Sec. 5. (a) The commission shall develop and implement a comprehensive career navigation and coaching system for Indiana that does both of the following:

(1) Provides timely, comprehensive, relevant, and useful information on careers, including at least:

(A) general and industry sector based regional, state, national, and global information to identify both immediate and potential career opportunities arising from:

(i) current employer needs;

(ii) developing or foreseeable talent needs and trends; and

(iii) other factors identified by the commission;

(B) state, regional, and local labor market supply and demand information from the department of workforce development, industry sectors, and other verifiable sources; and

(C) educational requirements and attainment information from employers, the department of workforce development, and other verifiable sources.

(2) Establishes strategies and identifies capacity to deliver career navigation and coaching to kindergarten through grade 12 students, including at least:

(A) processes for identifying an individual’s aptitude for and interest in, and the education and training required for, various career and employment opportunities;

(B) the use of approved intermediaries, career coaches, and other coaching resources;

(C) qualifications for career coaches and a training program to enable the career coaches to provide relevant information to the individuals being served;

(D) the incorporation and ongoing usage of Internet based systems that are interoperable with the comprehensive career navigation and coaching system; and

(E) career exploration, engagement, and experience.

     (b) All high schools in Indiana may participate in the comprehensive career navigation and coaching system developed under subsection (a).

     (c) In developing and implementing the comprehensive career navigation and coaching system described in subsection (a), the commission shall:

(1) work in consultation with, and receive cooperation, support, and assistance from:

(A) the department of workforce development, governor’s workforce cabinet, and department; and

(B) the resources, providers, and institutions that the department of workforce development, governor’s workforce cabinet, and department use and oversee;

(2) explore approaches and models from Indiana and other states and countries;

(3) where appropriate, use pilot programs or other scaling approaches to develop and implement the comprehensive career navigation and coaching system in a cost effective and efficient manner; and

(4) initially focus on students enrolled in high school.

As added by P.L.202-2023, SEC.79.