Section 1 [Minnesota FastTRAC adult career pathway program]  subdivision 1 [Creation] and subdivision 2 [Purpose] create the Minnesota fast training, resources, and credentialing adult career pathway program as an interagency initiative to increase the number of adults with postsecondary credentials in high-demand occupations. 

Subdivision 3 [Administration; leadership committee] requires that the commissioner of employment and economic development (DEED) provides administration and oversight of the program.  Requires establishment of a leadership committee consisting of DEED, the Department of Education-Adult Basic Education, MnSCU, the Office of Higher Education, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Labor and Industry, state and local partners, and employers.

Subdivision 4 [Program design] provides that the program is designed to use an adult career pathways framework for delivering services to participants.  Requires programming and policy alignment across related programs and other state agencies.  Requires local program partners to collaborate with training and employment service providers.

Subdivision 5 [Program implementation] requires the leadership committee ensure that FastTRAC programs become standard options that are offered through state education and training systems.

Subdivision 6 [Required local program partner] provides that a local partner is responsible for delivery of the outcomes required by this section.  Requires that a local program partner include representatives from the Department of Education-Adult Basic Education, employers, MnSCU, workforce development system partners. 

Subdivision 7 [Services provided] requires a local program partner to provide three service components to participants, including: contextualized instruction, career development, and support services tailored to adults.  Provides the types of instruction, career development, and other support services that must be provided as part of the program.

Subdivision 8 [Participant eligibility] provides that participants must meet the requirements of the Adult Basic Education program and also be assessed for college or work readiness.

Subdivision 9 [Accountability and outcome measures] requires all program partners to administer assessments and measure progress.  Provides that information gathered on outcome measures must be reported to the leadership committee for review.  Requires local program partners to evaluate participants on basic skills acquisition, program retention, credential attainment, job placement in career field, job retention, wage progression, continuation of career pathway training, attachment to funding stream, participant satisfaction and other process goals, and employer involvement and feedback at the local level.  Provides that the leadership committee retains authority to reconsider funding to the local program partner.

Section 2 [Appropriation] appropriates $4.5 million in fiscal year 2013 from the general fund to the commissioner of employment and economic development for the program.  Allows up to ten percent of the appropriation to be used by the leadership committee to provide leadership, oversight, and technical assistance to the FastTRAC program.

CDF/syl