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03/03/2022

March 3, 2022 Labor and Public Employees Cmte, SB 211

Public Hearing Testimony of
Daryle Dudzinski, Deputy Commissioner
Department of Labor
Labor and Public Employees Committee
March 3, 2022

 

Good Morning Senator Kushner, Representative Porter, Senator Sampson, Representative Arora and members of the Labor and Public Employees Committee. Thank you for the opportunity to provide you with testimony regarding Senate Bill 211, AN ACT CONCERNING A RETURN TO WORK PROGRAM. My name is Daryle Dudzinski and I am the Deputy Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Labor.

 

The Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) has several concerns about the proposed bill as currently drafted which requires the Agency to study the benefits, implications and feasibility of creating a return to work program in the state and whether the state's Step-Up program is equivalent to comparable return to work programs.  First, the Step-Up program is no longer operating in Connecticut as all funding has expired.  Second, the CTDOL already provides a myriad of “Return to Work Programs” on behalf of Connecticut’s residents.  These innovative return to work programs in the workforce development system include, but are not limited to:

 

  1. Workforce Investment Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I programs that provide an employment opportunity to the individual through:
    1. On-the-Job Training
    2. Subsidized Work Experience
    3. Transitional Employment
  2. Registered Apprenticeship programs where the individual can earn while they learn and must be connected to employment.Examples include:
    1. Traditional Office of Apprenticeship Training apprenticeship programs in the Trades, Manufacturing, etc.
    2. Federal Grant funded programs such as the Yale New Haven Healthcare program and Patient Care Assistants
    3. Other programs, such as a program offered through the SEIU 1199 Training Fund and Genesis Healthcare – CNAs
  3. Youth Employment programs
    1. CTDOL state funded program that provides summer and year-round employment experiences
    2. Department of Children and Families funds administered by CTDOL for summer and year-round employment experiences
  4. Second Chance Initiative which is employment and training opportunities with direct employer links for formerly incarcerated individuals.Industries include:         
    1. Culinary
    2. Manufacturing
    3. Construction
  5. Platform to Employment and Opportunities for Long-term Unemployed programs that provides direct placements with employers for 8 weeks (On the Job Training) for:
    1. Long Term Unemployed – out of work for 27 weeks or more
    2. Formerly Incarcerated
    3. Veterans

 

While CT DOL appreciates the intent behind SB 211, the study appears unnecessary and duplicative given the return to work programs that the Agency already provides.  Thank you for the opportunity to provide this testimony.  I am available to answer any questions you may have.


 

Connecticut Department of Labor • www.ct.gov/dol
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