Public Hearing Testimony of
Danté Bartolomeo
Commissioner
Department of Labor
Labor and Public Employees Committee
February 20, 2025
Good Morning Senator Kushner, Representative Sanchez, Senator Sampson, Representative Weir and members of the Labor and Public Employees Committee. Thank you for the opportunity to provide you with written testimony regarding SB 1031: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A FULL EMPLOYMENT TRUST FUND, SB 1206: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PILOT PROGRAM TO TRAIN ADDITIONAL WOMEN TO WORK IN THE BUILDING TRADES, and HB 5704 AN ACT CREATING A CONSTRUCTION PIPELINE PROGRAM. My name is Danté Bartolomeo and I am the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL).
CTDOL would welcome the opportunity to work with the proponents to better understand the intent of these bills. As currently drafted, SB 1031 directs CTDOL to establish and administer a “Full Employment Trust Fund” to create employment opportunities and job training programs for certain populations. Creating and administering such a CT-specific, state program would have a significant fiscal impact on the agency. Moreover, it is important to note that we currently have federal and state funded programs to assist the unemployed and underemployed find suitable employment.
Similarly, SB 1206 would require the establishment of a pilot program to train up to fifteen additional women to work in the building trades. If this were to be codified within CTDOL statutes, this would have a fiscal impact to the extent that the agency would be required to administer such a program. Administration would include, but not be limited to, issuing a Request for Proposal for specific trade(s) curriculum and training program(s) development, awarding of funding, as well as fiscal and programmatic monitoring by CTDOL. Additionally, we would like to note that programs currently exist and are offered by organizations such as the Connecticut State Building Trades Training Institute.
CTDOL would also welcome the opportunity to learn more from the proponents regarding our agency’s potential role in creating a new construction pipeline program, as outlined in HB 5704. We would look forward to discussing current programming available through organizations such as the Home Builders Institute, whose purpose is to prepare individuals for careers in the building industry.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide you with this written testimony regarding these proposals. We are available to answer any questions you may have as you move forward with drafting these proposals.
