HB 345 Summary

• Creates the Alabama Workforce Council as an appointed advisory body of state business and industry senior managers to advise the Chancellor of the Alabama Community College System and Superintendent of the Alabama Department of Education on workforce development policies and programming.

• Council membership consists of 16 voting members: 2 appointed by Governor, 1 each by Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of House, and President Pro Tempore of Senate, plus 1 representative from each of 10 regional workforce development councils appointed by Governor; includes ex officio non-voting member who is Director of Governor's Office of Workforce Development.

• Council must meet within 30 days of appointment to establish procedures, meet at least twice yearly, and may meet by conference telephone or video conference; members serve staggered terms not exceeding 4 years and receive no salary or per diem but are reimbursed for expenses.

• Secretary of Commerce handles administrative functions including meeting organization and annual reporting to Governor, Legislature, State Board of Education, and Alabama Council of College and University Presidents by January 31 each year.

• Council duties include reviewing streamlining of workforce functions, increasing student awareness of industry opportunities, creating industry-education feedback loops, evaluating private/public partnerships for scholarships, and reviewing standards of existing regional workforce councils.