Bill > LB94

This bill adopts the Digital Skills Empowerment Act, which aims to address digital skills training and workforce development in economically disadvantaged communities, particularly in areas like North Omaha. The legislation establishes two primary grant programs administered by the Department of Labor in collaboration with the Department of Economic Development: one to provide grants to local educational institutions and nonprofits for creating digital skills training centers in qualified census tracts, and another to support low-income individuals by covering tuition, materials, transportation, equipment, and childcare for digital skills training. The bill defines key terms such as "local educational institution" and "low-income individual" and sets a maximum of $20 million per fiscal year for each grant program. Additionally, the bill creates a grant program to support paid apprenticeships in technology companies, with up to $10 million available annually, and requires the development of standardized, industry-aligned digital skills curricula. The legislation intends to appropriate $50 million from the Workforce Development Program Cash Fund to support these initiatives, with the goal of increasing employment opportunities, reducing income inequality, and providing career development pathways in technology-related fields, especially for individuals in economically challenged communities and those returning from incarceration. The act will become operative on January 1, 2026.

Business and Industry

https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59019