AN ACT CONCERNING ACADEMIC TRAINING IN RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABILITY CAREERS.

AN ACT CONCERNING ACADEMIC TRAINING IN RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABILITY CAREERS.

1. boards of trustees of the community-technical colleges and the Connecticut State University System to establish alternative and renewable energy programs;

2. State Board of Education to review and, if necessary, modify the model green jobs program offered at the vocational-technical schools; and

3. higher education commissioner to study and report on academic programs to develop and expand green industries in the state.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2009, except for the higher education study provision, which is effective upon passage.

The bill requires the Board of Trustees of the Community-Technical Colleges to establish certificate credit programs to train and certify students in alternative and renewable energy. It requires the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System to consult with the Institute for Sustainable Energy and the Connecticut Green Building Council to establish programs to train students in alternative and renewal energy.

The boards must do this (1) by January 1, 2012, (2) subject to Board of Governors of Higher Education (BOG) statewide policy and guidelines, (3) within available appropriations, and (4) by taking all feasible steps to maximize available federal funds.

The bill requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to review, and if necessary, modify by January 1, 2012, the model green jobs programs offered at the regional vocational-technical schools to ensure that the programs sufficiently train student in renewable energy systems. SBE must do this (1) within available appropriations and (2) in conjunction with the Institute for Sustainable Energy and the Connecticut Green Building Council. The programs must train students to allow them to seek the renewal energy systems certification that the Building Performance Institute, United States Green Building Council, or the Interstate Renewable Energy Council offers.

The bill requires the higher education commissioner to study, in consultation with the labor and economic and community development commissioners, (1) academic programs to develop and expand green industries in the state that could be implemented at the state's public higher education institutions and (2) potential sources of federal funding to establish or implement them. The commissioner must report on the study by January 1, 2010 to the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee.

sHB 6344, reported by the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee, requires the higher education commissioner to develop worker retraining programs for sustainable energy careers in (1) building construction; (2) electrical systems; and (3) heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.

sSB 1068, reported by the Commerce Committee, requires the Department of Economic and Community Development to establish a program to create green jobs and promote green energy and conservation.

Yea

Nay

(03/17/2009)