Establishes the summer employment program

BILL NUMBER:S4337A

Title of bill

An act to amend the labor law, in relation to establishing the summer employment program

Purpose

The bill establishes the summer employment program for the purpose of engaging local providers in the development of summer employment for youth, and provides for yearly funding for the program.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 provides the legislative findings and declaration.

Section 2 establishes a new Article 25-C in the labor law, which provides a framework for the summer employment program. The Commissioner of the Department of Labor is directed to establish contracts with local providers to provide summer employment for youth ages 14 to 21. Provides that local workforce investment boards will develop and issue request for proposals for local eligible providers by November 1, 2013, and triennially thereafter. Also provides for a report to be issued to the Governor and the Legislature on or before December 1, 2013 and on or before every subsequent December first thereafter.

Section 3 provides for an effective date of April 1, 2013.

Existing law

Currently, the summer employment program is not in law, and is funded on a year-to-year basis.

Justification

Summer employment is an important formative activity for Youth as they make transitions between middle and high school and into employment or postsecondary education. The summer months provide an ideal time frame during which youth can earn money and experience the world of work without placing limitations on the time that can, and should, be spent preparing for and attending classes. Employment provides an opportunity for young people to gain interpersonal and employability skills, including team building, conflict resolution and problem solving. These skills are complementary to academic activity and will serve employers well in the future when they have a pool of job candidates who are experienced with workplace expectations.

Legislative history

2001: A.8372 (Scarborough) passed Assembly; delivered to Senate 2002: A.8372-A (Scarborough) amended on third reading; passed Assembly and delivered to Senate 2003-2004: A.7897-A (Scarborough) referred to labor; amended and recommit to labor 2005-2006: A.4543 (Scarborough) referred to labor; reported and referred to ways and means 2007-2008: S.3312

(Smith) referred to labor 2009-2010: S.2236A (Perkins) Amended and recommitted to labor. S.4337 2011-2012 referred to Labor

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

April 1, 2013