Share:
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | May 1, 2024 11:58 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Tim Briggs |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Transitional Work Crews |
| In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation which would allow the Commonwealth to establish a workforce development program that would help clean up the miles of litter and graffiti along our roadways while creating jobs for a segment of our population who may be at a disadvantage when seeking employment. Individuals who have served a sentence of incarceration can face significant challenges when trying to reenter the workforce. In addition to there being a limited pool of second-chance employers, they may lack the necessary job history or soft skills to make them a desirable candidate for a job. There are nonprofit organizations that partner with employers to hire justice-impacted individuals to serve on transitional work crews. The crews provide entry level services at their place of business. In addition to serving on transitional the work crew, the nonprofit organization provides them with supports necessary to develop career soft skills, like interviewing and resume building. The aim is to allow them to build a work history, while preparing for entry into the job market. As a large employer, the Commonwealth is in a position to enter into a public-private partnership with such an organization through the Department of Transportation. PennDOT would contract for transitional work crews who would perform work like graffiti removal, litter abatement and vegetation management along state roads, while helping people get back their feet. Please join me in sponsoring this legislation. |