SB 389 Connecticut Senate · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING FUNDS.

SB 389 updates Connecticut's youth employment funding system by requiring the Labor Department to distribute state funds to five regional workforce development boards based on each region's percentage of disadvantaged youth, as defined by federal standards and measured using U.S. Department of Labor census data. The bill allocates specific percentages of funds (e.g., 32.5% to Capitol Workforce Partners, 22.5% to The Workforce Alliance) to these regional boards. It also includes a safeguard preventing any single board from losing more than 15% of its annual allocation if census data changes, with other boards' funds adjusted proportionally to maintain this cap. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting regional workforce boards serving Connecticut youth.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 27, 2026 Last action Apr 15, 2026

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What changed between versions

Raised Bill → APP Joint Favorable Substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill shifts from a rigid funding distribution model to a flexible one, allowing the Labor Commissioner to create a formula for allocating youth employment funds. This change expands eligibility to include specific age groups (14-24) and introduces new data sources, such as free/reduced-price lunch eligibility and at-risk student definitions, to determine funding distribution.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to explicitly target youth aged 14 to 24 and incorporated new criteria for identifying disadvantaged youth beyond previous census data.

FISCAL

Replaced a fixed percentage allocation list with a flexible formula established by the Labor Commissioner in collaboration with regional boards.

ELIGIBILITY

Explicitly defined the program's target audience as persons ages fourteen to twenty-four.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific data points for the funding formula, including students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch and at-risk students defined by a specific public act.

Removed a specific clause requiring proportional fund reductions if any board's allocation drops by more than fifteen percent.

Granted the Labor Commissioner authority to update the funding formula periodically to reflect current workforce conditions.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

Joint Favorable Substitute

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Committee

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Appropriations

upper

3 primary · 0 co-sponsors