HEA 1002 Summary

• Establishes a legislative services agency review process for all workforce-related programs on a rotating basis with reports due before October 1 each year, including cost-benefit analysis, return on investment calculations, and job creation estimates.

• Requires the budget report to include summaries and justifications for all workforce-related program appropriations to state providers, making workforce program costs more visible in biennial budget planning.

• Creates the Next Level Jobs Employer Training Grant Program allowing up to $10 million annually for grants up to $5,000 per employee (max $50,000 per employer) for training in six targeted sectors: manufacturing, technology, transportation/logistics, health sciences, construction, and agriculture.

• Modifies high value workforce ready credit-bearing grant eligibility to prioritize financially independent applicants when funding exceeds demand, and allows dependent students who graduate after December 31, 2018 to access grants if they complete a workforce readiness program.

• Restructures Ivy Tech Community College governance by replacing regional boards with campus-based boards and redefining administrative terminology from "regions" to "campuses" while maintaining workforce alignment requirements.