Section 83-F. Legislative commission on skills development and career education

1.  The  legislature  hereby  finds  and  declares  that  the
  economic and social well-being of the people of the state and the future
  shape  and strength of the state's economy will be greatly influenced by
  the development and availability of a pool of workers equipped  to  meet
  the demands of a rapidly changing economy. The legislature further finds
  that  no  comprehensive  review of skill development and job training by
  the public  and  private  sectors  or  of  the  state's  massive  career
  education  system  has  been  undertaken  in  recent years and that such
  review is essential for legislative consideration of unified,  effective
  and  coordinated  policies,  programs  and  delivery  systems for career
  education and skills development that will enhance economic  growth  and
  economic opportunity for state residents.
    2. A legislative commission on skills development and career education
  is  hereby  established  to  examine  both  public  and  private  skills
  development and job training  programs  and  the  adequacy  of  delivery
  systems  for  state-assisted  programs,  to  assess the career education
  system and its relevance to the needs of youth, adults and the  economy,
  to evaluate the increasing mismatch between skills of the existing labor
  force  and  those needed by growth sectors of the economy, to assess how
  existing and new job training initiatives can increase employability  of
  disadvantaged  persons,  to  explore  the  adequacy  of  private  sector
  investment in human resource  development  and  alternatives  for  state
  action  to encourage company efforts, and to make recommendations to the
  legislature for such actions  as  it  determines  necessary  to  enhance
  skills development and career education programs.
    3.  The  commission  shall  consist  of ten members to be appointed as
  follows: three members of the senate shall be appointed by the temporary
  president of  the  senate;  three  members  of  the  assembly  shall  be
  appointed  by  the  speaker  of  the assembly; two members of the senate
  shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and two members
  of the assembly shall  be  appointed  by  the  minority  leader  of  the
  assembly.  From  among  the  members so appointed, a chairman and a vice
  chairman shall be designated  by  the  joint  action  of  the  temporary
  president  of  the  senate  and the speaker of the assembly. Any vacancy
  that  occurs  in  the  commission  or  in  the  chairmanship   or   vice
  chairmanship  shall  be  filled in the same manner in which the original
  appointment or designation was made. No member, officer, or employee  of
  the  commission  shall  be  disqualified  from  holding any other public
  office or employment, nor shall he forfeit any such office or employment
  by reason of his appointment hereunder, notwithstanding  the  provisions
  of any general, special, or local law, ordinance, or city charter.
    4.  The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel as
  it may deem necessary for the performance of the commission's  functions
  and  fix their compensation within the amount appropriated therefor. The
  commission may hold public and private hearings and otherwise  have  all
  of the powers of a legislative committee under this chapter. The members
  of  the  commission  shall  receive  no compensation for their services,
  except as provided pursuant to section five-a of this chapter, but shall
  be  allowed  their  actual  and  necessary  expenses  incurred  in   the
  performance of their duties hereunder.
    5.  Employees of the commission shall be considered to be employees of
  the legislature for all purposes.
    6. The commission may  request  and  shall  receive  from  any  court,
  department,  division,  board,  or  bureau, commission, or agency of the
  state such assistance and data as will enable the commission properly to
  carry out its powers and duties thereunder.

    7. The commission is hereby authorized and empowered to make and  sign
  any agreements, and to perform any acts that may be necessary, desirable
  or proper to carry out the purposes and objectives of this section.
    * NB Repealed June 30, 2010