(a) The Labor Commissioner shall develop and implement work training opportunities programs in cooperation with municipalities, public and private agencies and business and industry in order to expand education, training, supportive services and job development for the placement of the chronically unemployed with specific emphasis on the needs of persons receiving or eligible to receive state-administered general assistance program benefits. For the purposes of funding such programs, the commissioner may, in addition to expending available appropriations, apply for, receive and expend funds from federal governmental and private sources.

(b) Participants in such programs shall receive compensation for time spent in training at rates established or approved by the Labor Commissioner. Participants who are state-administered general assistance recipients may earn a net amount up to thirty dollars per week in education and training programs established under this section, section 31-3b or subsection (a) of section 17b-194 without affecting the amount of their grants. Amounts in excess of thirty dollars earned by state-administered general assistance recipients for each week of such education or training shall be deducted from such recipients' grants. Medical benefits of such recipients shall not be affected by participation in such education or training. Job placement of participants who have completed training shall be limited to positions for which compensation is payable at rates consistent with industry practice or in conformity with collective bargaining agreements.

(c) Upon acceptance of a program proposal, the Labor Department may provide financial assistance to such program depending on efforts made to utilize existing employment and training programs and funding sources. Said department shall monitor all programs developed under this section and shall report to the General Assembly concerning the implementation and progress of the program within one year after the first program proposal is accepted.

(P.A. 79-337, S. 1; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, S. 97; P.A. 04-76, S. 32.)

History: (Revisor's note: The references to “17b-115 to 17b-138” and “17b-689 to 17b-693, inclusive,” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “17b-116 to 17b-138” and “17b-689, 17b-689b”, respectively, to reflect the repeal of certain sections by section 164 of June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2); June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, in repealing Secs. 17b-19, 17b-62 to 17b-65, inclusive, 17b-116, 17b-116a, 17b-116b, 17b-117, 17b-120, 17b-121, 17b-123, 17b-134, 17b-135, 17b-220, 17b-259 and 17b-287, authorized deletion of internal references to said sections in this section, effective March 1, 2004; P.A. 04-76 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing reference to “general assistance” and the internal references to sections re general assistance with reference to “state-administered general assistance program benefits” and amended Subsec. (b) by replacing references to “general assistance” with references to “state-administered general assistance”.