CLEAN WATER WORKFORCE PIPELINE

Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall create a Clean Water Workforce Pipeline Program to provide grants and other financial assistance to prepare and support individuals for careers in water infrastructure. Provides specified groups that may be provided with grants and other financial assistance on a competitive annual basis. Directs the Department to coordinate with the Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois Finance Authority, and other State agencies that provide financial support for water infrastructure projects. Provides that the Department may select a Program Administrator. Provides that recipients of grants or other financial assistance under the Program shall report annually to the Department. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the Clean Water Workforce Development Fund. State Mandates Fiscal Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does not create a State mandate. Fiscal Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) HB 3349 requires DCEO to award grants designed to encourage and facilitate employment in water infrastructure careers. Competitive awards shall be made for various activities including: identification of individuals for job training in the water sector; counseling, preparation, skills training, and other support to increase a candidate's likelihood of success in a job training program and career; and several others. While HB 3349 requires DCEO to make the grants, the legislation does not specify a funding source for the program. Without a funding source, the legislation represents a potential unfunded mandate on the agency. Without additional information on available funding and the number of grants required to be awarded, the Department lacks the ability to determine program scope and ongoing implementation costs. As a result, we are unable to determine the fiscal impact of this legislation.