H*3410(Rat #0158, Act #0149 of 2014)  General Bill, By Forrester, Allison, 
Loftis, V.S. Moss, Cole, Tallon, Mitchell, Cobb-Hunter and Whipper
 AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 13
 TO CHAPTER 1, TITLE 13 SO AS TO TRANSFER THE REGIONAL EDUCATION CENTERS
 ESTABLISHED BY THE EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATING COUNCIL TO
 THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE; TO AMEND SECTION 59-59-190, RELATING TO ASSISTANCE
 THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKFORCE, THE BOARD FOR TECHNICAL AND
 COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION, AND THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION SHALL PROVIDE
 THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN PROGRAMS UNDER THE SOUTH
 CAROLINA EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACT, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING
 CHANGES; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 59-59-170 RELATING TO THE EDUCATION AND
 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATING COUNCIL, AND SECTION 59-59-180 RELATING TO
 REGIONAL EDUCATION CENTERS. - ratified title

   01/23/13  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 41)
   01/23/13  House  Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
                     (House Journal-page 41)
   04/18/13  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment Ways
                     and Means (House Journal-page 21)
   04/23/13         Scrivener's error corrected
   04/23/13  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Mitchell
   04/24/13  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor:
                     Cobb-Hunter, Whipper
   04/24/13  House  Amended (House Journal-page 128)
   04/24/13  House  Read second time (House Journal-page 128)
   04/24/13  House  Roll call Yeas-108  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 132)
   04/25/13  House  Read third time and sent to Senate
                     (House Journal-page 34)
   04/25/13  Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 8)
   04/25/13  Senate Referred to Committee on Education
                     (Senate Journal-page 8)
   05/13/13  Senate Recalled from Committee on Education
                     (Senate Journal-page 2)
   05/13/13  Senate Committed to Committee on Labor, Commerce and
                     Industry (Senate Journal-page 2)
   05/23/13  Senate Committee report: Majority favorable, minority
                     unfavorable Labor, Commerce and Industry
                     (Senate Journal-page 9)
   05/24/13         Scrivener's error corrected
   03/04/14  Senate Amended (Senate Journal-page 14)
   03/04/14  Senate Read second time (Senate Journal-page 14)
   03/04/14  Senate Roll call Ayes-44  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 14)
   03/05/14  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments (Senate Journal-page 24)
   03/19/14  House  Debate adjourned until Thur., 3-20-14
                     (House Journal-page 18)
   03/20/14  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled
                     (House Journal-page 30)
   03/20/14  House  Roll call Yeas-105  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 30)
   04/03/14         Ratified R 158
   04/07/14         Signed By Governor
   04/09/14         Effective date 04/07/14
   04/14/14         Act No. 149

(A149, R158, H3410)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 13 TO CHAPTER 1, TITLE 13 SO AS TO TRANSFER THE REGIONAL EDUCATION CENTERS ESTABLISHED BY THE EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATING COUNCIL TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE; TO AMEND SECTION 59-59-190, RELATING TO ASSISTANCE THE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKFORCE, THE BOARD FOR TECHNICAL AND COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION, AND THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION SHALL PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN PROGRAMS UNDER THE SOUTH CAROLINA EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACT, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 59-59-170 RELATING TO THE EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATING COUNCIL, AND SECTION 59-59-180 RELATING TO REGIONAL EDUCATION CENTERS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Regional education centers transferred to Department of Commerce

SECTION    1.    Chapter 1, Title 13 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

Section 13-1-1810.    The powers and duties of the Education and Economic Development Coordinating Council relating to regional education centers pursuant to Chapter 59, Title 59 are transferred to the Department of Commerce.

Section 13-1-1820.    (A)    The Department of Commerce shall provide oversight to the regional education centers, which are to coordinate and facilitate the delivery of information, resources, and services to students, educators, employers, and the community as provided in this article. The department shall seek the input from the State Department of Education in carrying out the requirements of this section.

(B)    The primary responsibilities of these centers are to:

(1)    provide services to students and adults for career planning, employment seeking, training, and other support functions;

(2)    provide information, resources, and professional development programs to educators;

(3)    provide resources to school districts for compliance and accountability pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 59, Title 59;

(4)    provide information and resources to employers including, but not limited to, education partnerships, career-oriented learning, and training services;

(5)    facilitate local connections among businesses and those involved in education;

(6)    work with school districts and institutions of higher education to create and coordinate workforce education programs; and

(7)    ensure each regional education center has a career development facilitator.

(C)(1)    Each regional education center shall have a career development facilitator to coordinate career oriented learning, career development, and postsecondary transitioning for the schools in its region.

(2)    A career development facilitator must be certified and recognized by the National Career Development Association.

(D)    The centers shall provide data and reports that the department requests.

(E)(1)    The regional centers must conform to the geographic configuration of the Local Workforce Investment Areas (LWIA) of the South Carolina Workforce Investment Act. Each regional center shall have an advisory board comprised of a school district superintendent, high school principal, local workforce investment board chairperson, technical college president, four-year college or university representative, career center director or school district career and technology education coordinator, parent-teacher organization representative, and business and civic leaders. Appointees must reside or do business in the geographic area of the center. Appropriate local legislative delegations shall make the appointments to the regional center boards.

(2)    The regional centers shall include, but not be limited to, the one-stop shops, workforce investment boards, tech prep consortia, and regional instructional technology centers.

Section 13-1-1840.    The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, in collaboration with the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education and the Commission on Higher Education, and the State Department of Education shall assist the Department of Commerce in planning and promoting the career information and employment options and preparation programs provided for in this section and in the establishment of the regional education centers by:

(1)    identifying potential employers to participate in the career-oriented learning programs;

(2)    serving as a contact point for employees seeking career information and training;

(3)    providing labor market information including, but not limited to, supply and demand;

(4)    promoting increased career awareness and career counseling through the management and promotion of the South Carolina Occupational Information System;

(5)    collaborating with local agencies and businesses to stimulate funds; and

(6)    cooperating in the creation and coordination of workforce education programs."

Conforming change

SECTION    2.    Section 59-59-190 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 88 of 2005, is amended to read:

"Section 59-59-190.    (A)    The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, in collaboration with the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education and the Commission on Higher Education, shall assist the Department of Education, in planning and promoting the career information and employment options and preparation programs provided for in this chapter by:

(1)    identifying potential employers to participate in the career-oriented learning programs;

(2)    serving as a contact point for employees seeking career information and training;

(3)    providing labor market information including, but not limited to, supply and demand;

(4)    promoting increased career awareness and career counseling through the management and promotion of the South Carolina Occupational Information System;

(5)    collaborating with local agencies and businesses to stimulate funds; and

(6)    cooperating in the creation and coordination of workforce education programs.

(B)    The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce shall assist in providing a link between employers in South Carolina and youth seeking employment."

Repeal

SECTION    3.    Section 59-59-170 and Section 59-59-180 of the 1976 Code are repealed.

Time effective

SECTION    4.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 3rd day of April, 2014.

Approved the 7th day of April, 2014.