HOUSE BILL 547

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Angelica Rubio and Javier Martínez

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; DIRECTING THE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS DEPARTMENT TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS ON ISSUES RELATED TO A TRANSITION TO A CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. TEMPORARY PROVISION--WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS DEPARTMENT--CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY TRANSITION STUDY.--

          A. The workforce solutions department shall study, and prepare a report with recommendations by July 15, 2020, the opportunities for and barriers to transitioning to a clean energy economy as provided in this section. The final report shall be provided to the governor and presented to the interim legislative committee that addresses economic development issues by October 1, 2020.

          B. The workforce solutions department shall

study the opportunities for and barriers to transitioning to a clean energy economy in low-income and rural communities. The department shall coordinate with relevant state agencies, the office of the governor, nongovernmental organizations and other stakeholders in undertaking this aspect of the study and shall study and report on the opportunities for and barriers to a clean energy economy in low-income and rural communities in the following areas:

                (1) solar, wind, solar thermal energy generation and other renewable energy resource generation;

                (2) expanding contracting for local small businesses in disadvantaged communities;

                (3) low-income individuals and communities accessing energy efficiency and weatherization programs, with special consideration given to disadvantaged communities;

                (4) low-income individuals and communities accessing zero emission transportation options, with special consideration given to disadvantaged communities; and

                (5) participation in outdoor recreation and public lands preservation.

          C. The workforce solutions department shall study and provide recommendations on the need for increased education, career and technical education, job training and workforce development resources or capacity to help industries, workers and communities transition to economic and labor-market changes related to a transition to a clean energy economy. The department shall:

                (1) work with nongovernmental organizations and interested stakeholders on this aspect of the study and may request the assistance of state agencies with expertise in the subject matter of the study, including the:

                     (a) public education department;

                     (b) higher education department;

                     (c) economic development department;

                     (d) department of environment;

                     (e) energy, minerals and natural resources department; and

                     (f) state land office; and

                (2) address and provide recommendations in the final report on how the state may best:

                     (a) create and retain jobs and stimulate economic activity in the state;

                     (b) embed workforce training and employment services in infrastructure investments so that services are more directly connected to the jobs created;

                     (c) use community benefits agreements, community workforce agreements and project labor agreements to connect workforce services;

                     (d) prepare the state's students with relevant career and technical education to respond to business and industry workforce requirements;

                     (e) develop worker retraining programs to assist the existing workforce with the necessary tools to upgrade skills;

                     (f) respond to the job creation and workforce needs of the state's new and emerging industries, including emerging technology industries that will assist with clean energy transition and natural resource protection;

                     (g) develop job training programs to assist disadvantaged communities;

                     (h) provide opportunities for community-based organizations to partner with local workforce agencies and others to improve the labor-market outcomes of targeted populations;

                     (i) target workforce development programs and activities in disadvantaged communities; and

                     (j) identify state and federal funding resources to implement the recommendations made in the report.

          D. The workforce solutions department shall identify in its report disadvantaged communities to prioritize for economic development opportunities related to New Mexico's transition to a sustainable and clean energy economy. Communities shall be identified based on geographic, socioeconomic, public health and environmental hazard criteria and may include areas:

                (1) disproportionately affected by environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative public health effects, exposure or environmental degradation; or

                (2) with concentrations of people that are of low income, high unemployment, low levels of homeownership, high rent burden or low levels of educational attainment or are sensitive populations.

     SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION.--Two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the workforce solutions department for expenditure in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 to study and report on the opportunities for and barriers to transitioning to a clean energy economy as provided in Section 1 of this act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2021 shall revert to the general fund.

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