SB217 Summary

• Creates the Alabama Workforce Council as an appointed advisory body of 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 educational programming.

• Council membership consists of 15 voting members: 2 appointed by the Governor, 1 each by the Lieutenant Governor, House Speaker, and Senate President Pro Tempore, and 1 representative from each of 10 regional workforce development councils appointed by the Governor, plus the Director of the Governor's Office of Workforce Development as a non-voting ex officio member.

• Secretary of Commerce handles administrative functions including meeting organization and annual report preparation; council must meet at least twice yearly and establish procedures within 30 days of appointment.

• Members serve staggered terms not exceeding 4 years, receive no salary or per diem but are reimbursed for expenses at the state employee rate, and must file annual advisory reports to the Governor, Legislature, State Board of Education, and Alabama Council of College and University Presidents by January 31.

• Council duties include reviewing workforce development alignment, educating students on industry opportunities, evaluating industry-education feedback mechanisms, assessing private/public scholarship partnerships, and recommending realignment of regional council county assignments based on employer needs.