(a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Displaced Defense Workers’ Bill of Rights”.

(b) As used in this section:

(1) “Defense contractor” means a Connecticut business which derived, as of the last income year of such business ending prior to January 1, 1989, fifty per cent or more of its annual revenues or at least one hundred million dollars of its annual revenues from the defense-related production of goods or services as a contractor or subcontractor for the United States government.

(2) “Defense worker” means any full-time employee of a defense contractor or any employee of the United States government, the state or any political subdivision of the state whose principal duties consist of activities related to national defense.

(3) “Displaced defense worker” means any defense worker who, following employment by a defense contractor or the United States government, the state or any political subdivision of the state, for twelve or more months, has been discharged, on or after January 1, 1989, due to lack of work by such defense contractor or the United States government, the state or any political subdivision of the state and who is not eligible for any other program providing benefits similar to those contained in this section.

(4) “Full-time employee” means an employee working thirty-five hours per week or more.

(5) “Participant” means a displaced defense worker receiving financial assistance under this section.

(c) There is established a grant program to be administered by the commissioner, in consultation with the Labor Commissioner, for the purpose of awarding grants under § 32-327 to agencies seeking to contract for educational and job placement assistance for displaced defense workers. The grant program shall be administered in a manner consistent with the state workforce development plan and the job training plan of the regional workforce development board established pursuant to § 31-3k in each region seeking a grant under such grant program.

(d) An application for an eligible project under such grant program shall include a plan for competitive bids to be used by the agency in selecting a provider of educational and job placement assistance to displaced defense workers and shall provide for the design of the competitive bid process by the regional workforce development board established pursuant to § 31-3k. The application shall also include requirements that any such provider shall, in some form, portion or combination:

(1) Provide from funds other than funds made available for the purposes of this section financial assistance to participants which is substantially equivalent to extended unemployment compensation benefits;

(2) Provide from funds other than funds made available for the purposes of this section extended health insurance benefits for participants;

(3) Provide, directly or indirectly, a range of educational opportunities to participants, including opportunities in secondary school education, vocational-technical education and undergraduate and graduate programs at Connecticut institutions of higher education;

(4) Require that participants maintain a “C” average in all enrolled courses as a condition for receipt of financial assistance under the program;

(5) Require that some portion of the financial assistance provided under the program be given in the form of a low-interest loan which, to the extent possible, shall be coordinated with existing loan programs;

(6) Establish an effective system to identify job opportunities and place participants in suitable jobs following their completion of the program; and

(7) Take any other actions required by the agency pursuant to the contract, to carry out the purposes of the program.