Creates the mobile high-technology training facilities program

1 Co-sponsor

• Bill Perkins

BILL NUMBER:S1821

Title of bill

An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to creating the mobile high-technology training facilities program

Purpose

Creates the mobile high-technology training facilities program, allowing the Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation (d.b.a. NYSTAR) to provide matching grants for the design, development and outfit of mobile training facilities.

Summary of provisions

Section 1: Amends the public authorities law by adding a new section 3154-a creating the mobile high-technology training facilities program within the foundation for science, technology and innovation to award competitive grants to qualified applicants for the development of mobile high-technology training facilities.

Section 2: Effective date.

Existing law

This is a new bill.

Justification

Training opportunities are an essential component of economic development. While hands-on training is widely recognized as the most valuable form of learning experience, equipping laboratories to train workers, especially in the high-technology manufacturing fields, is beyond the means of many educational institutions.

Just as rural hospitals share medical equipment carried from one facility to another in specially equipped trailers, training facilities could be designed to fit in similar trailers and be brought to training sites. Mobile training facilities will make training in high-value occupations a reality for students in rural areas, incumbent workers, and those enrolled in educational institutions lacking the resources to equip cutting-edge training facilities.

This program will provide competitively awarded grants to educational or qualified not-for-profit institutions for the design, development and outfit of mobile laboratory and/or training facilities that complement certificate, degree or other recognized credentialing programs leading to employment in high-value and high-demand occupations. Mobile programs have a proven record of success. For example, the Time Wise Management Systems' Mobile Outreach Skills Training (MOST) initiative, launched in conjunction with the US Department of Labor and utilized in Florida, Massachusetts, Mississippi and throughout New England, saves companies the expense of training or retraining employees they would have otherwise provided.

Legislative history

This is a new bill.

Fiscal implications

Estimated costs of $1 million per mobile high-technology training facilities unit, 20% of which would be required as a match provided by the applicant. In New York state the average salary for a high-technology manufacturing employee is $65,000 compared to $39,000 for a "nuts and bolts" manufacturing job. Each unit could train up to 500 employees per Year for an overall increase in wages of $13 million. Therefore, an $800,000 state investment could yield up to $13 million annually in additional wages, resulting in increased revenues from the personal income tax and other economic activity.

Effective date

Immediately.