* § 83-f. Legislative commission on skills development and career education. 1. The legislature hereby finds and declares that the economic and social well-being of the people of the state and the future shape and strength of the state's economy will be greatly influenced by the development and availability of a pool of workers equipped to meet the demands of a rapidly changing economy. The legislature further finds that no comprehensive review of skill development and job training by the public and private sectors or of the state's massive career education system has been undertaken in recent years and that such review is essential for legislative consideration of unified, effective and coordinated policies, programs and delivery systems for career education and skills development that will enhance economic growth and economic opportunity for state residents.

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2. A legislative commission on skills development and career education is hereby established to examine both public and private skills development and job training programs and the adequacy of delivery systems for state-assisted programs, to assess the career education system and its relevance to the needs of youth, adults and the economy, to evaluate the increasing mismatch between skills of the existing labor force and those needed by growth sectors of the economy, to assess how existing and new job training initiatives can increase employability of disadvantaged persons, to explore the adequacy of private sector investment in human resource development and alternatives for state action to encourage company efforts, and to make recommendations to the legislature for such actions as it determines necessary to enhance skills development and career education programs.

3. The commission shall consist of ten members to be appointed as follows: three members of the senate shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate; three members of the assembly shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly; two members of the senate shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and two members of the assembly shall be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly. From among the members so appointed, a chairman and a vice chairman shall be designated by the joint action of the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly. Any vacancy that occurs in the commission or in the chairmanship or vice chairmanship shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment or designation was made. No member, officer, or employee of the commission shall be disqualified from holding any other public office or employment, nor shall he forfeit any such office or employment by reason of his appointment hereunder, notwithstanding the provisions of any general, special, or local law, ordinance, or city charter.

4. The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel as it may deem necessary for the performance of the commission's functions and fix their compensation within the amount appropriated therefor. The commission may hold public and private hearings and otherwise have all of the powers of a legislative committee under this chapter. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services, except as provided pursuant to section five-a of this chapter, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.

5. Employees of the commission shall be considered to be employees of the legislature for all purposes.

6. The commission may request and shall receive from any court, department, division, board, or bureau, commission, or agency of the state such assistance and data as will enable the commission properly to carry out its powers and duties thereunder.

7. The commission is hereby authorized and empowered to make and sign any agreements, and to perform any acts that may be necessary, desirable or proper to carry out the purposes and objectives of this section.

* NB Repealed June 30, 2024