HJ0011 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0011 LRB099 05658 SXM 25698 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, In 2012, 600,000 manufacturing positions went unfilled in the United States and 30,000 in Illinois alone; and

WHEREAS, The Society of Manufacturing Engineers predicts this number for the United States will reach 3 million this year in 2015; and

WHEREAS, The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that in the 21st century, manufacturing employment as a share of the total workforce is going to decline by 10.6% (or 1.5 million jobs), mainly in repetitive manufacturing jobs; and

WHEREAS, According to the Federal Reserve Bank of NY, employment in advanced manufacturing, however, has risen by 37%; and

WHEREAS, Employment in pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing is expected to grow by 23.8% and add 69,000 new jobs by 2016; and

WHEREAS, The aerospace and defense industry has a backlog of production that extends to 2030, requiring continuous upkeep of its workforce; and

WHEREAS, Transportation will continue to grow and change, requiring a workforce that is flexible, knowledgeable, and focused on their deliverables; and

WHEREAS, According to a 2011 Skills Gap Report, more than 83% of U.S. manufacturers report an overall shortage of qualified employees; and

WHEREAS, The current workforce needs to be able to transition into high-skill, high-wage, high-demand positions; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Advisory Committee on Education and Workforce Alignment, consisting of members appointed as follows: 2 members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom shall be designated as a co-chair, 2 members of the Senate appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, one of whom shall be designated as a co-chair; 2 members of the House appointed by the Speaker of the House, one of whom shall be designated as a co-chair; and 2 members of the House appointed by the Minority Leader of the House, one of whom shall be designated as a co-chair; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Advisory Committee on Education and Workforce Alignment shall do the following:

(1) conduct a thorough review of the existing curriculum and how it assists in workforce development;

(2) make recommendations to implement alterations to the current curriculum that:

(A) better prepares students for the workforce;

(B) involves an emphasis on educating students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM);

(C) provides students with information about the manufacturing world;

(D) allows students to experience beneficial opportunities; and

(E) anticipates the needs of the workforce; and

(3) consider the long-term implications and outcomes of the new curriculum; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Advisory Committee on Education and Workforce Alignment shall seek input from stakeholders and members of the public on issues and possible improvements to the existing curriculum; and be it further

RESOLVED, That members of the Advisory Committee on Education and Workforce Alignment shall serve without compensation, and the State Board of Education shall provide administrative and other support to the Advisory Committee on Education and Workforce Alignment; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Advisory Committee on Education and Workforce Alignment shall meet at the order of the co-chairs, but shall meet a minimum of 4 times per year; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Advisory Committee on Education and Workforce Alignment shall present its legislative and administrative recommendations to the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and the Minority Leader of the House no later than February 1, 2016; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to the Chairperson of the State Board of Education and the State Superintendent of Education; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the State Board of Education shall provide a copy of this resolution to school districts in this State.