Staff and Wire Reports
INDIANAPOLIS — Gov. Eric Holcomb has signed workforce development legislation that he said he believes will help Indiana tackle its shortage of trained workers.
The two bills signed Wednesday were a top priority for Holcomb and Republican lawmakers.
House Enrolled Act 1002 and Senate Enrolled Act 50 were among Gov. Holcomb’s Next Level priorities for the 2018 legislative session.
The measures will create a new 21-member board to oversee the state’s job-training programs, while broadening eligibility requirements for some worker training grants.
However, Holcomb’s plan will require a waiver from the U.S. Department of Labor so the state can continue receiving $49 million in federal funding. The board Holcomb sought doesn’t meet federal requirements.
Holcomb said his administration has been in communication with the Labor Department and will request that waiver by the end of this week.
The signing ceremony — which had about 15 observers including representatives from state government and employers — took place at the Cummins Global Distribution Center in downtown Indianapolis. The global power company and engine manufacturer is based in Columbus.
“We look forward to continuing to work with our state and local leaders and public and private organizations across the state to develop the workforce we need now and for the jobs of tomorrow,” said Cathy Van Way, Cummins executive director for government relations. “It will take significant work by all of us to equip both young students and adults with the skills necessary for the rapidly changing technical jobs. Cummins understands that our businesses are only as strong as the communities in which we live. And by creating a strong workforce, we can increase opportunities for more Hoosiers to thrive and to set Indiana apart as a national leader in workforce development.”
Democrats maintain the workforce bills don’t actually do much. They compared the effort to rearranging deck furniture.
