HB1302: HB1302 Education and Workforce Strategy Act; enact

26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP House Bill 1302 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representatives Gambill of the 15th, Seabaugh of the 34th, Wade of the 9th, Dubnik of the 29th, Erwin of the 32nd, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Titles 20, 34, and 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1 education, labor and industrial relations, and state government, respectively, so as to provide2 for the reconstitution of the Office of Student Achievement as the Office of Education and3 Workforce Strategy; to provide for responsibilities of the Office of Education and Workforce4 Strategy and the director of said office; to change the name of the High Demand5 Apprenticeship Program to the Top State for Talent Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship6 Program; to repeal provisions for the Alliance of Education Agency Heads; to repeal a sunset7 date relative to accessing HOPE scholarship funds for dual enrollment students; to provide8 for a combined Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Plan and Perkins State Plan; to9 provide for registered apprenticeship programs; to designate the Technical College System10 of Georgia as the state apprenticeship agency for the State of Georgia and provide for related11 authority and responsibilities; to revise various reporting req uirements; to revise various12 certification requirements; to revise various requirements for rules and regulations; to13 establish and provide for the Education Data Governance Board; to remove references to the14 Office of Workforce Development; to provide for definitions; to provide for conforming15 changes; to provide a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and16 for other purposes.17 H. B. 1302 - 1 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:18 SECTION 1.19 This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Education and Workforce Strategy Act."20 SECTION 2.21 Titles 20, 34, and 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, labor22 and industrial relations, and state government, respectively, a re amended by replacing23 "Office of Student Achievement" and "Office of Student Achievem ent's" with "Office of24 Education and Workforce Strategy" and "Office of Education and Workforce Strategy's",25 respectively, wherever the former phrases occur in said titles, except for subsection (a) of26 Code Section 20-14-25, relating to creation, director, authorit y, seal, and administrative27 assignment relative to the Office of Student Achievement.28 SECTION 3.29 Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, is amended in30 Article 4 of Chapter 1, relating to the Council on Literacy, by revising subsections (d) and31 (e) of Code Section 20-1-42, relating to membership, terms, coo peration, and Literacy32 Coach, as follows:33 "(d) The Governor shall direct the Alliance of Education Agency Heads provided for in34 Article 1 of Chapter 14 of this title to work with members of the council Reserved.35 (e) The council shall be attached for administrative purposes only to the Office of36 Education and Workforce Strategy Student Achievement. The Office of Education and37 Workforce Strategy Student Achievement shall provide staff support for the council and38 shall hire an individual to serve as Georgia Literacy Coach who shall be responsible for39 coordination of such staff support and for working in coordination with the literacy related40 efforts of the Alliance of Education Agency Heads . The Office of Education and41 H. B. 1302 - 2 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP Workforce Strategy Student Achievement shall use any funds specifically appropriated to42 support the work of the council for such purpose."43 SECTION 4.44 Said title is further amended in Part 4 of Article 6 of Chapter 2, relating to financing under45 the "Quality Basic Education Act," by revising Code Section 20- 2-161.4, relating to46 accessing HOPE scholarship funds for dual enrolled students and reports, as follows:47 "20-2-161.4.48 (a)(1) Beginning July 1, 2023, each student participating in the Dual Enrollment program49 provided for in Code Section 20-2-161.3 who is eligible for a H OPE grant pursuant to50 Code Section 20-3-519.5 shall be allowed to access HOPE grant funds for eligible CTAE51 courses, as defined in Code Section 20-2-161.3, irrespective of whether such student has52 reached any maximum credit hour cap provided for in Code Section 20-2-161.3.53 (2)(b) For three years beginning on July 1, 2023, the T h e G e o r g i a S t u d e n t F i n a n c e54 Commission, in collaboration with the Technical College System of Georgia, shall collect55 and report data on:56 (A)(1) Student enrollment in and completion of at least one eligible CTAE course, as57 defined in Code Section 20-2-161.3, as part of the Dual Enrollment program provided for58 in Code Section 20-2-161.3;59 (B)(2) HOPE grant funding and Dual Enrollment program funding, inclu ding, but not60 limited to, the number of students who received such funding and the maximum, mean,61 median, and mode amounts of such funding received by students;62 (C)(3) Postsecondary credits earned by students who received such funding;63 (D)(4) The number of students who enrolled in a postsecondary degree program after64 completing a program of study that includes at least one eligible CTAE course, as defined65 in Code Section 20-2-161.3, as part of the Dual Enrollment program provided for in Code66 Section 20-2-161.3; and67 H. B. 1302 - 3 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP (E)(5) The number of students employed in a high-demand field after completing a68 focused program of study identified by the State Board of the Technical College System69 of Georgia as part of the High Demand Top State for Talent Pre-Apprenticeship and70 Apprenticeship Program provided for in Code Section 20-4-152 Article 7 of Chapter 471 of this title.72 (c) No later than January 1 each year, the Georgia Student Financ e Commission shall73 provide an interim t h e report required by subsection (b) of this Code section to the74 Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the75 director of the Office of Planning and Budget, and the chairper sons of the House76 Committee on Education, the Senate Education and Youth Committe e, the House77 Committee on Higher Education, and the Senate Higher Education Committee. A final78 report shall be provided to the same no later than December 1, 2028.79 (3)(d) The Georgia Student Finance Commission, in consultation with the State Board of80 Education, and the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia, and the Office81 of Workforce Development, shall establish rules and regulations to implement the82 provisions of this subsection Code section.83 (b) This Code section shall stand repealed on June 30, 2028."84 SECTION 5.85 Said title is further amended in said part by revising Code Sec tion 20-2-169, relating to86 receipt of federal funds for career, occupational, or technical education, as follows:87 "20-2-169.88 (a) The Department of Education is designated as the sole state agency to receive federal89 funds allotted to Georgia under acts of Congress appropriating federal funds for career,90 occupational, or technical education; provided, however, that those funds appropriated for91 the operation and management of postsecondary technical, adult, and industrial programs92 shall be placed under the jurisdiction and control of the State Board of the Technical93 H. B. 1302 - 4 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP College System of Georgia; provided, further, that a proportionate share of those federal94 funds appropriated for planning, evaluation, program improvemen t, and other95 administrative and discretionary purposes shall be placed under the jurisdiction and control96 of such board.97 (b) The Department of Education and the Technical College Syst em of Georgia, with98 assistance from the Office of Education and Workforce Strategy, shall prepare a combined99 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Plan and Perkins State Plan in accordance with100 federal law.101 (c) The combined Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Plan and Perkins State Plan102 shall include:103 (1) The incorporation of coordinated data from comprehensive local needs assessments104 to align secondary, postsecondary, and adult workforce training programs with regional105 labor market requirements and federal compliance standards for the Workforce106 Innovation and Opportunity Act Plan and Perkins State Plan;107 (2) The implementation of guidance from the United States Depa rtment of Labor and108 United States Department of Education that recommends formal in put from key109 stakeholders, including, but not limited to:110 (A) Local workforce development boards and secondary and posts econdary111 educational institutions;112 (B) Private sector employers and industry representatives; and113 (C) Community based organizations and regional economic development entities; and114 (3) The incorporation of additional coordinated efforts requir ed by guidance from the115 United States Department of Labor and United States Department of Education to ensure116 the state remains eligible for federal funding, including the s ynchronization of117 performance accountability measures and the streamlining of service delivery.118 (d) The combined Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Plan and Perkins State Plan119 required by this Code section and any amendments thereto shall be approved by the State120 H. B. 1302 - 5 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP Workforce Development Board, submitted to the Governor, and distributed to the public121 as required by federal law.122 (e) Nothing in this Code section shall prohibit the Department of Education or the123 Technical College System of Georgia from consulting its respective boards for the purpose124 of preparing the combined Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Plan and Perkins125 State Plan as provided for in subsection (c) of this Code section."126 SECTION 6.127 Said title is further amended in Part 11 of said article, relating to regional educational service128 agencies, by revising subsections (a) and (b) of Code Section 2 0-2-271, relating to129 development of regional improvement plan, introduction of core services, instructional care130 teams, and establishment of alternative methods of teacher certification, as follows:131 "(a) Each regional educational service agency shall annually de velop and submit to the132 Department of Education for approval, with a copy to the Alliance of Education Agency133 Heads Office of Education and Workforce Strategy , a regional plan for improvement of134 educational efficiency and cost effectiveness of its member institutions. Each plan must135 include the purposes and description of the services the regional educational service agency136 will provide to schools identified as low-performing based on the indicators adopted under137 Code Section 20-14-33 and to other schools.138 (b) Each regional educational service agency shall introduce and provide core services for139 member local school systems and schools and provide core services for purchase by local140 school systems and schools which are not members of that region al educational service141 agency. These core services shall include the following:142 (1) Training and assistance in teaching each subject area asse ssed under Code143 Section 20-2-281;144 (2) Assistance specifically designed for any school that is ra ted academically failing145 under Code Section 20-14-33;146 H. B. 1302 - 6 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP (3) Training and assistance to teachers, administrators, membe rs of local boards of147 education, and members of local school councils on school-based decision making and148 control; and149 (4) Assistance in complying with applicable state laws and rul es of the State Board of150 Education and the Alliance of Education Agency Heads.151 Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to limit the freedom of a school system or152 school to purchase or refuse to purchase any core service from any regional educational153 service agency in this state."154 SECTION 7.155 Said title is further amended in Part 15 of said article, relating to miscellaneous provisions156 under the "Quality Basic Education Act," by revising subsections (a), (b), and (c) of Code157 Section 20-2-320, relating to state-wide comprehensive educational information system and158 identification of data to implement Quality Basic Education Program, as follows:159 "(a) There shall be a state-wide comprehensive educational information system which will160 provide for the accurate, seamless, and timely flow of information from local and regional161 education agencies, units of the University System of Georgia, and technical schools and162 colleges to the state. The system design shall include hardware, software, data, collection163 methods and times, training, maintenance, communications, secur ity of data, and164 installation specifications and any other relevant specifications needed for the successful165 implementation of the system. The state-wide comprehensive edu cational information166 system shall not use a student's social security number or an e mployee's social security167 number in violation of state or federal law to identify a stude nt or employee. Upon168 approval of the boards of the respective education agencies, su ch boards shall issue169 appropriate requests for proposals to implement a state-wide comprehensive educational170 information system, subject to appropriation by the General Assembly. The boards of the171 respective education agencies, at the direction of the Alliance of Education Agency Heads,172 H. B. 1302 - 7 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP shall initiate contracts with appropriate vendors and local uni ts of administration for the173 procurement of services, purchase of hardware and software, and for any other purposes174 upon the recommendation of the Office of Education and Workforce Strategy purpose as175 directed by the Alliance of Education Agency Heads, consistent with appropriation by the176 General Assembly.177 (b) The State Board of Education, the State Board of the Techn ical College System of178 Georgia, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, and the Department179 of Early Care and Learning shall require an individual student record for each student180 enrolled which at a minimum includes the data specifications approved recommended by181 the Office of Education and Workforce Strategy Alliance of Education Agency Heads. The182 Professional Standards Commission shall maintain an individual data record for each183 certificated person employed in a public school.184 (c) For the purpose of this article, authorized educational agencies shall be the Department185 of Education; the Department of Early Care and Learning; the Bo ard of Regents of the186 University System of Georgia; the Technical College System of Georgia; the Alliance of187 Education Agency Heads; the Professional Standards Commission; the Office of Education188 and Workforce Strategy Student Achievement ; the education policy and research189 components of the office of the Governor; the Office of Planning and Budget; the Senate190 Budget and Evaluation Office; and the House Budget and Research O f f i c e . A n y191 information collected over the state-wide comprehensive educational information system,192 including individual student records and individual personnel records, shall be accessible193 by authorized educational agencies, provided that any informati on which is planned for194 collection over the system but which is temporarily being collected by other means shall195 also be accessible by authorized educational agencies and provided, further, that adequate196 security provisions are employed to protect the privacy of individuals. All data maintained197 for this system shall be used for educational purposes only. In no case shall information198 be released by an authorized educational agency which would violate the privacy rights of199 H. B. 1302 - 8 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP any individual student or employee. Information released by an authorized educational200 agency in violation of the privacy rights of any individual student or employee shall subject201 the authorized educational agency to all penalties under applicable state and federal law. 202 Any information collected over the state-wide comprehensive edu cational information203 system which is not stored in an individual student or personne l record format shall be204 made available to the Governor and the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, the205 House Committee on Education, the Senate Education and Youth Committee, the House206 Committee on Higher Education, and the Senate Higher Education Committee, except207 information otherwise prohibited by statute. Data which are in cluded in an individual208 student record or individual personnel record format shall be extracted from such records209 and made available in nonindividual record format for use by th e Governor, committees210 of the General Assembly, and agencies other than authorized educational agencies."211 SECTION 8.212 Said title is further amended in Part 16 of said article, relating to college and career readiness213 under the "Quality Basic Education Act," by revising paragraph (3) of subsection (c) of Code214 Section 20-2-327, relating to recognition of advanced proficien cy/honors courses and215 counseling and development of individual college and career plans, as follows:216 "(3) No later than December 31, 2026, and annually thereafter, the The Georgia Student217 Finance Commission and the Department of Education shall annually collect and report218 on information to verify compliance with this Code section. The report shall include the219 percentage of students in ninth grade who create a GAfutures.org account and students220 in grades ten through 12 who utilize a GAfutures.org account an d be distributed to the221 Office of Planning and Budget and the Office of Education and Workforce Strategy. The222 report shall be included in the state-wide education and workforce plan provided for in223 Code Section 20-14-29.2."224 H. B. 1302 - 9 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP SECTION 9.225 Said title is further amended in said part by revising subsecti on (b) of Code Section226 20-2-327.1, relating to industry credentialing for career, technical, and agricultural education227 programs and reporting, as follows:228 "(b) No later than December 31, 2018, and annually thereafter, the Department of229 Education, in coordination with the Office of Education and Wor kforce Strategy, shall230 produce a return-on-investment report to the State Workforce Development Board and the231 Office of Planning and Budget as related to grant funds provide d for in subsection (j) of232 Code Section 20-2-260. Such report shall include the current a nd projected regional233 business and industry needs for the purpose of establishing annual goals and strategies to234 increase attainment rates of industry credentialing, including the development of additional235 industry credentials to enhance current industry certified programs."236 SECTION 10.237 Said title is further amended in Article 2 of Chapter 4, relati ng to technical and adult238 education, by adding a new subsection to Code Section 20-4-17, relating to agencies to239 receive federal funds and transfer of personnel to Department o f Technical and Adult240 Education, now known as Technical College System of Georgia, to read as follows:241 "(c)(1) The Department of Education and the Technical College System of Georgia, with242 assistance from the Office of Education and Workforce Strategy, shall prepare a243 combined Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Plan and Perk ins State Plan in244 accordance with federal law.245 (2) The combined Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Plan and Perkins State246 Plan shall include:247 (A) The incorporation of coordinated data from comprehensive l ocal needs248 assessments to align secondary, postsecondary, and adult workforce training programs249 H. B. 1302 - 10 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP with regional labor market requirements and federal compliance standards for the250 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Plan and Perkins State Plan;251 (B) The implementation of guidance from the United States Department of Labor and252 United States Department of Education that recommends formal in put from key253 stakeholders, including, but not limited to:254 (i) Local workforce development boards and secondary and posts econdary255 educational institutions;256 (ii) Private sector employers and industry representatives; and257 (iii) Community based organizations and regional economic deve lopment entities;258 and259 (C) The incorporation of additional coordinated efforts required by guidance from the260 United States Department of Labor and United States Department of Education to261 ensure the state remains eligible for federal funding, including the synchronization of262 performance accountability measures and the streamlining of service delivery.263 (3) The combined Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Plan and Perkins State264 Plan required by this subsection and any amendments thereto sha ll be approved by the265 State Workforce Development Board, submitted to the Governor, and distributed to the266 public as required by federal law.267 (4) Nothing in this Code secti on shall prohibit the Department of Education or the268 Technical College System of Georgia from consulting its respect ive boards for the269 purpose of preparing the combined Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Plan and270 Perkins State Plan as provided for in subsection (c) of this Code section."271 SECTION 11.272 Said title is further amended in said article by replacing "work force" with "workforce" each273 time the term appears in and by revising subsections (a), (c), and (g) of Code274 H. B. 1302 - 11 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP Section 20-4-37, relating to the Office of College and Career T ransitions and powers and275 duties, as follows:276 "(a)(1) It is the intent of the General Assembly to:277 (A) Increase high school graduation rates, potential job opportunities, and educational278 opportunities that will prepare students for success in college and the workplace;279 (B) Establish intergovernmental cooperation between postsecondary institutions and280 local boards of education and collaboration with business, indu stry, and community281 stakeholders to aid relevant education programs informed by the High-Demand Career282 List as provided in Code Section 34-14-3 and in the development and support of new283 and existing college and career academies in Georgia;284 (C) Assist in the development of academic and career ready curriculum;285 (D) Establish and manage support grant opportunities and awards for new and existing286 college and career academies;287 (E) Establish a process that allows for college and career academy certification; and288 (F) Collect and analyze data to evaluate the effectiveness of dual credit and dual289 enrollment programs, secondary and postsecondary partnerships, and college and career290 academics academies.291 (2) The General Assembly finds that to accomplish these goals an office should be292 established to coordinate the efforts of the various education agencies."293 "(c) The Office of College and Career Academies shall be established within the Technical294 College System of Georgia to coordinate the efforts by the Offi ce of Education and295 Workforce Strategy, the State Board of Education, the University System of Georgia, the296 Technical College System of Georgia, and other not for profit postsecondary institutions297 accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in the professional298 development, curriculum support, and development and establishment of college and career299 academies."300 H. B. 1302 - 12 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP "(g)(1) The office shall establish a certification process, in collaboration with the301 Department of Education, for approval by the board. The office shall be authorized to302 certify college and career academies. The State Board of Educa tion shall accept303 certification by the office as one component of determining compliance with charter and304 strategic waivers school system or charter system contract requirements. The State Board305 of Education may request supplemental information from charter petitioners, strategic306 waivers school systems, or charter systems.307 (2) Any certification process established pursuant to paragrap h (1) of this subsection308 shall require that the applicant demonstrates how the proposed or existing college and309 career academy will increase student achievement and technical skill attainment, provide310 for dual credit and dual enrollment opportunities, increase wor k based learning311 opportunities, and address work force workforce development needs; articulates how the312 collaboration between business, industry, and community stakeholders will advance work313 force workforce development; demonstrates local governance and autonomy; and shows314 other benefits that meet the needs of the students and communit y. The applicant shall315 also demonstrate, as applicable, how the proposed or existing c ollege and career316 academy's use of the Accelerated Career Diploma Program, the To p State For Talent317 Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship Program, and the High-Demand Career List as318 provided in Code Section 34-14-3, specific to its region, will increase workforce319 readiness.320 (3) Certification by the office shall constitute a positive re commendation to the State321 Board of Education for renewal of a charter school or charter system pursuant to Code322 Section 20-2-2064.1 or an extension of a strategic waivers scho ol system contract323 pursuant to Article 4 of Chapter 2 of this title. A copy of the certification report shall be324 provided to the State Board of Education by the office in order to communicate the325 certification status of the applicant."326 H. B. 1302 - 13 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP SECTION 12.327 Said title is further amended in Article 7 of said chapter, rel ating to the high demand328 apprenticeship program, by revising Code Section 20-4-150, rela ting to definitions, as329 follows:330 "20-4-150.331 As used in this article, the term:332 (1) 'Apprentice' means an individual at least 15 years of age, except where a higher333 minimum age standard is otherwise set by law, who is employed to learn an occupation334 in a registered apprenticeship program. a person who is at least 15 years of age, except335 where a higher minimum age is required by law, who is employed in an eligible336 apprenticeable occupation, and is registered in Georgia with th e United States337 Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship.338 (2) 'Apprenticeable occupation' means an occupation approved for apprenticeship by the339 United States Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship.340 (3) 'Apprenticeship program' means a program registered with t he United States341 Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship that includes terms and conditions for the342 qualification, recruitment, selection, employment, and training of apprentices, including343 the requirement for a written apprenticeship agreement.344 (4)(3) 'Apprenticeship sponsor' means:345 (A) Any entity operating an apprenticeship program; or346 (B) Any entity in whose name an apprenticeship program is bein g operated that is347 registered with or approved by the United States Department of Labor Office of348 Apprenticeship.349 (5)(4) 'Board' means the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia.350 (6)(5) 'Eligible apprenticeable occupation' means an apprenticeable occupation identified351 by the State Workforce Development Board pursuant to Code Secti on 34-14-3 as a352 high-demand career.353 H. B. 1302 - 14 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP (7)(6) 'Employer sponsor' means an employer that coordinates with or i s a n354 apprenticeship sponsor and employs and trains an apprentice.355 (8) 'Office of Workforce Development' means the Technical College System of Georgia's356 Office of Workforce Development.357 (7) ‘Pre-apprentice' means an individual at least 15 years of age, except where a higher358 minimum age standard is otherwise set by law, who is employed to learn an occupation359 in a registered pre-apprenticeship program, who is enrolled in a public school work based360 learning program, and who is pursuing a technical college certificate from a unit of the361 Technical College System of Georgia that is aligned with a regi stered apprenticeship362 program.363 (8) 'Registered apprenticeship program' or 'apprenticeship pro gram' means an364 apprenticeship program registered in accordance with 29 C.F.R. Sections 29 and 30 that365 possesses an approved plan containing all terms and conditions for the qualification,366 recruitment, selection, employment, and training of apprentices, as required under federal367 law, including matters such as the requirement for a written apprenticeship agreement.368 (9) 'Registered pre-apprenticeship program' or 'pre-apprentice ship program' means a369 pre-apprenticeship program approved by the Technical College System of Georgia that370 possesses an approved plan containing all terms and conditions for the qualification,371 recruitment, selection, employment, and training of pre-apprent ices, including matters372 such as the requirement for a written pre-apprenticeship agreement."373 SECTION 13.374 Said title is further amended in said article by revising Code Section 20-4-151, relating to375 purpose, employer or apprenticeship sponsorships, required information, contracts, awards,376 and limitations, as follows:377 H. B. 1302 - 15 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP "20-4-151.378 (a) Subject to appropriations of funds by the General Assembly for this purpose, the board,379 in coordination with the Department of Labor, the Department of Economic Development,380 the Department of Education, Office of Education and Workforce Strategy and the Office381 of Planning and Budget, shall establish and administer a progra m through the Office of382 Workforce Development Technical College System of Georgia to be called the High383 Demand Apprenticeship Program Top State for Talent Pre-Apprenticeship and384 Apprenticeship Program . The purpose of the High Demand Top State for Talent385 Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship Program is to incentivize pre-apprenticeship and386 apprenticeship sponsors to establish new or grow existing registered pre-apprenticeship and387 apprenticeship programs in Georgia in order to support the growth of pre-apprenticeship388 or apprenticeship programs and expand high-quality work based learning experiences in389 high-demand fields and careers for persons in Georgia to increase program utilization.390 (b) An employer sponsor or pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship sponsor may apply to the391 board for the opportunity to enter into a contract to perform the requirements of conducting392 an a pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship program for a specific apprentice. Such contract393 shall require the employer sponsor's apprentice, pre-apprentice ship, or apprenticeship394 sponsor's apprentice to successfully complete an a pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship395 program.396 (c) The board shall provide upon request and on the Technical College System of397 Georgia's public website information about the High Demand Top State for Talent398 Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship Program, the application, application instructions,399 and the application period established each year for contracts for services available under400 such program.401 (d) Upon successful completion of the requirements of a contra ct under this article, the402 board shall provide a contract completion award to the employer sponsor or403 pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship sponsor. The contract completion award amount shall404 H. B. 1302 - 16 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP be determined based on the number of hours of education and tra ining required for the405 successful completion of the pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship under such406 pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship program but shall not exceed:407 (1) Ten thousand dollars per apprentice for contracts entered into before July 1, 2024;408 and409 (2) Five thousand dollars per apprentice for contracts entered into on or after July 1,410 2024.411 (e) Each employer sponsor or pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship sponsor shall only be412 eligible to enter into contracts under this article for up to:413 (1) Five pre-apprentices or apprentices per year through the end of Fiscal Year 2024; and414 (2) Ten pre-apprentices or apprentices per year beginning with Fiscal Year 2025 and415 continuing each fiscal year thereafter.416 (f) An A pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship sponsor may assist with the application for417 and completion of an a pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship contract authorized by this418 article.419 (g) Beginning July 1, 2024, and continuing thereafter, the Off ice of Workforce420 Development Technical College System of Georgia shall be authorized to:421 (1) Provide initial funding for up to $2,500.00 per apprentice of the amount provided for422 in paragraph (2) of subsection (d) of this Code section; and423 (2) Provide funding to award employer sponsors or apprenticesh ip sponsors up to424 $2,500.00 per apprentice 12 months after the start of his or he r pre-apprenticeship or425 apprenticeship."426 SECTION 14.427 Said title is further amended in said article by revising Code Section 20-4-152, relating to428 utilization of the High-demand Career List, as follows:429 H. B. 1302 - 17 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP "20-4-152.430 The board and the Office of Workforce Development shall utilize the High-demand431 High-Demand Career List as provided for in Code Section 34-14-3 for purposes of the432 High Demand Top State for Talent Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship Program."433 SECTION 15.434 Said title is further amended in said article by revising Code Section 20-4-153, relating to435 annual reporting and cooperation from apprenticeship sponsor, as follows:436 "20-4-153.437 (a) The Office of Workforce Development Technical College System of Georgia shall438 annually report on its website the following information:439 (1) The total amount of compensation awarded under this article;440 (2) The amount of compensation awarded in each field of high-demand careers identified441 by the State Workforce Development Board pursuant to Code Section 34-14-3;442 (3) The total number of contracts entered into and the number of contracts completed;443 (4) The total number of contracts entered per eligible occupation and the number of those444 completed;445 (5) The total amount awarded overall with respect to each eligible occupation;446 (6) The total number of pre-apprentices or apprentices who attended an institution of the447 Technical College System of Georgia during the course of his or her pre-apprenticeship448 or apprenticeship program; and449 (7) The total number of apprentices who did not attend an inst itution of the Technical450 College System of Georgia during the course of his or her pre-a pprenticeship or451 apprenticeship program.452 (b) Each pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship sponsor shall fully cooperate in providing453 statistical information requested by the board or, at the board's discretion, be excluded from454 H. B. 1302 - 18 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP participating in the High Demand Top State for Talent Pre-Apprenticeship and455 Apprenticeship Program."456 SECTION 16.457 Said title is further amended in said article by revising Code Section 20-4-154, relating to458 rules and regulations, as follows:459 "20-4-154.460 The board shall adopt rules and regulations deemed necessary for the implementation and461 administration of this article, which shall include, but shall not be limited to, rules and462 regulations for:463 (1) Establishing a staff review and application approval process;464 (2) Establishing an amount of funding that will place priority on the availability of465 awards for the pre-apprenticeship program established by this article;466 (2)(3) Application scoring criteria that shall include provisions th at give priority to467 pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship programs that hire and train apprentices who are:468 (A) Between 15 and 21 years of age Fifteen years of age or older in any public school469 work based learning program; or470 (B) Enrolled in an adult education program and engaged in obta ining a high school471 diploma;472 (3)(4) The minimum score necessary for approval of a contract; and473 (4)(5) The terms of agreement between an employer sponsor or pre-app renticeship or474 apprenticeship sponsor and the board."475 SECTION 17.476 Said title is further amended in said article by revising Code Section 20-4-156, relating to477 repealer, as follows:478 H. B. 1302 - 19 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP "20-4-156.479 This article shall stand repealed and reserved on July 1, 2027 2031."480 SECTION 18.481 Said title is further amended in Article 8 of said chapter, rel ating to the public service482 apprenticeship program, by revising Code Section 20-4-160, rela ting to definitions, as483 follows:484 "20-4-160.485 As used in this article, the term:486 (1) 'Apprentice' mean s an individual a t least 15 years of age, except where a higher487 minimum age standard is otherwise set by law, who is employed to learn an occupation488 in a registered apprenticeship program. a person who is at least 15 years of age, except489 where a higher minimum age is required by law, who is employed in an eligible490 apprenticeable occupation, and is registered in Georgia with th e United States491 Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship.492 (2) 'Apprenticeable occupation' means an occupation approved for apprenticeship by the493 United States Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship.494 (3) 'Apprenticeship program' means a program registered with t he United States495 Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship that includes terms and conditions for the496 qualification, recruitment, selection, employment, and training of apprentices, including497 the requirement for a written apprenticeship agreement.498 (4)(3) 'Apprenticeship sponsor' means:499 (A) Any entity operating an apprenticeship program; or500 (B) Any entity in whose name an apprenticeship program is bein g operated that is501 registered with or approved by the United States Department of Labor Office of502 Apprenticeship.503 (5)(4) 'Board' means the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia.504 H. B. 1302 - 20 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP (6)(5) 'Eligible apprenticeable occupation' means an apprenticeable occupation identified505 by the State Workforce Development Board pursuant to Code Secti on 34-14-3 as a506 high-demand career Office of Workforce Development pursuant to Code Section507 20-4-152 as a high-demand job.508 (7) 'Office of Workforce Development' means the Technical College System of Georgia's509 Office of Workforce Development.510 (8)(6) 'Public service sponsor' means a state or local government entity that coordinates511 with or is an apprenticeship sponsor and employs and trains an apprentice.512 (7) ‘Pre-apprentice' means an individual at least 15 years of age, except where a higher513 minimum age standard is otherwise set by law, who is employed to learn an occupation514 in a registered pre-apprenticeship program, who is enrolled in a public school work based515 learning program, and who is pursuing a technical college certificate from a unit of the516 Technical College System of Georgia that is aligned with a regi stered apprenticeship517 program.518 (8) 'Registered apprenticeship program' or 'apprenticeship pro gram' means an519 apprenticeship program registered in accordance with 29 C.F.R. Sections 29 and 30 that520 possesses an approved plan contai ning all terms and conditions for the qualification,521 recruitment, selection, employment, and training of apprentices, as required under federal522 law, including matters such as the requirement for a written apprenticeship agreement.523 (9) 'Registered pre-apprenticeship program' or 'pre-apprentices hip program' means a524 pre-apprenticeship program approved by the Technical College System of Georgia that525 possesses an approved plan containing all terms and conditions for the qualification,526 recruitment, selection, employment, and training of pre-apprent ices, including matters527 such as the requirement for a written pre-apprenticeship agreement."528 SECTION 19.529 Said title is further amended in said chapter by adding a new article to read as follows:530 H. B. 1302 - 21 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP "ARTICLE 10531 20-4-200.532 As used in this article, the term:533 (1) 'Apprentice' means an individual at least 15 years of age, except where a higher534 minimum age standard is otherwise set by law, who is employed to learn an occupation535 in a registered apprenticeship program.536 (2) 'Apprenticeship agreement' means a written agreement betwe en an apprentice and537 either the apprentice's program sponsor or an apprenticeship committee acting as an agent538 for the program sponsor, which contains the terms and conditions of the employment and539 training of the apprentice and which complies with the provisio ns of 29 C.F.R.540 Section 29.7.541 (3) 'Board' means the State Workforce Development Board.542 (4) 'Commissioner' means the commissioner of the Technical Col lege System of543 Georgia.544 (5) 'Pre-apprentice' means an individual at least 15 years of age, except where a higher545 minimum age standard is otherwise set by law, who is employed to learn an occupation546 in a registered pre-apprenticeship program, who is enrolled in a public school work based547 learning program, and who is pursuing a technical college certificate from a unit of the548 Technical College System of Georgia that is aligned with a regi stered apprenticeship549 program.550 (6) 'Registered apprenticeship program' or 'apprenticeship pro gram' means an551 apprenticeship program registered in accordance with 29 C.F.R. Sections 29 and 30 that552 possesses an approved plan containing all terms and conditions for the qualification,553 recruitment, selection, employment, and training of apprentices, as required under federal554 law, including matters such as the requirement for a written apprenticeship agreement.555 H. B. 1302 - 22 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP (7) 'Registered pre-apprenticeship program' or 'pre-apprentice ship program' means a556 pre-apprenticeship program approved by the Technical College System of Georgia that557 possesses an approved plan containing all terms and conditions for the qualification,558 recruitment, selection, employment, and training of pre-apprent ices, including matters559 such as the requirement for a written pre-apprenticeship agreement.560 (8) 'Secretary' means the United States Secretary of Labor.561 (9) 'Sponsor' means any employer, employer association, labor organization, joint562 labor-management organization, or other entity that operates or s e e k s t o o p e r a t e a563 registered apprenticeship program.564 (10) 'State apprenticeship agency' or 'registration agency' means a state apprenticeship565 agency recognized by the United States Department of Labor and responsible for carrying566 out the duties and powers of such agency pursuant to 29 C.F.R. Section 29.13 within this567 state.568 20-4-201.569 (a) The Technical College System of Georgia is hereby designat ed as the state570 apprenticeship agency for the state.571 (b) The Technical College System of Georgia shall be responsib le for carrying out all572 duties and responsibilities of a registration agency as provided under Part 29 of Subtitle A573 of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, subject to approval and ongoing oversight574 by the United States Department of Labor.575 (c) The commissioner shall submit to the Secretary and the adm inistrator of the United576 States Department of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship, in accor dance with 29 C.F.R.577 Section 29.13, an application to recognize the Technical College System of Georgia as a578 state apprenticeship agency.579 (d) Upon approval by the Secretary, the Technical College System of Georgia shall have580 the authority within the state to:581 H. B. 1302 - 23 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP (1) Advance the establishment and growth of registered apprent iceship programs and582 foster enrollment in apprenticeship programs by providing techn ical and compliance583 assistance to sponsors, apprentices, employers, and apprenticeship programs;584 (2) Register, oversee, and, when necessary, deregister registered apprenticeship programs585 and related apprenticeship agreements;586 (3) Issue recognized certificates of registration and completion;587 (4) Serve as the primary state level point of contact with the United States Department588 of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship;589 (5) Develop and maintain a state policy of reciprocity with ot her states to ensure590 registration of apprenticeship programs;591 (6) Ensure compliance with federal and state apprenticeship standards; and592 (7) Perform such other functions as required of a registration agency under federal law.593 20-4-202.594 Consistent with Part 29 of Subtitle A of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the595 Technical College System of Georgia as a state apprenticeship agency shall have the power596 and duty to:597 (1) Adopt, promulgate, and enforce rules and regulations neces sary to implement this598 article;599 (2) Establish apprenticeship standards governing program regis tration, operation,600 completion, suspension, and deregistration;601 (3) Conduct program reviews, quality assurance assessments, mo nitoring, and602 compliance investigations;603 (4) Receive, investigate, and resolve complaints relating to r egistered apprenticeship604 programs;605 (5) Collect and report data required by the United States Department of Labor and the606 General Assembly;607 H. B. 1302 - 24 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP (6) Ensure that the registration of apprenticeship programs occurs only in occupations608 provided in 29 C.F.R. Section 29.4, and in coordination with th e state's High-Demand609 Career List as provided in Code Section 34-14-3;610 (7) Develop a nationally recognized state apprenticeship compl etion credential, as611 described in 29 C.F.R. Section 29.5, for completing an apprenticeship program registered612 with the Technical College System of Georgia;613 (8) Provide technical assistance and guidance to current and p rospective program614 sponsors; and615 (9) Coordinate apprenticeship activities with the board and local workforce development616 areas as provided in Code Section 34-14-2, technical colleges, the Department of Labor,617 the Department of Education, sponsors, registered apprenticeshi p programs, and other618 relevant partners.619 20-4-203.620 The board shall serve as an adviser to the Technical College System of Georgia on matters621 related to registered apprenticeship programs, without limiting or superseding the authority622 of the Technical College System of Georgia as the registration agency.623 20-4-204.624 (a) This article shall be administered in a manner fully consi stent with Part 29 of625 Subtitle A of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations and any other applicable federal626 law or regulation governing registered apprenticeship.627 (b) In the event of a conflict between this article and federal law or regulation, federal law628 or regulation shall control to the extent of such conflict.629 H. B. 1302 - 25 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP 20-4-205.630 (a) Upon recognition of the Technical College System of Georgi a by the United States631 Department of Labor as the state apprenticeship agency, all reg istered apprenticeship632 programs operating in Georgia shall be reported to the Technica l College System of633 Georgia in accordance with a transition plan submitted by the commissioner and approved634 by the Secretary.635 (b) The state apprenticeship agency shall ensure continuity of registration and minimize636 disruption to sponsors and apprentices during the transition."637 SECTION 20.638 Said title is further amended in Chapter 14, relating to education accountability, by repealing639 and reserving Article 1, relating to Alliance of Education Agency Heads.640 SECTION 21.641 Said title is further amended in Part 1 of Article 2 of said chapter by revising Code Section642 20-14-20, relating to definitions relative to education accountability assessment programs,643 as follows:644 "20-14-20.645 As used in this article, the term:646 (1) 'Alliance' means the Alliance of Education Agency Heads created in Article 1 of this647 chapter.648 (2)(1) 'Board of regents' means the Board of Regents of the Universi ty System of649 Georgia.650 (3)(2) 'Director' means the director of the Office of Student Achievement Education and651 Workforce Strategy or, alternatively, the executive director of the Office of Education652 and Workforce Strategy if the individual selected to serve as director is designated with653 the title of executive director by the Governor.654 H. B. 1302 - 26 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP (4)(3) 'Early intervention program' means the program established under Code Section655 20-2-153.656 (5)(4) 'Office' means the Office of Student Achievement Education and Workforce657 Strategy."658 SECTION 22.659 Said title is further amended in Part 2 of said article, relati ng to the Office of Student660 Achievement, by revising Code Section 20-14-25, relating to cre ation, director, authority,661 seal, and administrative assignment, as follows:662 "20-14-25.663 (a) There is created Effective July 1, 2026, the Office of Student Achievement shall be664 reconstituted as the Office of Education and Workforce Strategy and shall retain all duties,665 responsibilities, functions, powers, and authority conferred up on the Office of Student666 Achievement as provided by law in effect on June 30, 2026.667 (b) The chief administrative and executive officer of the office shall be the director, who668 shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. As directed669 by the Governor, the director shall coordinate the efforts of all state agencies and relevant670 entities engaged in activities related to education, student achievement, talent development,671 and workforce preparedness throughout the state. Subject to the general policy established672 by the Alliance of Education Agency Heads, the The director shall be responsible for the673 performance and exercise of the duties, responsibilities, functions, powers, and authority674 imposed conferred upon the director and the office as provided by law. The director shall675 receive a salary to be determined by the Governor.676 (c) The director shall have the authority to employ all personnel of the office, subject to677 the provisions of this part and all applicable provisions of ot her laws governing public678 employment.679 H. B. 1302 - 27 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP (d) The office may adopt a seal for its use and shall be authorized to enter into contracts680 to fulfill its duties under this article.681 (e) The office shall be assigned for administrative purposes only, as that term is defined682 in Code Section 50-4-3, to the Office of Planning and Budget."683 SECTION 23.684 Said title is further amended in said part by revising Code Sec tion 20-14-26, relating to685 duties, as follows:686 "20-14-26.687 (a) The office shall have the following duties:688 (1) To create a single state-wide accountability system, estab lish indicators of689 performance, rate schools and school systems, develop annual re port cards for690 elementary, middle, and secondary schools, and formulate a system of school awards and691 interventions. The State Board of Education shall approve a single accountability system692 for local schools and school systems that incorporates federal law, rules, and regulations693 relating to accountability;694 (2) To audit and inspect or cause to be audited or inspected f or the purpose of695 verification, research, analysis, reporting, or for other purposes related to the performance696 of its powers and duties as provided in this article and for th e purposes of auditing697 pre-kindergarten, elementary, middle grades, and secondary educ ation, postsecondary698 education, and education work force workforce programs and schools, local school699 systems, institutes, colleges, universities, regional educational service agencies, and other700 public education programs and en tities as defined by the allian ce determined by the701 director;702 (3) To serve as staff to the alliance; and To oversee the cross-agency development of a703 comprehensive state-wide education and workforce plan as provid ed in Code Section704 20-14-29.2;705 H. B. 1302 - 28 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP (4) To exercise the powers and discharge duties of the allianc e, as set forth in Code706 Section 20-14-8, under the supervision and oversight of the all iance. To assist the707 Department of Education and the Technical College System of Georgia with creating the708 combined Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Plan and Perk ins State Plan as709 provided for in Code Sections 20-2-169 and 20-4-17; and710 (5) To create the navigation tool as provided in Code Section 20-14-29.3.711 (b) The member agencies of the alliance and other executive branch education and712 workforce development departments, boards, and offices of this state shall cooperate fully713 with the office and shall provide the office with all informati on that the alliance deems714 necessary for the office to discharge its accountability duties under this article regarding715 the education programs and units governed by such member agencies or other departments,716 boards, or offices. These agencies shall share or integrate ex isting agency data and717 technology systems to the extent permitted by state and federal law to improve alignment718 and coordination and reduce duplication of efforts.719 (c) The office shall convene and oversee regular meetings with the agencies provided for720 in subsection (b) of this Code section for the purpose of ensuring effective collaboration,721 data sharing, and alignment of duties required under this Code section."722 SECTION 24.723 Said title is further amended in said part by revising Code Sec tion 20-14-27, relating to724 required reports and publication format, as follows:725 "20-14-27.726 (a) The office shall submit prepare the following reports to the alliance:727 (1) An annual report regarding pre-kindergarten education shal l be submitted no later728 than December 1 of each year, commencing December 1, 2002. The pre-kindergarten729 report shall be an evaluation of the progress made on performance indicators identified730 and defined by the office and approved by the alliance for all pre-kindergarten and child731 H. B. 1302 - 29 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP care programs under the administrative control of the Departmen t of Early Care and732 Learning. The pre-kindergarten report shall include information concerning results of the733 state's investment in each pre-kindergarten program;734 (2) An annual report regarding elementary and secondary education shall be submitted735 no later than December 1 of each year, commencing December 1, 2001. The elementary736 and secondary education report shall be an evaluation of the pr ogress made on737 performance indicators identified and defined by the office and approved by the alliance738 for all elementary and secondary education programs administered by the Department of739 Education. The elementary and secondary education report shall include information740 concerning results of the state's investment in each public school and each public school741 system;742 (3) An annual report regarding postsecondary education shall be submitted no later than743 December 1 of each year, commencing December 1, 2002. The postsecondary education744 report shall be an evaluation of the progress made on performance indicators identified745 and defined by the office and approved by the alliance for all universities, colleges,746 institutes, and schools in the University System of Georgia and under the governance of747 the Technical College System of Georgia. The postsecondary edu cation report shall748 include information concerning results of the state's investmen t in each university,749 college, institute, and school; and750 (4) An annual report regarding the Georgia education work forc e workforce shall be751 submitted no later than December 1 of each year, commencing December 1, 2002. The752 Georgia education work force workforce report shall be an evaluation of the progress753 made on performance indicators identified and defined by the office and approved by the754 alliance for the education work force workforce status under the administrative control755 of the Professional Standards Commission. The Georgia education work force workforce756 report shall contain information on the results of the state's investments in teacher757 preparation, educators' professional development, education lea dership development,758 H. B. 1302 - 30 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP in-field teaching, geographic teacher shortages, alternative routes to teacher certification,759 and other general information and indicators on the quality of the education work force760 workforce.761 (b) Each report provided for in this Code section shall be pub lished in a format that can762 be easily understood by parents and other members of the commun ity who are not763 professional educators. Such reports shall be distributed to t he Governor,; Lieutenant764 Governor,; the Speaker of the House of Representatives,; the chairpersons of the Higher765 Education committees of the Senate and House of Representatives, the House Education766 Committee, and the Senate Education and Youth Committee, ; and members of the state767 education governing boards or commissions, and members of the alliance. The office shall768 not be required to distribute copies of such reports to the members of the General Assembly769 but shall notify such members of the availability of the report s in the manner which it770 deems to be most effective and efficient. In addition, such reports shall be posted on the771 website of the office."772 SECTION 25.773 Said title is further amended in said part by adding a new Code section to read as follows:774 "20-14-29.1.775 (a) The office shall develop a report detailing the alignment of policies, programs, and776 practices of the State Board of Education, the Department of Ed ucation, the University777 System of Georgia, the Technical College System of Georgia, and the Georgia Student778 Finance Commission that promotes and advances the objectives of serving student needs,779 avoiding duplication of mission, using state resources efficien tly, and expanding780 opportunities for postsecondary credential attainment.781 (b) The office shall coordinate and collaborate with the Depar tment of Education, the782 University System of Georgia, and the Technical College System of Georgia to create the783 report required by this Code section that shall include the following:784 H. B. 1302 - 31 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP (1) A list of the courses articulated from the State Board of Education to the University785 System of Georgia, the Technical College System of Georgia, and each private786 postsecondary institution that is an eligible postsecondary ins titution, as suc h term is787 defined in Code Section 20-3-519;788 (2) A list of the courses approved by the Board of Regents of the University System of789 Georgia and the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia to be790 transferrable between institutions of the university system and units of the technical791 college system;792 (3) Of the courses listed as provided for in paragraph (2) of this subsection, identification793 of the university system baccalaureate degree program or programs for which each such794 course has been approved by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia795 to be a degree prerequisite;796 (4) Of the courses listed as provided for in paragraph (2) of this subsection, identification797 of the technical college system degree program or programs for which each such course798 has been approved by the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia to be799 a degree prerequisite;800 (5) A summary of efforts undertaken by the Technical College S ystem of Georgia in801 collaboration with the University System of Georgia to reduce b arriers to degree802 completion by students who have earned course credits in the Un iversity System of803 Georgia, the Technical College System of Georgia, or both;804 (6) A list of the courses approved by each private postseconda ry institution that is an805 eligible postsecondary institution, as such term is defined in Code Section 20-3-519, and806 the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia to be transferrable between807 units of such private postsecondary institution and the technical college system;808 (7) A list of the courses approved by each private postseconda ry institution that is an809 eligible postsecondary institution, as such term is defined in Code Section 20-3-519, and810 H. B. 1302 - 32 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia to be transferrable between811 units of such private postsecondary institution and the university system;812 (8) A summary of efforts undertaken to develop plans and proce dures for reverse813 transfers. As used in this paragraph, the term "reverse transf er" means the process of814 transferring the credits a student has earned from a four-year institution to any unit of the815 Technical College System of Georgia from which a student has transferred so that such816 credits will be available to such student for purposes of his o r her enrollment in or817 completion of programs offered by the Technical College System of Georgia;818 (9) A summary of the efforts undertaken on behalf of the Technical College System of819 Georgia, the University System of Georgia, and the State Board of Education to comply820 with the requirements of subsection (b) of Code Section 20-4-20;821 (10) A summary of efforts undertaken to align articulated, tra nsferrable courses and822 degree completion to the High-Demand Career List published by t he State Workforce823 Development Board as provided in Code Section 34-14-3, including the total number of824 articulation agreements aligned to such list for the State Boar d of Education, the825 University System of Georgia, and the Technical College System of Georgia;826 (11) The number of students enrolled in programs of study provided for in subsection (a)827 of Code Section 20-2-159.1 receiving articulated credit with th e University System of828 Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia and which credits those students829 receive; and830 (12) Of the articulation agreements listed as provided for in paragraph (1) of this831 subsection, identification of the number of articulated credits awarded, which institutions832 awarded which credits, and the local school system or public school represented by the833 students who earned such credits.834 (c) The report required by this Code section shall be included in the state-wide education835 and workforce plan provided for in Code Section 20-14-29.2.836 H. B. 1302 - 33 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP (d) All relevant state agencies and educational institutions included in this process shall837 cooperate in collecting and sharing data necessary for the preparation of the report required838 by this Code section, subject to applicable privacy protections, within a predetermined time839 frame as set by the data sharing agreement by the office."840 SECTION 26.841 Said title is further amended in said part by adding a new Code section to read as follows:842 "20-14-29.2.843 (a) As used in this Code section, the term 'participating agen cies' means the Georgia844 Student Finance Commission, the Technical College System of Geo rgia, the University845 System of Georgia, the Department of Education, the Department of Labor, and the State846 Workforce Development Board.847 (b) The office shall develop a state-wide education and workfo rce plan in collaboration848 with the participating agencies and any other agencies necessar y to support the plan's849 creation. The plan shall include:850 (1) The programs, initiatives, and activities supporting the G overnor's education and851 workforce priorities and those outlined in this article and in the combined Workforce852 Innovation and Opportunity Act Plan and Perkins State Plan as p rovided for in Code853 Sections 20-2-169 and 20-4-17;854 (2) A report on the effectiveness of employment, wage attainme nt, and retention of855 students in programs that align with the High-Demand Career List as provided in Code856 Section 34-14-3 and the return on investment report as provided in Code Section 34-14-4;857 (3) A comprehensive, updated collection of information on all educational and858 occupational credentials that are granted, issued, funded, or g overned by the state,859 including, but not limited to, diplomas, certificates, certific ations, microcredentials,860 digital badges, pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, licenses, and degrees of all types and861 H. B. 1302 - 34 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP levels. Such collection of information shall also identify those credentials that are aligned862 to the High-Demand Career List as provided in Code Section 34-14-3; and863 (4) The report provided for in Code Section 20-14-91.864 (c) The time frame of the state-wide education and workforce plan shall coincide with the865 time frame required by the combined Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Plan and866 Perkins State Plan as provided for in Code Sections 20-2-169 and 20-4-17.867 (d) The office shall meet at least quarterly with the participating agencies and any other868 agencies necessary to support the state-wide education and workforce plan's creation.869 (e) Upon its completion, the state-wide education and workforce plan shall be presented870 to the State Workforce Development Board for approval. Include d in such presentation871 shall be a report of progress made toward objectives included in the plan. Upon the plan's872 approval by the State Workforce Development Board, the plan shall be submitted to the873 Governor."874 SECTION 27.875 Said title is further amended in said part by adding a new Code section to read as follows:876 "20-14-29.3.877 (a) As used in this Code section, the term 'navigation tool' means a secure, user-friendly,878 online platform that connects individuals with personalized aca demic and training879 information, guidance, and resources provided by local public s chool systems, the880 Technical College System of Georgia, the University System of Georgia, the Department881 of Labor, the Georgia Student Finance Commission, and any other relevant entity.882 (b) The office shall create a navigation tool for the purpose of assisting students, parents,883 counselors, educators, and job seekers in identifying secondary , postsecondary, and884 workforce training opportunities in this state.885 (c) The navigation tool shall:886 H. B. 1302 - 35 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP (1) Be a comprehensive inventory of all state approved education and training assets in887 this state;888 (2) Provide clear guidance on programs of study, financial aid options, and credentialing889 opportunities aligned with careers, including, but not limited to, those identified on the890 High-Demand Career List as provided in Code Section 34-14-3;891 (3) Utilize existing agency data and technology systems to the extent permitted by state892 and federal law for the purpose of improving program coordinati on and reduce893 duplication of efforts;894 (4) Include annual updates and enhancements to ensure accuracy, accessibility, ease of895 use, and continued alignment with evolving workforce needs; and896 (5) Provide any other relevant guidance as needed.897 (d) The Department of Education, the Technical College System of Georgia, the898 University System of Georgia, the Department of Labor, and the Georgia Student Finance899 Commission shall provide the office with such data, technical a ssistance, program900 information, and promotion of user awareness as are necessary f or the operation of the901 navigation tool and the successful implementation of this Code section. Each agency may902 designate a liaison to fulfill the requirements of this subsection if necessary.903 (e) The agencies listed in subsection (d) of this Code section shall ensure that any relevant904 technology systems or platforms used by the agency are compatible with, and capable of905 integrating with, the navigation tool."906 SECTION 28.907 Said title is further amended in said part by adding a new Code section to read as follows:908 "20-14-29.4.909 (a) As used in this Code section, the term 'board' shall mean the Education Data910 Governance Board.911 H. B. 1302 - 36 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP (b) There is created within the office an Education Data Governance Board for the purpose912 of coordinating state-wide education data governance.913 (c) The board shall be composed of the following agency heads, or their designees:914 (1) The Office of Education and Workforce Strategy; 915 (2) The Department of Education;916 (3) The State Charter Schools Commission;917 (4) The Technical College System of Georgia;918 (5) The University System of Georgia;919 (6) The Georgia Student Finance Commission;920 (7) The Department of Early Care and Learning;921 (8) The Professional Standards Commission;922 (9) The Office of Planning and Budget;923 (10) The Department of Labor; and924 (11) Such other agency or entity that the board deems necessary for data collection.925 (d) The board shall serve as the primary interagency forum for the coordination and926 governance of cross-agency education and workforce data systems , including, but not927 limited to, the state-wide longitudinal data system, and interagency data sharing agreements928 and memoranda of understanding that enable the lawful sharing and appropriate use of data929 among such agencies. In addition, the board shall:930 (1) Establish shared standards, roles and responsibilities, an d best practices for the931 collection, use, privacy, security, stewardship, and quality of education and workforce932 data used across agencies;933 (2) Develop and maintain policies and coordinated timelines for data quality standards,934 validation protocols, and cross-agency data collection, cleaning, sharing, and availability935 to ensure accurate and timely reporting for accountability, research, and policy analysis;936 (3) Promote alignment of data definitions, reporting standards , and interoperability937 across agency data systems, where appropriate;938 H. B. 1302 - 37 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP (4) Identify opportunities to reduce duplicative data collecti on and improve state and939 federal reporting efficiency;940 (5) Provide information and analysis to the Governor and the General Assembly on data941 related issues impacting education and workforce policy;942 (6) Provide governance, coordination, and guidance related to comprehensive,943 system-wide data systems supporting state-wide accountability;944 (7) Identify dependencies, sequencing, and agency-specific inputs necessary to support945 accurate and timely cross-agency data use and reporting;946 (8) Support lawful and ethical data sharing in compliance with all applicable state and947 federal laws, including but not limited to the federal Family E ducational Rights and948 Privacy Act; and 949 (9) Provide a forum for resolving cross-agency data governance issues related to data950 access, stewardship, and use.951 (e) The office shall provide necessary staffing and support fo r the board, including952 coordinating meetings and work groups related to cross-agency data systems, facilitating953 the development of shared data governance frameworks and docume nts, and supporting954 coordination among agencies contributing to or utilizing cross- agency data systems,955 including the state-wide longitudinal data system.956 (f) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to:957 (1) Transfer statutory authority from any agency represented o n the board to another958 agency or entity; or959 (2) Require the disclosure of personally identifiable informat ion, except as otherwise960 permitted by law."961 H. B. 1302 - 38 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP SECTION 29.962 Said title is further amended in Part 3 of said article, relating to accountability assessment,963 by revising subsection (d) of Code Section 20-14-35, relating to office powers, on-site audits,964 reporting findings and recommendations, and authorization of other school audits, as follows:965 "(d) The auditors shall report to the local board of education, the local school council, and966 appropriate school administrators and shall report findings and recommendations967 concerning any necessary improvements or intervention strategies. School audit reports968 shall be provided to the alliance and the State Board of Education."969 SECTION 30.970 Said title is further amended in Part 4 of said article, relating to postsecondary accountability971 assessment program, by revising subsections (a) and (b) of Code Section 20-14-50, relating972 to creation, adoption of performance measures, report cards, and audit, as follows:973 "(a) The office shall create and the council shall adopt the rules and policies that support974 a postsecondary accountability assessment program that is primarily performance based.975 (b) The office shall develop and the council shall adopt performance measures and976 indicators that provide the basis for an accountability report card annually on the University977 System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia."978 SECTION 31.979 Said title is further amended in Part 5 of said article, relati ng to the pre-kindergarten980 accountability assessment program, by revising subsection (a) o f Code Section 20-14-60,981 relating to performance based accountability assessment program , annual accountability982 report card, and audits, as follows:983 "(a) The office, with the approval of the council, shall create and the Department of Early984 Care and Learning shall adopt the rules and policies that suppo rt a pre-kindergarten985 accountability assessment program that is primarily performance based."986 H. B. 1302 - 39 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP SECTION 32.987 Said title is further amended in Part 6 of said article, relati ng to the education work force988 accountability assessment program, by replacing "work force" with "workforce" each time989 the term appears in and by revising subsection (a) of Code Sect ion 20-14-70, relating to990 creation, adoption of performance measures, report cards, and audit, as follows:991 "(a) The office, with the approval of the council, shall create and the Professional992 Standards Commission shall adopt the rules and policies that su pport an education work993 force workforce accountability assessment program that is primarily performance based."994 SECTION 33.995 Said title is further amended in Part 9 of said article, relati ng to the Career and Technical996 Education Advisory Commission, by revising paragraph (1) of sub section (b) of Code997 Section 20-14-91, relating to creation, membership, requirement s, meetings, and998 reimbursement, as follows:999 "(b)(1) The commission shall consist of four members of the House of Representatives1000 to be appointed by the Speaker of the House, one of whom shall be from the House1001 Committee on Economic Development and Tourism, one of whom shal l be from the1002 House Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, one of whom shall be from the1003 House Committee on Education, and one of whom shall be from the House Committee1004 on Higher Education; four members of the Senate to be appointed by the President of the1005 Senate, one of whom shall be from the Senate Economic Developme nt and Tourism1006 Committee, one of whom shall be from the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs1007 Committee, one of whom shall be from the Senate Education and Youth Committee, and1008 one of whom shall be from the Senate Higher Education Committee; three members who1009 are not members of the General Assembly to be appointed by the Governor; and three1010 members who are not members of the General Assembly to be appoi nted by the State1011 School Superintendent; the commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia;1012 H. B. 1302 - 40 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP the director; the chairperson of the State Workforce Developmen t Board; and the1013 chairperson of the State Board of Education."1014 SECTION 34.1015 Said title is further amended by replacing the term "Office of Workforce Development" with1016 "Technical College System of Georgia" wherever the former term appears.1017 SECTION 35.1018 Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to labor and industrial relations,1019 is amended Chapter 14, relating to the State Workforce Developm ent Board, by revising1020 Code Section 34-14-1, relating to creation of State Workforce Development Board, federal1021 composition requirements, meetings, promulgation of rules and regulations authorized, and1022 administration of programs, as follows:1023 "34-14-1.1024 (a)(1) Pursuant to Public Law 105-220 and any subsequent amendment to such law In1025 accordance with 29 U.S.C. Section 3111 , the State Workforce Development Board is1026 hereby created established.1027 (2) The State Workforce Development Board shall meet federal c omposition1028 requirements. The Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House of Representatives1029 shall each have the authority to appoint members as federal law allows. The Governor1030 shall be responsible for selecting the remainder of the members , who shall include the1031 following representatives of the Technical College System of Ge orgia and the1032 Department of Education: the commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia,1033 the State School Superintendent, one member of the State Board of the Technical College1034 System of Georgia, and one member of the State Board of Education.1035 (3) The State Workforce Development Board's members' terms of service shall be1036 established by the Governor and shall be at the discretion of the appointing authority.1037 H. B. 1302 - 41 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP (4) The State Workforce Development Board shall have powers and duties as specified1038 by the Governor and as provided for in federal law.1039 (5) The State Workforce Development Board shall be authorized to establish, alter, or1040 amend local workforce development areas in this state and shall be authorized to1041 promulgate rules implementing and governing such local workforce development areas1042 that are compliant with federal law.1043 (6) The State Workforce Development Board shall meet quarterly or when otherwise1044 requested by the chairperson and shall be governed by a set of bylaws which shall be1045 voted on and approved by the State Workforce Development Board.1046 (7) The State Workforce Development Board shall be funded by federal law.1047 (8) The State Workforce Development Board shall be authorized to promulgate rules and1048 regulations for purposes of implementing:1049 (A) The the state's workforce policy that are compliant with federal law; and1050 (B) The federal Workforce Pell Grant program, as defined by Se ction 83002 of1051 P.L. 119-21, to determine whether a Pell Grant-eligible postsecondary institution that1052 offers short-term programs in the state or enrolls students liv ing in the state in a1053 short-term program meets the requirements under applicable law. A n y s u c h1054 determination is subject to withdrawal based on criteria establ ished by the State1055 Workforce Development Board.1056 (9) The State Workforce Development Board shall periodically review the conditions,1057 needs, issues, and problems related to the career and technical education program in order1058 to collaborate with the Office of Education and Workforce Strat egy to create the1059 state-wide education and workforce plan provided for in Code Section 20-14-29.2.1060 (10) The State Workforce Development Board shall approve the combined Workforce1061 Innovation and Opportunity Act Plan and Perkins State Plan and any amendments thereto1062 as provided for in Code Sections 20-2-169 and 20-4-17.1063 H. B. 1302 - 42 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP (b)(1) The Technical College System of Georgia is designated as the administrator of all1064 programs for which the state is responsible pursuant to Public Law 105-220 and any1065 subsequent amendment to such law 29 U.S.C. Section 3111.1066 (2) The Technical College System of Georgia shall administer such programs and their1067 associated funds pursuant to the policies and methods of implem entation which are1068 promulgated by the State Workforce Development Board and the Governor.1069 (3) In collaboration with the Technical College System of Geor gia, the Office of1070 Education and Workforce Strategy is designated as the agency to support the State1071 Workforce Development Board in carrying out its responsibilitie s related to the1072 High-Demand Career List as provided in Code Section 34-14-3 and the return on1073 investment report as provided in Code Section 34-14-4.1074 (4) The Technical College System of Georgia shall be the autho rized state entity to1075 administer the federal Workforce Pell Grant program, as defined by Section 83002 of1076 P.L. 119-21.1077 (c) The State Workforce Development Board shall be assigned to the Office of Education1078 and Workforce Strategy for board operational purposes, including but not limited to staff1079 support for fulfilling its duties. To ensure program alignment , the Technical College1080 System of Georgia and the Department of Education shall also provide the State Workforce1081 Development Board with the necessary resources and staff support to fulfill its duties."1082 SECTION 36.1083 Said title is further amended in said chapter by revising the i ntroductory language of1084 subsection (a) of Code Section 34-14-3, relating to the High-demand Career List, as follows:1085 "34-14-3.1086 (a) The State Workforce Development Board Office of Education and Workforce Strategy1087 shall develop and approve a High-demand High-Demand Career List that shall identify1088 those careers most critical to the state's current and future w orkforce needs. As directed1089 H. B. 1302 - 43 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP by the Governor, the State Workforce Development Board Office of Education and1090 Workforce Strategy shall coordinate and collaborate with the Office of Student1091 Achievement State Workforce Development Board , the Department of Education, the1092 Department of Labor, the Technical College System of Georgia, the University System of1093 Georgia, and the Georgia Student Finance Commission to develop and implement a1094 data-driven methodology to determine which careers merit inclus ion on High-demand1095 High-Demand Career List, regionally or state wide. The High-demand High-Demand1096 Career List shall:"1097 SECTION 37.1098 Said title is further amended in said chapter by revising Code Section 34-14-4, relating to1099 return of investment analysis of secondary and postsecondary pr ograms, evaluation and1100 reporting requirements, and cooperation, as follows:1101 "34-14-4.1102 (a) The State Workforce Development Board Office of Education and Workforce Strategy1103 shall be responsible for oversight of a return on investment analysis to evaluate and report1104 on the effectiveness of secondary and postsecondary programs al igned with the priority1105 areas identified by the State Workforce Development Board and i ncluded on the1106 High-demand High-Demand Career List published by the State Workforce Development1107 Board as provided in Code Section 34-14-3.1108 (b) As directed by the Governor, the State Workforce Developme nt Board Office of1109 Education and Workforce Strategy shall coordinate and collaborate with the Office of1110 Student Achievement State Workforce Development Board, the Department of Education,1111 the Department of Labor, the University System of Georgia, the Technical College System1112 of Georgia, the University System of Georgia, and the Georgia Student Finance1113 Commission to develop the return on investment methodology utilizing an analysis of data1114 sources that include, but are not limited to, existing federal and state resources, longitudinal1115 H. B. 1302 - 44 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP outcome tracking of student i nformation, enrollment and program outcomes, and labor1116 market analysis.1117 (c) The evaluation and report required by this Code section shall include a comprehensive1118 review of student participation and outcomes, program alignment with labor market needs,1119 and recommendations for programmatic adjustments to better meet the needs of Georgia's1120 businesses, industries, and workforce and shall address, at a minimum, the following:1121 (1) The percentage of program graduates employed including retention rates and wage1122 growth over time;1123 (2) Comparison of graduates' average wages to state, national, and industry benchmarks,1124 with wage growth assessed at two-year, five-year, and ten-year intervals post-completion1125 postcompletion;1126 (3) The extent to which skills, certificates, licenses, diplom as, degrees, or other1127 credentials offered by the State Board of Education, the University System of Georgia,1128 and the Technical College System of Georgia align with the High-demand High-Demand1129 Career List published by the State Workforce Development Board as provided in Code1130 Section 34-14-3;1131 (4) The percentage of students, at both the secondary and post-secondary postsecondary1132 levels, that are obtaining any credentials identified in paragr aph (3) of this subsection;1133 and1134 (5) Transparent information to stakeholders regarding program availability and1135 outcomes.1136 (d) The evaluation and report required by this Code section shall be:1137 (1) Approved by the State Workforce Development Board on or before December 1 of1138 each even-numbered year;1139 (2) Submitted by the State Workforce Development Board Office of Education and1140 Workforce Strategy to the Governor; the President of the Senate; the Speaker of t he1141 House of Representatives; the respective chairs of the House Committee on Education,1142 H. B. 1302 - 45 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP the Senate Education and Youth Committee, the House Committee on Higher Education,1143 and the Senate Higher Education Committee; and the Office of Planning and Budget; and1144 (3) Published on the public websites of the State Workforce De velopment Board, the1145 Office of Student Achievement Office of Education and Workforce Strategy , the1146 Department of Education, the University System of Georgia, the Technical College1147 System of Georgia, and the Georgia Student Finance Commission on or before December1148 31 of each even-numbered year.1149 (e) All state agencies and political subdivisions of the state , including postsecondary1150 education educational institutions and local school systems, shall cooperate in collecting1151 and sharing all data and other pertinent information necessary for the implementation of1152 the evaluation and preparation of the report required by this C ode section, subject to1153 applicable privacy protections, within a predetermined time fra me as set by the State1154 Workforce Development Board Office of Education and Workforce Strategy . Such1155 agencies and political subdivisions shall use the findings of t he report to recommend1156 continuation, modification, or discontinuation of programs to better align with workforce1157 needs.1158 (f) The purpose of this Code section is to ensure the effectiv e use of state resources,1159 prepare Georgians for high-demand career pathways, and support the state's economic1160 development by fostering a workforce aligned with employer needs."1161 SECTION 38.1162 Said title is further amended in said chapter by repealing Code Section 34-14-5, relating to1163 reporting on the alignment of policies, programs, and practices of the State Board of1164 Education, the Department of Education, the University System of Georgia, the Technical1165 College System of Georgia, and the Georgia Student Finance Commission, requirements, and1166 cooperation.1167 H. B. 1302 - 46 - 26 LC 49 2730-ECS/AP SECTION 39.1168 (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, this Act shall become effective on1169 July 1, 2026.1170 (b) Section 19 of this Act shall become effective on January 1, 2027.1171 SECTION 40.1172 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.1173 H. B. 1302 - 47 -