(a) There is established an account to be known as the “Office of Workforce Strategy account” which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account within the General Fund. The account shall contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the account and any funds received from any public or private contributions, gifts, grants, donations, bequests or devises to the account. Moneys in the account shall be expended by the Office of Workforce Strategy for the purposes of funding workforce training programs and supporting administrative expenses of the Office of Workforce Strategy. The Office of Workforce Strategy may enter into contracts or agreements with the constituent units of the state system of higher education and regional workforce development boards for the purposes of this section. The Chief Workforce Officer, in consultation with the Labor Commissioner and the regional workforce development boards, shall (1) ensure that, as appropriate, participants in a workforce training program funded through the Office of Workforce Strategy account also enroll in additional workforce development programs for the purpose of minimizing duplication across existing workforce programs and leveraging federal funds; and (2) establish funding eligibility criteria for workforce training programs for the purpose of meeting the workforce needs of in-demand occupations.

(b) Not later than October 1, 2022, and annually thereafter until October 1, 2025, the Chief Workforce Officer shall submit to the Governor and, in accordance with the provisions of § 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, higher education and employment advancement, education, commerce, and labor and public employees a report regarding the workforce training programs funded through the Office of Workforce Strategy account. Such report shall include, but not be limited to, information on the number of individuals served, demographic information about such individuals and outcomes of such individuals after completion of a workforce training program.