Training Fund Act of 2009".
SECTION 2.     NEW LAW     A new section of law not to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows:
The Oklahoma Legislature finds that a recently unemployed worker training fund is necessary for the economic well-being of workers and employers in Oklahoma.  The Recently Unemployed Worker Training Fund created by this act will provide funds to pay for training that will update the skills of recently unemployed workers with the goals of reemployment of Oklahomans and increasing the economic strength of the state.
SECTION 3.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 3-109.4 of Title 40, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
The Recently Unemployed Worker Training Fund Act of 2009 shall be established as a pilot program as funds become available.
SECTION 4.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 6-301 of Title 40, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A.  There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to be designated the "Recently Unemployed Worker Training Fund”.  The Recently Unemployed Worker Training Fund shall be separate and distinct from all other funds and shall consist of:
1.  All sums, from whatever source, received by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and paid into the Recently Unemployed Worker Training Fund; and
2.  Property and securities acquired by and through the use of monies in the Recently Unemployed Worker Training Fund.
B.  The Recently Unemployed Worker Training Fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations.  All monies accruing to the credit of the Recently Unemployed Worker Training Fund are hereby appropriated and may be budgeted and expended for the purposes set forth in Section 5 of this act.  Expenditures from the Recently Unemployed Worker Training Fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed, as prescribed by law, with the Director of State Finance for approval and payment.
SECTION 5.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 6-302 of Title 40, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
The monies in the Recently Unemployed Worker Training Fund shall be used for the following purposes:
1.  Grants to provide training to recently unemployed workers that will increase the productivity, efficiency, or skill level of the workers;
2.  Payment to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission for the reasonable costs associated with collecting the assessment which created the fund; and
3.  Payment of the reasonable costs of administration of the grant program for which this fund was created.
SECTION 6.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 6-303 of Title 40, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A.  For purposes of this section, "designated-training provider" means any person, partnership, corporation, or limited liability company, operating a business with employees whose primary work station is located within the state of Oklahoma; or any private or public educational institution located within this state.
B.  For purposes of this section, "recently unemployed worker" means an individual that meets the definition of unemployed as defined in Section 1-217 of Title 40 of the Oklahoma Statutes, and has met this definition since December 31, 2007.
C.  The designated training provider shall use the grant funds received from the Recently Unemployed Worker Training Fund only for the payment of the cost of training and instruction for recently unemployed workers.  The designated training provider shall not use any funds from the Recently Unemployed Worker Training Fund for administration.
D.  The Oklahoma Department of Commerce shall develop a grant application form for designated training providers to use when applying for grants from the Recently Unemployed Worker Training Fund.  At a minimum, the designated training provider must supply the following: 
1.  Name; 
2.  Address;
3.  Telephone number;
4.  Tax number;
5.  E-mail address;
6.  Taxpayer identification number;
7.  Names and titles of officers or owners, or in the case of a public educational institution, the name of the superintendant, principal, or president;
8.  A description of the training the designated training provider intends to provide to the recently unemployed workers;
9.  The number of recently unemployed workers that can be trained;
10.  The number of training hours the recently unemployed workers will receive;
11.  Whether or not there will be a certification of skill level at the end of the training;
12.  A statement as to how this training will enhance the productivity, the efficiency, or skill level of the recently unemployed workers; and
13.  The estimated cost of training.
E.  Each designated training provider receiving a grant from the Recently Unemployed Worker Training Fund shall match the grant dollar for dollar from the funds of the designated training provider.  The match can be:
1.  Payment of training costs by the designated training provider;
2.  Payment of the wages and expenses of instructors during training;
3.  Purchase of supplies and materials for use in the training program;
4.  Purchase of equipment or tools to be used in the training program; or
5.  Purchase of equipment or tools to be used by the recently unemployed workers on the job after training is complete.
F.  Training of the recently unemployed workers must begin within six months of the date the grant to the designated training provider is approved.  Training must be completed within six months of the date training begins.  Grants will be paid to designated training providers as a reimbursement of training expenses incurred.  Payment will be made based on invoices or billing statements from the provider of the training up to the amount of the grant awarded.  Expenses for training occurring outside the time limits set out in this subsection shall not be reimbursed.
G.  Each designated training provider receiving a grant shall make its records available to grant monitors for compliance reviews.
H.  Applications for grants from the Recently Unemployed Worker Training Fund shall be evaluated by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.  Grants will be awarded based on the quality of the application, the ability of the designated training provider to complete the training process, the ability of the designated training provider to produce the matching funds, the utility of the training, and the overall impact the training will have on the local and state economy.
SECTION 7.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2009.
Passed the Senate the 26th day of February, 2009.

	
Presiding Officer 	of the Senate

Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________, 2009.

	
Presiding Officer	of the House
	of Representatives