(1) The State Workforce and Talent Development Board, in consultation with the Governor, the Education and Workforce Policy Advisor and other parties deemed appropriate by the board and after consideration of the clean energy and energy efficiency policies of this state, shall develop a plan for a green jobs growth initiative to promote the development of emerging technologies and innovations that lead to, create or sustain family wage green jobs.

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(2) The plan for the initiative developed by the board shall:

(a) Identify industries that are high demand green industries based on current and projected creation of family wage green jobs and the potential for career pathways created for such jobs.

(b) Use the needs of identified high demand green industries as the basis for the planning of workforce development activities that promote the development of emerging green technologies and innovations. These activities include, but are not limited to, such efforts undertaken by community colleges, public universities listed in ORS § 352.002, designated signature research centers, registered apprenticeship programs and other private sector training programs.

(c) Leverage and align existing public workforce development programs and other public and private resources to the goal of recruiting, supporting, educating and training of targeted populations of workers.

(d) Require the board to work collaboratively with stakeholders from business, labor and low income advocacy groups in the regional economy to develop and implement the initiative.

(e) Link adult basic and remedial education programs with job training for skills necessary for green jobs.

(f) Require the board to collaborate with employers and labor organizations to identify skills and competencies necessary for green job career pathways.

(g) Ensure that support services are integrated with education and training for green jobs and that such services are provided by organizations with direct access to and experience with targeted populations.

(h) Include an analysis of occupations in the forest products industry to:

(A) Determine key growth factors and employment projections for green jobs in the forest products industry; and

(B) Define the educational and skill standards required for current and emerging green occupations in the forest products industry.

(3) Based on the analysis conducted under subsection (2)(h) of this section, the State Workforce and Talent Development Board, in consultation with the Education and Workforce Policy Advisor, shall identify those forest products industries to be classified as high-demand green industries, taking into consideration current and future job creation and the strategic importance of the development of high-demand green forest products industry jobs to the development and growth of the state’s green economy.

(4) As used in this section, ‘forest products industry’ includes, but is not limited to, businesses that grow, manage, harvest, transport or process forest, wood and paper products. [2009 c.887 § 3; 2011 c.452 § 2; 2011 c.637 § 282; 2013 c.768 § 149; 2017 c.185 § 40; 2017 c.297 § 18]