(a) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, the Labor Commissioner, in exercise of any duties including any duties as administrator under chapter 567, shall, within available resources, maintain a state-wide network of job centers which provide to workers, students and employers comprehensive workforce development assistance, including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) Unemployment compensation, retraining allowances and other forms of federal and state income support;

(2) Career, labor market, educational and job training information, and consumer reports on local training providers;

(3) Career planning and job search assistance;

(4) Applicant recruitment and screening, assessment of training needs, customized job training pursuant to this chapter, apprenticeship programs pursuant to chapter 557 and related consultative services to employers based on their employment needs;

(5) Eligibility determinations and referrals to providers of employment and training services; and

(6) Access to information regarding job openings and, where appropriate, referral to such openings.

(b) In carrying out responsibilities under this section, the commissioner shall:

(1) Collaborate with the Connecticut Employment and Training Commission established pursuant to section 31-3h and the regional workforce development boards established pursuant to section 31-3k;

(2) Promote coordination of service delivery and collaboration with other public and private providers of education, human services and employment and training services, including, but not limited to, adult education and literacy providers;

(3) Consult with the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to ensure coordination of service delivery to employers;

(4) Conduct outreach to employers and trade associations to ensure that services meet the needs of business and industry; and

(5) Develop a comprehensive job training assistance application for employer-based training services and programs that allows the applicant to apply for any such assistance offered by the state in one application.

(P.A. 94-116, S. 13, 28; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 122, 130; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6; P.A. 99-236, S. 4.)

History: P.A. 94-116 effective July 1, 1994; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1 made technical change, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Economic Development with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development; P.A. 99-236 amended Subsec. (b) to specify coordination with adult literacy programs, outreach to employers and trade associations and a comprehensive training application.