Missouri HB 2550: Grants to employers to encourage employees to obtain upskill credentials

Bill Text

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 2550
101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON.
4456H.01I DANA RADEMAN MILLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 620, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to grants to
employers to encourage employees to obtain upskill credentials.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 620, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be
2 known as section 620.2500, to read as follows:
620.2500. 1. For purposes of this section, the following terms mean:
2 (1) "Employee", any person employed by a qualifying employer or any person
3 who is a prospective employee of a qualifying employer, provided such person is not an
4 independent contractor;
5 (2) "Industry-recognized credential", a specific credential that is sought or
6 accepted by employers within the industry or sector to which the qualifying employer
7 belongs and that is a recognized, preferred, or required credential for recruitment,
8 screening, hiring, retention, or advancement purposes within such industry or sector;
9 (3) "Public body", the state of Missouri, any department, division, commission,
10 board, or political subdivision thereof;
11 (4) "Qualifyingemployer",anyemployerregisteredtodobusinessinthestateof
12 Missouri, provided the employer is not a public body;
13 (5) "Technology-focused credential", a credential that demonstrates the
14 competencies necessary to succeed in an occupation that utilizes technology to
15 develop, build, and deliver products and services;
16 (6) "Training provider", any entity that provides training in upskill credentials;
17 (7) "Upskill credential", includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.

18 (a) Industry-recognized credentials;
19 (b) Technology-focused credentials; and
20 (c) Any other credential indicated by a qualifying employer as necessary for
21 improving the skills of its current and prospective employees.
22 2. The department of economic development may distribute to any qualifying
23 employer a reimbursement not to exceed two thousand dollars for each employee who
24 obtains upskill credentials, provided that no qualifying employer shall receive more
25 than thirty thousand dollars under this section in any calendar year. A qualifying
26 employer shall submit an application for an award for such reimbursement as provided
27 in this section in order to receive such funds.
28 3. Thedepartmentofeconomicdevelopmentshalldesignanapplicationformfor
29 qualifying employers to apply for an award for reimbursement. The application form
30 shall contain all information that the department deems necessary to fulfill the
31 provisions of this section.
32 4. (1) The department of economic development shall evaluate all applications
33 submitted by qualifying employers on a competitive basis using the following criteria:
34 (a) The pledged average wage increase that employees or prospective employees
35 will realize after obtaining the upskill credential in relation to the cost of obtaining the
36 upskill credential;
37 (b) The level of economic distress in the qualifying employer's region and the
38 balance of awards made to the various regions of the state; and
39 (c) The contribution made by the qualifying employer toward the cost of
40 obtaining the upskill credential.
41 (2) Applications shall be evaluated at the close of the application period, as
42 determined by the department, and shall not be awarded on a first-come, first-served
43 basis. The department may make preliminary awards for reimbursement only after the
44 application period has closed.
45 (3) In making awards under this section, the department shall distribute an
46 equal number of awards to the following groups of qualifying employers:
47 (a) Qualifying employers with at least one but not more than fifty employees;
48 (b) Qualifying employers with at least fifty-one but not more than two hundred
49 employees; and
50 (c) Qualifying employers with more than two hundred employees.
51 (4) Applicationsshallbeconsideredduringapplicationperiodsasdeterminedby
52 the department.
53 5. (1) Upon being given a preliminary award for reimbursement under this
54 section, each qualifying employer shall sponsor a current or prospective employee to
HB 2550 2

55 obtain an upskill credential within twelve months of the preliminary award. A current
56 or prospective employee shall not commence the process of obtaining the upskill
57 credential until after a preliminary award has been made.
58 (2) Upon obtaining the upskill credential, the qualifying employer shall submit
59 proof of the credential to the department of economic development.
60 (3) To receive the reimbursement, the qualifying employer shall provide proof
61 that