An Act Requiring The Office Of Workforce Strategy To Convene A Working Group To Expand Paid Work-based Learning Opportunities.
Summary
HB 7094 requires the Office of Workforce Strategy to convene a temporary working group to develop a plan for expanding paid work-based learning opportunities, including paid internships, for students in postsecondary education programs. The working group must include representatives from employers, chambers of commerce, public and independent higher education institutions, nonprofit work-based learning organizations, and regional workforce development boards, with members drawn from different regions of the state where possible.
The bill directs the group to study the current landscape of paid work-based learning in Connecticut, assess where additional opportunities are needed by industry and region, and develop a model describing the responsibilities of employers and students. It also asks the group to identify ways to help employers and colleges create or improve programs, and to recommend the structure of a future grant program, including eligibility, award process, grant size, and funding needs. The Office of Workforce Strategy must submit the resulting plan and any needed legislative recommendations to the higher education and employment advancement committee by January 1, 2026, after which the working group terminates.
Impact
The bill does not immediately create a grant program or change existing eligibility rules for internships; instead, it adds a new planning requirement for the Office of Workforce Strategy and establishes a new working group as a temporary state body. Its practical effect is to set up a formal process for studying and designing a statewide grant program that could later expand paid internships and other work-based learning opportunities for college students. If future legislation follows the group’s recommendations, it could affect employers, higher education institutions, workforce boards, and students seeking paid experiential learning.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests strong support for the bill, with the Higher Education Committee reporting a 18-0 joint favorable substitute vote. No committee transcript excerpts were provided, but the unanimous vote indicates broad agreement that the state should study and plan for expanding paid work-based learning opportunities. The bill’s structure as a planning measure rather than an immediate mandate may also have helped build consensus.
Contention
There is little visible contention in the available record. The main policy questions embedded in the bill concern how a future grant program should be funded, which employers and students should qualify, how grants should be awarded, and how to balance regional and industry needs. Any disagreement would likely center on program cost, administrative design, and whether state support should prioritize certain sectors, regions, or institutions, but no opposing arguments are reflected in the provided materials.