House, Senate Reach Deal On Workforce Development Bills

Legislative leaders say both chambers have reached agreement on legislation to address Indiana’s workforce development issues.

The measures will begin taking steps this year as the legislature prepares to implement the bulk of its workforce efforts in next year’s budget.

Some of the legislation’s provisions will get underway in 2018. That includes expanded eligibility for student workforce grants and money for employers, says House Speaker Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis).

“We’ve got a program to incentivize employers to assist young people especially but also returning workers to get either high school equivalency or certification,” Bosma says.

Senate President Pro Tem David Long (R-Fort Wayne) says those programs will use existing state funding. He says the remainder of the state’s workforce development programs will be evaluated over the coming year.

“Financing of all this and getting the funding streams straight has to wait for next year,” Long says. “So getting all of this together, getting it ready to go – it’s a little bit like a kick start.”

Both the House and Senate will vote on the workforce bills before session ends next week.