HB0951eng 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB0951 Engrossed LRB104 04853 SPS 14880 b

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.1038 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.1038 new)

Sec. 5.1038. The Illinois Municipal Works and Service Trainee Fund.

Section 10. The Illinois Works Jobs Program Act is amended by adding Section 20-17 as follows:

(30 ILCS 559/20-17 new)

Sec. 20-17. Illinois Municipal Works and Service Trainee Program.

(a) The Illinois Municipal Works and Service Trainee Program is established and shall be administered, subject to appropriation, by the Department. The goal of the Illinois Municipal Works and Service Trainee Program is to establish a regional workforce training program led by Morton College. Morton College shall serve as the primary demonstration site for the development, evaluation, and refinement of workforce training models under the program. Morton College shall directly provide, or coordinate with other partner organizations to provide, recruitment, prescreening, and service trainee skills training. Participants may attend the training free of charge and receive a stipend for participation in the program. The goal of the program is to create a qualified, diverse pipeline of workers who are prepared for careers in the municipal sector, the health care sector, and other service sectors identified by Morton College in consultation with public and private employers. Target industries and occupational pathways may include, but are not limited to: (i) municipal operations and public service occupations, including administrative, quasi-professional, clerical, and related local public sector employment; (ii) allied healthcare occupations, including entry-level clinical and technical pathways; (iii) transportation, logistics, and commercial driver pathways; and (iv) advanced manufacturing, automotive maintenance and repair, utilities, electrification, and related occupations. The program may support participant transition to Morton College credit and non-credit workforce programs aligned with these occupations. Morton College shall give priority in initial and continuing outreach and enrollment to residents of the Morton College service area, provided that remaining capacity may be made available to other eligible participants.

(b) The Illinois Municipal Works and Service Trainee Fund is hereby created as a special fund in the State treasury. The Fund shall be administered, subject to appropriation, by the Department. Moneys in the Fund shall be used to provide funding directly to Morton College for the administration and delivery of the Illinois Municipal Works and Service Trainee Program, including, but not limited to, funding for the following: direct instruction; curriculum development; participant recruitment, assessment, advising, case management, and supportive services; training equipment, instructional supplies, and resources; and facilities. Moneys in the Fund may also be used to provide funding, through Morton College, to municipal employers, health care employers, and other service sector employers who are associated with the Illinois Municipal Works and Service Trainee Program for the purpose of supporting participant enrollment and training. In addition to any other transfers that may be provided for by law, on July 1, 2026, or as soon thereafter as possible, and by July 1 of every year thereafter, at the direction of the Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget, the State Comptroller shall direct and the State Treasurer shall transfer amounts not exceeding a total of $650,000 from the Rebuild Illinois Projects Fund to the Illinois Municipal Works and Service Trainee Fund.

(c) Morton College shall provide an annual report to the Illinois Works Review Panel and the Illinois Community College Board concerning funds that Morton College receives from the Illinois Municipal Works and Service Trainee Fund. The report shall be submitted by April 1 of each calendar year. The report shall include the following information:

(1) a description of Morton College's recruitment, screening, training, advising, case management, and transition efforts, including efforts undertaken directly or through partner organizations;

(2) the number of individuals who apply to, participate in, and complete the program, broken down by race, gender, age, veteran status, and primary language;

(3) the number of the individuals referenced in item (2) of this subsection who are initially accepted and placed into service trainee programs or related employment and training opportunities in municipal employment, allied healthcare, automotive maintenance and repair, infrastructure, transportation, utilities and energy systems, or other service sector employers;

(4) the number and percentage of participants who are residents of the Morton College district;

(5) the number and percentage of participants who transition to Morton College credit or non-credit workforce programs;

(6) recommendations regarding workforce training infrastructure, equipment, facilities, student supports, and policy changes needed to improve program effectiveness; and

(7) such other information as Morton College deems necessary or advisable to identify and document successful aspects of the program and to resolve systemic hindrances to the program's success.

Section 15. The Public Community College Act is amended by adding Section 2-28 as follows:

(110 ILCS 805/2-28 new)

Sec. 2-28. Illinois Pipeline for the Advancement of the Service Workforce. The State Board shall monitor the implementation and progress of the Illinois Municipal Works and Service Trainee Program. By no later than July 1, 2031, the State Board, in collaboration with Morton College, shall recommend legislation to the General Assembly that will, based upon the experience of Morton College, establish and fund an Illinois Pipeline for the Advancement of the Service Workforce Program, which will support municipal employment, infrastructure, manufacturing, transportation, automotive maintenance and repair, utilities and energy services, allied healthcare, and related occupations.

Section 95. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act makes changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by text that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a Section represented by multiple versions), the use of that text does not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) the changes made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from any other Public Act.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.