§ 53H-13-309 — Talent advisory councils.

(1) As used in this section:
(1)(a) "Advisory council" means an advisory council the talent board creates under Subsection (10).
(1)(b) "Talent initiative" means an initiative the board creates under Subsection (2).
(2) (2)(a) Subject to legislative appropriations and in accordance with the proposal process and other provisions of this section, the board shall develop and oversee one or more talent initiatives that include providing funding for expanded programs at an institution of higher education related to the talent initiative.
(2)(b) The board shall ensure that a talent initiative the board creates:
(2)(b)(i) uses a name for the talent initiative that reflects the area the initiative is targeting;
(2)(b)(ii) contains an outline of the disciplines, industries, degrees, certifications, credentials, and types of skills the talent initiative will target; and
(2)(b)(iii) uses a corresponding advisory council created in Subsection (10).
(3) In creating a talent initiative, the board shall facilitate collaborations between an institution of higher education and participating employers that:
(3)(a) create expanded, multidisciplinary programs or stackable credential programs offered at a technical college, undergraduate, or graduate level of study; and
(3)(b) prepare students to be workforce participants in jobs requiring skills related to a talent initiative.
(4) (4)(a) An institution of higher education seeking to partner with one or more participating employers to create a program related to a talent initiative shall submit a proposal to the talent board through a process the talent board creates.
(4)(b) An institution of higher education shall submit a proposal that contains:
(4)(b)(i) a description of the proposed program, including:
(4)(b)(i)(A) implementation timelines for the program;
(4)(b)(i)(B) a demonstration of how the program will be responsive to the talent needs related to the talent initiative;
(4)(b)(i)(C) an outline of relevant industry involvement that includes at least one participating employer that partners with the institution of higher education; and
(4)(b)(i)(D) an explanation of how the program addresses an unmet regional workforce need related to a talent initiative;
(4)(b)(ii) an estimate of:
(4)(b)(ii)(A) projected student enrollment and completion rates for a program;
(4)(b)(ii)(B) the academic credit or credentials that a program will provide; and
(4)(b)(ii)(C) occupations for which a graduate will qualify;
(4)(b)(iii) evidence that each participating employer is committed to participating and contributing to the program by providing any combination of:
(4)(b)(iii)(A) instruction;
(4)(b)(iii)(B) curriculum review;
(4)(b)(iii)(C) feedback regarding effectiveness of program graduates as employees;
(4)(b)(iii)(D) work-based learning opportunities; or
(4)(b)(iii)(E) mentoring;
(4)(b)(iv) a description of any resources a participating employer will provide within the program; and
(4)(b)(v) the amount of funding requested for the program, including:
(4)(b)(v)(A) the justification for the funding; and
(4)(b)(v)(B) the cost per student served as estimated under Subsection (4)(b)(ii).
(5) In reviewing a proposal, the talent board shall provide a proposal to the relevant advisory council described in Subsections (10) and (11).
(6) The relevant advisory council shall:
(6)(a) review and prioritize each proposal the advisory council receives; and
(6)(b) recommend to the talent board whether the proposal should be funded and the funding amount based on:
(6)(b)(i) the quality and completeness of the elements of the proposal described in Subsection (4)(b);
(6)(b)(ii) to what extent the proposed program:
(6)(b)(ii)(A) would expand the capacity to meet state or regional workforce needs related to the talent initiative;
(6)(b)(ii)(B) would integrate industry-relevant competencies with disciplinary expertise;
(6)(b)(ii)(C) would incorporate internships or significant project experiences, including team-based experiences;
(6)(b)(ii)(D) identifies how industry professionals would participate in elements described in Subsection (4)(b)(iii); and
(6)(b)(ii)(E) would be cost effective; and
(6)(b)(iii) other relevant criteria as the relevant advisory council and the talent board determines.
(7) The board shall review the recommendations of an advisory council and may provide funding for a program related to a talent initiative using the criteria described in Subsection (6)(b).
(8) In a form that the board approves, each institution of higher education that receives funding shall annually provide written information to the board regarding the activities, successes, and challenges related to administering the program related to the talent initiative, including:
(8)(a) specific entities that received funding under this section;
(8)(b) the amount of funding provided to each entity;
(8)(c) the number of participating students in each program;
(8)(d) the number of graduates of the program;
(8)(e) the number of graduates of the program employed in jobs requiring skills related to the talent initiative; and
(8)(f) progress and achievements relevant to the implementation timeline submitted under Subsection (4)(b)(i)(A).
(9) On or before October 1 of each year, the board shall provide an annual written report containing the information described in Subsection (8) to the:
(9)(a) Education Interim Committee; and
(9)(b) Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee.
(10) The talent board shall create a talent advisory council for each talent initiative created under Subsection (2) to make recommendations to the board regarding the administration of a talent initiative including:
(10)(a) a deep technology initiative;
(10)(b) a life sciences workforce initiative;
(10)(c) engineering and computer technology; and
(10)(d) health professions initiatives including a nursing initiative.
(11) An advisory council shall consist of the following members:
(11)(a) a minimum of four members who have extensive experience in the talent initiative's subject matter from the private sector whom the chair of the talent board appoints and the board approves;
(11)(b) a representative of the board described in Section 53H-1-203 whom the chair of the board appoints;
(11)(c) a representative of the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity whom the executive director of the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity appoints;
(11)(d) a representative from Talent Ready Utah; and
(11)(e) any other specialized industry experts whom a majority of the advisory council may invite to participate as needed as nonvoting members.
(12) Talent Ready Utah shall provide staff support for an advisory council.
(13) (13)(a) Two advisory council members appointed under Subsection (11)(a) shall serve an initial term of two years.
(13)(b) Except as described in Subsection (13)(a), all other advisory council members shall serve an initial term of four years.
(13)(c) Successor advisory council members upon appointment or reappointment shall each serve a term of four years.
(13)(d) When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the initial appointing authority shall appoint a replacement for the unexpired term.
(13)(e) An advisory council member may not serve more than two consecutive terms.
(14) A vote of a majority of the advisory council members constitutes an action of the advisory council.
(15) The duties of the advisory council include reviewing, prioritizing, and making recommendations to the board regarding proposals for funding under the talent initiative created in accordance with Subsection (2) for which the council was created.
(16) An advisory council member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service, but may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with:
(16)(a) Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107; and
(16)(b) rules made by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107.
(17) The board may discontinue a talent initiative and the related talent advisory council by majority vote.

Legislative History

Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 8, 2025 Special Session 1