In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Fund” means the Partnership for Workforce Quality Fund. “Program” means the Partnership for Workforce Quality Program.

There is a Partnership for Workforce Quality Program in the Department.

The purpose of the Program is to provide training services to: improve the competitiveness and productivity of the State’s workforce and business community; upgrade employee skills, or train new employees, for new technologies or production processes; and assist employers located in the State in promoting employment stability.

The Secretary or the Secretary’s designee shall direct the Program. The Secretary may not provide training assistance under the Program except at the specific request of an employer or group of employers. To identify employers that need assistance, the Secretary shall use local advisory groups, including private industry councils and joint apprenticeship committees. Subject to §§ 3-405 and 3-412(c) and (d)(1) of this subtitle, the Secretary shall establish eligibility criteria and priorities for assistance under the Program. In accordance with § 2.5–109 of this article, the Secretary shall submit a report on the operation and performance of the Program.

An employer receiving assistance under the Program shall be located in the State. In order to receive assistance under the Program, an employer shall request training assistance in job–specific skills to train new employees or to upgrade or retain existing Maryland–based employees covered under Title 8 of the Labor and Employment Article. The Secretary shall give priority to employers that are: manufacturers; or threatened by the pressure of increased foreign or domestic competition.

The Program shall provide business assistance services that: determine whether the employer’s specific needs are best met by training, other types of assistance, or a combination of services; identify the availability of existing training programs that may be adapted to meet the employer’s needs; identify the resources the employer may provide to support the training, including: equipment; facilities; and materials; identify or develop appropriate curricula; and determine the most cost-effective approach to meeting training needs.

The Secretary may award a grant for job-specific training assistance to an eligible: business; community college; private career school; State-accredited training agency; trade association; or union-sponsored training program. Training shall be approved by the employer of those being trained. Under the Program, job-specific training may not exceed 1 year.

There is a Partnership for Workforce Quality Fund in the Department. The Secretary shall manage and supervise the Fund. The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to reversion under § 7-302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. The Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund. The Fund consists of: money appropriated by the State to the Fund; money made available to the Fund through federal programs; private contributions to the Fund; an application or other fee paid to the Program in connection with processing a request for financial assistance; and any other money made available to the Fund. The Department may use money in the Fund for: grants to defray the cost of workforce training; and administrative, actuarial, legal, and technical services for the Program. Any investment earnings shall be credited to the Fund. The Governor shall include in the State budget for each fiscal year an appropriation of at least $1,000,000 for the Partnership for Workforce Quality Program.

The Program may provide business assistance services under § 3-406 of this subtitle at no cost to the employer. Program money may be used for costs associated with the direct delivery of instruction, including: curriculum development; course materials; and instructors’ salaries and expenses for training. At least 60% of the money available to the Program shall be reserved for employers with 150 or fewer employees based in the State. Up to 20% of the money available to the Program may be provided to an employer with more than 500 employees based in the State, if the employer: is primarily engaged in manufacturing or in a technology-based business; agrees to increase purchases of goods produced in the State and services from suppliers based in the State; and agrees to provide the workforce training to the number of employees based in the State, as determined by the Program, of smaller employers located in the State that supply goods or services to the employer receiving the money. An employer may not receive more than $200,000 a year from the Program. The Program may not contribute more than 50% of direct training costs for job-specific training assistance. Program money may not be used for: capital equipment for an employer; or trainee wages.