HB 3634
Establishes the Water Workforce Program in the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to support workforce development initiatives within the water workforce.
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Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
95%
Oppose
5%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
House Bill 3634 establishes the Water Workforce Program within the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to address workforce shortages in the water and wastewater utilities sector. The program will provide grants to local workforce development boards to create and implement initiatives like operator training, apprenticeship opportunities, and outreach to underserved communities. It also aims to coordinate with state agencies and tribal governments to support water workforce development, particularly in rural and remote areas.
Key provisions
- Establishes the Water Workforce Program within the Higher Education Coordinating Commission.
- Directs the commission to award grants to local workforce development boards.
- Requires the commission and boards to develop regionally specific strategies for addressing water workforce needs.
- Prioritizes outreach to environmental justice communities and tribal governments.
- Supports education and training pathways, including apprenticeships and stipends.
- Funds organizational investments such as hiring and equipment purchases.
- Mandates reporting requirements for grant recipients.
- Requires the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to submit an annual report on program outcomes.
Who is affected
- Water and wastewater utilities
- Local workforce development boards
- Environmental justice communities
- Federally recognized tribal governments
- Individuals seeking careers in the water sector
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsors
Cosponsors
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Supporters of HB 3634 emphasize the critical need for trained drinking water and wastewater operators due to an aging workforce, with many workers nearing retirement. They highlight the growing crisis of a retiring workforce in water operations, which poses significant challenges to maintaining reliable water infrastructure. The bill is seen as a proactive solution to recruit, train, and retain skilled professionals, addressing public health and community well-being concerns. By establishing an Operator-in-Training Apprenticeship Program, Local Development Boards will have the necessary structure and funding to address workforce development challenges in the drinking water and wastewater industry, ensuring safe drinking water for citizens and maintaining environmental standards.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Opponents of the proposed certification program for water and wastewater system operators express concerns about its effectiveness and fairness. They argue that the existing program is marred by problems such as harassment by state agencies, which can create a hostile environment for aspiring operators, and excessive fines for minor errors, which can be financially burdensome. Additionally, critics contend that the new program's emphasis on standardized testing and certification may not adequately address the unique skills and knowledge required for this critical profession, potentially leading to a shortage of qualified operators.