SS/SCS/SB 16 - This act modifies provisions relating to workforce development. FAST-TRACK WORKFORCE INCENTIVE GRANT (Section 173.2553)
This act creates the "Fast-Track Workforce Incentive Grant" to provide grants for Missouri citizens to attend an approved Missouri postsecondary institution of their choice.
To be eligible, a student must meet certain criteria set forth in the act, including having an adjusted gross income of less than $80,000 if the taxpayer's filing status is married filing combined, or $40,000 if the taxpayer's filing status is single, head of household, or qualifying widow(er). In addition, such student must be at least 25 years of age. Grant funding may be renewed, but the student must continue to meet the eligibility requirements and must demonstrate a grade-point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
Eligibility for a grant expires upon the earliest of receipt of the grant for four semesters or the equivalent, receipt of a bachelor degree, or reaching 200% of the time typically required to complete the program of study.
The Coordinating Board for Higher Education must designate eligible programs of study by January 1, 2020, in connection with local education institutions, regional business organizations, and other stakeholders. The eligible programs must be reviewed and updated by the coordinating board annually.
In addition, the Coordinating Board shall be the administrative agency for implementation of the program, shall determine the criteria for eligibility, shall evaluate each applicant's eligibility, and shall select qualified recipients. The Coordinating Board shall also determine eligibility for renewed assistance.
Grants shall be awarded in an amount equal to the actual tuition and general fees charged of an eligible student after all other federal and state aid are applied, up to $10,000 per semester. If a grant amount is reduced to zero due to the receipt of other aid, the eligible student shall receive an award of up to $500 or the remaining cost of attendance, whichever is less.
If appropriated funds are insufficient to fund the program, students applying for renewed assistance shall be given priority until all funds are expended.
Students may transfer the financial assistance from one approved public, private, or virtual institution to another without losing eligibility for the program.
An eligible student shall have one-third of the total amount of the awarded loan forgiven for each 12 month period following completion of the program provided that such student works in the state for 3 years immediately following completion of the program. Any student who moves out of the state before the end of the three years shall reimburse the state the total amount of the loan.
This act creates in the State Treasury the "Fast-Track Workforce Incentive Grant Fund". The fund shall be used solely by the Coordinating Board for the purposes of this act.
These provisions are substantially similar to SCS/HCS/HB 225 (2019), SS/SCS/SB 160 (2019), and HCS/SB 68 (2019).
THE MISSOURI WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD (Section 620.511)
Under this act, the Department of Economic Development may include on its website the names of the members of the Missouri Workforce Development Board, including the names of the members of any local workforce development board, and information on how to contact such boards.
This provision is identical to HCS/SB 68 (2019), and is substantially similar to SB 116 (2019).
The Missouri Works Training Program (Sections 620.800, 620.803, 620.806, and 620.809)
This act modifies several provisions relating to the Missouri Works Training Program.
This act renames the program the Missouri One Start Program. Current law allows administrative expenses equal to fifteen percent of total training costs. This act limits such expenses to a reasonable amount determined by the Department of Economic Development. In promulgating rules and regulations governing the Missouri One Start Training Program, this act requires the Department to consider such factors as the potential number of new jobs to be created, the amount of new capital investment in new facilities and equipment, the significance of state benefits to the qualified company's decision to locate or expand in Missouri, the economic need of the affected community, and the importance of the qualified company to the economic development of the state.
This act allows the Department to require a qualified business to repay all benefits if such business fails to maintain the new or retained jobs within five years of approval of benefits or if such business leaves the state within five years of approval of benefits.
This act allows the Department to contract with other entities, including businesses, industries, other state agencies, and political subdivisions of the state for the purpose of implementing a training project under the program.
Upon appropriation of funds to the Missouri One Start Job Development Fund, this act allows a local education agency to petition the Department to utilize the Fund to create or improve training facilities, equipment, staff, expertise, programming, and administration. The Department may award moneys from the Fund for reimbursement of training project costs and services as it deems necessary.
This act gives the Department the discretion to determine the appropriate amount of funds to allocate to a training project from the Missouri One Start Community College New Jobs and Retained Jobs Training funds.
Any agreement or obligation entered into by the Department that was made under the provisions of the Missouri Works Training Program prior to the effective date of this act shall remain in effect according to the provisions of such agreement or obligation.
These provisions are identical to SCS/SB 184 (2019), HCS/SB 68 (2019), and are substantially similar to HCS/HB 469 (2019).
JOSIE BUTLER