§353. Workforce training and education initiative; creation; advisory board; functions

            A.(1) Subject to applicable federal law and regulation, there is hereby established a workforce training and education initiative for public assistance recipients for the purpose of improving employment opportunities and promoting workforce advancement. The heads of the state partners in collaboration with an advisory board shall administer the initiative in accordance with the provisions of this Part. The advisory board shall consist of the following members:

            (a) The secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission or his designee.

            (b) The secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services or his designee.

            (c) The secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health or his designee.

            (d) The state superintendent of education or his designee.

            (e) The president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System or his designee.

            (f) A representative of Together Louisiana.

            (g) The president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Louisiana State Conference, or his designee.

            (h) The president of the Louisiana AFL-CIO or his designee.

            (i) The president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry or his designee.

            (j) The state senator for Senate District 34.

            (k) Two individuals appointed by the state senator for Senate District 34.

            (l) The state representatives for House Districts 16, 17, 21, 26, and 40.

            (m) The state network director for Unite Louisiana or his designee.

            (n) The executive director of 232-Help/Louisiana 211 or his designee.

            (2)(a) The state senator for Senate District 34 shall serve as the chair of the advisory board. Upon approval of the chair, the membership of the advisory board may be increased to include a representative of any interested party.

            (b) The members of the advisory board shall serve without compensation, except per diem or expense reimbursement to which they may be individually entitled as a member of their respective constituent organization.

            (c) The state partners shall provide staff support as needed by the advisory board.

            (d) The advisory board shall meet upon the call of the chair and may meet as frequently as necessary for the timely performance of its duties. The advisory board shall meet in any parish served by the initiative or in East Baton Rouge Parish.

            (3)(a) The state partners in collaboration with the advisory board shall design the initiative's operations and system of services to allow implementation of the program in all parishes of the state upon review of the program with an evaluation demonstrating successful performance.

            (b) Prior to the design and implementation of the initiative, the advisory board shall conduct meetings for the purpose of receiving public input regarding the program. The first meeting shall be called by the chair no later than August 31, 2022.

            (c) The advisory board may work with the local human service districts and authorities for assistance with the design and implementation of the initiative.

            B.(1) The program shall initially operate and serve participants in the following parishes:

            (a) Concordia.

            (b) East Carroll.

            (c) Madison.

            (d) Morehouse.

            (e) Ouachita.

            (f) Richland.

            (g) St. Landry.

            (h) Tensas.

            (2) The geographic service area of the initiative may be expanded beyond the parishes specified in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection after an evaluation utilizing performance outcome driven data and information regarding participant experience. The state partners and advisory board may work with the local human service districts and authorities for assistance with expansion of the initiative.

            C. Participation in the initiative by public assistance recipients shall be voluntary.

            D. Work supports and workforce education services provided by the initiative may include any of the following:

            (1) Job referral services.

            (2) Job skills development.

            (3) Job support services.

            (4) Career planning.

            (5) Job training.

            (6) Workforce readiness.

            (7) Apprenticeship programs.

            (8) Vocational education.

            (9) Basic education.

            (10) Educational certificates.

            (11) Supportive services.

            Acts 2018, No. 271, §1; Acts 2022, No. 506, §1, eff. June 16, 2022.