Senator Phillips’ Bill To Make Job Training and Workforce Development Programs More Accessible and Affordable Passed by Senate

Senator Elaine Phillips (R-Manhasset) announced that the New York State Senate passed legislation she sponsored to make job training and workforce development programs more accessible and affordable.  The bill (S3789) would make it easier for both workers and employers to take advantage of tax credits and funding programs for workforce development, adult education and skills training.

“There are dozens of job training and workforce development programs available, but they are only effective if people know about them and participate.  Compiling one comprehensive list of these services that is readily available to the public will make it much easier for residents and business to take advantage of them,” said Senator Phillips, a member of the Senate’s Task Force on Workforce Development.

New York State spends billions of dollars each year on workforce preparation and adult education, and many of the providers of these services rely on state and federal funds.  Right now, the funding is broken up into 50 different programs, each with differing amounts, eligibility and use criteria and disbursement rules.  There is no centralized, publicly available database of these programs.

Senator Phillips’ legislation would require the State’s Department of Labor to provide a complete list of these programs on its website and update it annually.  This catalogue would include a description of each program, eligibility and disbursement requirements, the administering agency and contact information.  Making this information readily available in a single spot will make it much easier for both job seekers and employers to take advantage of these programs.

The legislation has also been passed by the Assembly and will be sent to Governor Cuomo for consideration.