(a) As used in this section:

Ask an employment law question, get an answer ASAP!
Thousands of highly rated, verified employment lawyers
Specialties include: Employment Law, EEOC, Pension and Compensation, Harassment Law, Discrimination Law, Termination Law, General Legal and more.
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

(1) “Advanced manufacturing” means a manufacturing process that makes extensive use of computer, high-precision or information technologies integrated with a high-performance workforce in a production system capable of furnishing a heterogeneous mix of products in small or large volumes with either the efficiency of mass production or the flexibility of custom manufacturing in order to respond quickly to customer demands. “Advanced manufacturing” includes newly developed methods to manufacture existing products and the manufacture of new products emerging from new advanced technologies;

(2) “Eligible business” means a business that (A) has operations in Connecticut, (B) has been registered to conduct business for not less than twelve months, and (C) is in good standing with respect to the payment of all state and local taxes. “Eligible business” does not include the state or any political subdivision thereof;

(3) “Private career school” has the same meaning as provided in section 10a-22a;

(4) “Public institution of higher education” means any of the institutions of higher education identified in subdivision (2) of section 10a-1;

(5) “Qualifying advanced manufacturing certificate program” means a for-credit or noncredit sub-baccalaureate advanced manufacturing certificate program offered by a public institution of higher education or a private career school in which at least seventy-five per cent of the graduates of such certificate program are employed in a field related to or requiring such certificate in the year following graduation; and

(6) “Veteran” has the same meaning as provided in section 27-103.

(b) Not later than October 1, 2019, the workforce development board for the southwest workforce development region of the state shall develop and operate a pilot program to be known as the Military to Machinists program for veterans. The program shall assist any veteran in a region served by the pilot program in (1) earning an advanced manufacturing certificate from a qualifying advanced manufacturing certificate program, and (2) securing employment in the field of advanced manufacturing with any eligible business after such veteran has obtained an advanced manufacturing certificate.

(c) (1) The workforce development board for the southwest workforce development region of the state shall designate an appropriate number of employees, as determined by the board, to act as liaisons, and each liaison shall provide the assistance described in subsection (b) of this section on behalf of the program.

(2) In connection with providing the assistance described in subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section, each liaison designated pursuant to this subsection shall also assist a veteran served by the program to obtain funding for the cost of attending a qualifying advanced manufacturing certificate program. Such funding may include, but need not be limited to, tuition waivers under sections 10a-77 and 10a-99.

(3) In connection with providing the assistance described in subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section, each liaison designated pursuant to this subsection shall also assist any eligible business to apply for (A) a grant under section 31-3uu, and (B) tax credits under section 12-217g, if applicable.

(d) The workforce development board for the southwest workforce development region of the state shall operate the pilot program within its workforce development region. The board may offer the program in other workforce development regions in the state, in conjunction with the appropriate regional workforce development board.

(e) Not later than February 1, 2020, the workforce development board for the southwest workforce development region of the state shall develop or approve promotional materials describing the pilot program and the various opportunities and benefits that the program may provide for veterans in the state. The board shall distribute such materials to qualified veterans’ charitable organizations, as described in subsection (b) of section 27-100f, and Operation Academic Support for Incoming Service Members centers. The board shall revise and redistribute the materials as the board deems appropriate.

(f) Not later than February 1, 2020, and annually thereafter until the pilot program is terminated, the workforce development board for the southwest workforce development region of the state shall report on the operation of the pilot program and its recommendation to continue, discontinue or expand the program. Such report shall include measures of the effectiveness of the program, including, but not be limited to, data on the (1) number of veterans served by the pilot program; (2) number of veterans pursuing or earning advanced manufacturing certificates through the program and the type and amount of funding assistance received by the veterans; and (3) number of veterans securing employment in the field of advanced manufacturing with an eligible business through the program, the salaries earned by such veterans, the number of such veterans retaining employment in advanced manufacturing over time and the number and amount of grants and tax credits received by eligible businesses hiring such veterans. The board shall submit the report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to veterans’ affairs.