2023 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 31 - Labor
Chapter 556 - Labor Department
Section 31-3i. - Governor's Workforce Council: Members.

(a) Pursuant to Section 101 of the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, P.L. 113-128, the members of the Governor's Workforce Council shall be:

(1) The Governor;

(2) A member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, and a member of the Senate, appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate;

(3) Twenty-four members, appointed by the Governor, who (A) are owners of a business, chief executives or operating officers of a business, or other business executives or employers with optimum policy-making or hiring authority; (B) represent businesses or organizations representing businesses that provide employment opportunities that, at a minimum, include high-quality, work-relevant training and development in in-demand industry sectors or occupation in the state; or (C) have been nominated by state business organizations or business trade associations. At a minimum, at least one such member shall represent small businesses, as defined by the United States Small Business Administration.

(4) The Labor Commissioner, Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services, Commissioner of Education, Commissioner of Economic and Community Development and the Chief Workforce Officer, or their respective designees;

(5) Four representatives of labor organizations, who have been nominated by state labor federations and appointed by the Governor;

(6) An individual, appointed by the Governor, who is a member of a labor organization or a training director from a joint labor-management apprenticeship program, or, if no such joint program exists in the state, such a representative of an apprenticeship program in the state;

(7) Five members, appointed by the Governor, who represent community-based organizations that have demonstrated experience and expertise in addressing employment, training, or education, including one representative of a community action agency, as defined in section 17b-885, and one representative of a philanthropic organization;

(8) A representative from the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, a representative from The University of Connecticut and a representative from a nonprofit institution of higher education in the state, each appointed by the Governor;

(9) Two superintendents of a local or regional board of education, appointed by the Governor;

(10) Two chief elected officials of municipalities, appointed by the Governor; and

(11) Two members of the public, who are enrolled in or who have recently completed a nondegree workforce training program, appointed by the Governor.

(b) All appointments shall be made in a manner that reflects the diversity of the state, including, but not limited to, geographic, gender identity, racial and ethnic diversity.

(c) The Governor shall appoint the chairperson of the Governor's Workforce Council from among the members appointed pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this section. The Chief Workforce Officer shall serve as the vice-chairperson of the council.

(d) The Governor's Workforce Council may establish an executive committee composed of members appointed by the chairperson. The vice-chairperson of the council shall be a member of any such executive committee. The council may delegate to the executive committee any powers of the council except those powers that are required by law to be exercised by the council. The chairperson may also appoint ad hoc committees, workgroups or task forces to assist the council as appropriate, and shall consult with the vice-chairperson and the legislative members of the council in making appointments to such ad hoc committees, workgroups or task forces.

(e) Any appointments made to the council prior to October 1, 2021, shall expire on that date.

(f) The council shall meet not less than once every calendar quarter.

(g) The Governor shall establish bylaws for the council pursuant to 20 CFR 679.110(d), which shall include, but need not be limited to, term limitations for members and how appointments will be made.

(P.A. 89-292, S. 2, 6; P.A. 97-263, S. 2; P.A. 99-195, S. 3, 15; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 215.)

History: P.A. 97-263 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provision re service of members at the pleasure of the Governor, and amended Subsec. (b) by changing the membership of the commission to 24 members, by requiring that a majority of members represent business and industry, by requiring that remaining members include representatives of education organizations and community action agency and by requiring the board to meet at least once every calendar quarter; P.A. 99-195 made technical changes, amended Subsec. (a) to require that new appointments to commission be consistent with the provisions of Subsec. (b), amended Subsec. (b) to add Subdiv. indicators and a provision in new Subdiv. (2) specifying how vacancies are to be filled six months after submission of the Connecticut workforce development plan to the U.S. Secretary of Labor and added a new Subsec. (c) to preserve the membership of persons appointed to the commission prior to June 23, 1999, effective June 23, 1999; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing Connecticut Employment and Training Commission with Governor's Workforce Council, adding reference to Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and adding Subdivs. (1) to (11) re members of and appointments to council, replaced former Subsecs. (b) and (c) re commission members and frequency of meetings with new Subsecs. (b) and (c) re diversity requirement, appointment of chairperson, and Chief Workforce Officer to serve as vice-chairperson, and added Subsecs. (d) to (g) re establishment of executive committee, appointments made prior to October 1, 2021, frequency of meeting, and establishment of bylaws, respectively.