HB 326

This bill would create the Alabama Construction Trade Academy Funding Act

This bill would create the Alabama Construction Trade Academy Fund in the State Treasury. The fund would be comprised of federal, state, and private funds through direct budgetary funding and grants, and would be used for the expansion of construction trade education

This bill would require the Alabama Energy and Residential Codes Board to develop a statewide program to increase the availability of construction trade education by providing educational grants for public and private construction trade schools

This bill would require the Energy Division of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to administer the program

This bill would require the Alabama Energy and Residential Codes Board to adopt guidelines for the program and to establish an application process for the review of applications for grants and the distribution of monies in the Alabama Construction Trade Academy Fund

Relating to education; to create the Alabama Construction Trade Academy Funding Act; to require the Alabama Energy and Residential Codes Board to develop a statewide program to increase the availability of construction trade education; to require the Energy Division of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to administer the program; to require the board to adopt guidelines for the program; and to require the board to establish an application process for the review of applications for grants and the distribution of monies through the program.

Section 1

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Alabama Construction Trade Academy Funding Act.

Section 2

The purpose of this act is to establish a statewide program to increase the availability of construction trade education by providing educational grants for public and private construction trade schools for high school, postsecondary, and adult learners.

Section 3

As used in this act, the following words have the following meanings: (1) BOARD. The Alabama Energy and Residential Codes Board. (2) DEPARTMENT. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. (3) DIVISION. The Energy Division of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

Section 4

The Alabama Construction Trade Academy Fund is established in the State Treasury. The fund shall be comprised of federal, state, and private funding through direct budgetary funding and grants for the expansion of construction trade education. To the extent practicable, monies in the fund shall be used to leverage other forms of funding from private sources. A percentage of matching funds, as established by the board under Section 5, must come from private, non-governmental sources.

Section 5

(a) The board, in cooperation with public and private sector partners, shall establish a program to provide funding mechanisms for tool grants, program incentives, supplies, mobile facilities, and other programs to support the development and continuation of construction trade education programs in the state. (b) The division shall administer the program under the supervision of the board. The board shall establish guidelines for the program, promote the program, evaluate applications for funds, distribute funds, and monitor and report the effect of the funding on the availability of construction trade education. The board may adopt rules to carry out the program and to meet the intent of this act. No more than 15 percent of the monies in the fund may be reserved for administrative and operational costs of the program. (c) The board shall establish monitoring and accountability mechanisms for projects receiving funding. Not later than the fifth legislative day of each regular legislative session, the board shall file a report to the Legislature on the projects funded, the geographic distribution of projects funded, the private sector participation rates in funded projects, the administrative costs of the program, and the outcomes of the program, including the number of students and adult learners trained by each project funded through the program. (d) The board shall create eligibility guidelines and provide project funding through an application process. Projects eligible for funding include the following: (1) Mobile demonstration units that show the various systems of a structure and how they interconnect. (2) Tool and supply grants for public and private educational providers that provide construction trade education. (3) Incentives for newly established construction trade education courses, with priority given to carpentry courses. (4) Adult education initiatives that provide continued learning opportunities through mobile training facilities or distance learning opportunities with priority focus on those serving underserved areas and widely offered trainings. (5) Any other proposal that in the opinion of the board would address the need for construction trade education in the state. (e) An applicant may be a for-profit or nonprofit entity, including, but not limited to, a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, cooperative, nonprofit organization, not-for-profit entity, university, or government entity. An applicant for funding shall do all of the following: (1) Demonstrate its capacity to successfully implement the proposal. (2) Demonstrate how the proposal shall positively impact construction trade education in the state. (3) Demonstrate private sector support through matching funding. (4) Establish an advisory council consisting of at least three active trade representatives from the construction trade being funded. (5) Agree, for a period of not less than five years, to comply with the following conditions: a. Offer the courses funded through this act for a period of not less than five years. b. Comply with all data collection and reporting requirements established by the board. (f) In determining which qualified projects to fund, the board shall consider all of the following factors: (1) The level of private sector support for the project. (2) The level of need in the area in which the funding is directed. (3) The projected number of students that will be served. (4) The degree to which the project will have a positive impact on the availability of construction trade education in the area to be served. (5) The degree to which the project will leverage public and private sector funds. (g) The board shall establish program guidelines that require matching funds on all funded projects. A minimum of 10 percent of matching funds shall be provided by private, non-governmental sources. Total matching funds required may not be required to exceed 25 percent of awarded state funds, although additional consideration may be provided to projects that exceed this amount. (h) In the event that a recipient of funding provided by this act fails to provide the proposed project in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the board, any equipment, supplies, or materials acquired with the funding shall be transferred to the Alabama Home Builders Foundation for redistribution to public or private programs that provide construction trade education to high school, postsecondary, or adult learners.

Section 6

This act shall become effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.