The Indiana House of Representatives on Monday voted in favor of State Rep. Todd Huston’s (R-Fishers) proposal that would help restructure Indiana’s workforce programs and funding.
According to Huston, Indiana’s workforce development system spends roughly $1 billion per year through nine state agencies across 30 different programs. House Bill 1002 would reorganize the state’s workforce development system using return-on-investment metrics to evaluate areas in need of improvement. The bill also calls for consolidation of overlapping efforts into programs that are both accessible to workers and aligned with employer needs.
“Our goal is to ensure taxpayer dollars are being directed into successful workforce programs that support individuals looking to skill-up and connect them with employers,” Huston said. “This would not only benefit our state’s economic development efforts, but more importantly, also help Hoosiers grow their household incomes and provide employers with the skilled employees they need.”
The proposal would create the Next Level Workforce Training and Development Fund to ensure there is a dedicated source of money every year invested into programs. The bill also proposes the Indiana Department of Workforce Development establish two employees at each WorkOne center, which connects Hoosier employers and jobseekers with state resources, to inform local schools on available grants and programs. Students enrolled in career and technical courses may permit schools to release information to potential employers looking to recruit students.
The proposal can now move to the Senate for further consideration. For more information, visit iga.in.gov.
State Rep. Todd Huston (R-Fishers) represents House District 37, which includes portions of Hamilton County.