HB345 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Terri CollinsRepresentative

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Alan BakerKerry RichJim PattersonDonnie ChesteenGreg BurdinePebblin W. WarrenKen JohnsonRod ScottMac ButtramKurt WallaceElaine BeechJohn MerrillMicky Hammon

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Alabama Workforce Council, created, duties, workforce development, membership, advisement of Postsecondary and Education Departments, administration by Commerce Department

Summary

HB345 would create the Alabama Workforce Council to advise on and coordinate workforce development across education and industry, under the Chancellors of the Community College System and the Department of Education.

What This Bill Does

The bill creates the Alabama Workforce Council as an appointed advisory group of business and industry leaders to help shape workforce policies and programs and to promote collaboration among pre-K–12, community colleges, universities, and employers. It designates administrative duties to the Secretary of Commerce, sets meeting and reporting requirements, and establishes member terms and possible additional appointments by the Governor. It also outlines funding rules (no salary or per diem, with expense reimbursement) and a set of duties to streamline programs and expand industry partnerships and scholarships.

Who It Affects

• Students and job seekers in Alabama, who could benefit from increased awareness of industry opportunities, improved career readiness, and potential access to industry-funded scholarships and streamlined training programs.
• Employers and industry groups, who gain a formal advisory body to help shape workforce training, partnerships with education providers, and potential scholarships and support for industry-led initiatives.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Alabama Workforce Council as an appointed advisory body to advise the Chancellor of the Alabama Community College System and the Superintendent of the Alabama Department of Education.
• Defines membership: Governor appoints two, Lieutenant Governor one, Speaker of the House one, President Pro Tempore of the Senate one, ten regional members, Director of the Governor's Office of Workforce Development as an ex officio non-voting member, and allows the Governor to appoint additional members as needed.
• Secretary of Commerce handles administrative functions for the council, including organizing meetings and preparing the annual report.
• Requires the council to meet within 30 days of appointment and at least twice a year, with remote participation allowed and counted for quorum.
• Members serve at the pleasure of the appointing official, with a maximum four-year term and staggered initial terms; vacancies filled as with original appointments.
• Annual advisory report due by January 31 to the Governor, the Legislature, the State Board of Education, and the Alabama Council of College and University Presidents; council may meet with these groups to discuss the recommendations.
• Members do not receive salary or per diem, but can be reimbursed for expenses as allowed by state law.
• Advisory duties include: streamlining and aligning workforce functions, increasing student awareness of opportunities, creating industry-education feedback loops, evaluating public/private partnerships for scholarships, increasing marketing of career readiness, and evaluating standards for the regional councils.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Alabama Workforce Council