INDIANAPOLIS | House Republicans and Democrats united Tuesday to approve legislation aimed at reducing the skills and opportunity gaps faced by unemployed Hoosiers.
The House voted 97-0 to establish the Indiana Career Council, a 16-member intergovernmental board tasked with aligning the public and private education and training programs available in the state with the needs of Indiana employers.
House Bill 1002 was co-sponsored by House Democratic Leader Scott Pelath, D-Michigan City, who said Indiana needs to do a better job ensuring unemployed Hoosiers can obtain the skills needed to get an available position.
"I'm a human resources director in my real job, and I recognize the challenge of having an open position with specific qualifications, you advertise it and you don't get enough qualified applicants, while at the same time we have 10 percent unemployment in LaPorte County," Pelath said.
House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, the other co-sponsor, said the proposal is not a "silver bullet" but will "definitely break down barriers."
The legislation, which is backed by Republican Gov. Mike Pence, now goes to the Senate.
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