The Work A Day Earn A Pay Bill goes to House Economic Development Committee 

The Work a Day Earn a Pay Bill — Senate Bill 229 — was assigned to the House Economic Development Committee Wednesday.

The bill, which passed the Senate on May 12, would establish a state-sponsored public works program for drug-and-alcohol-free unemployed workers and for young adults entering the work force.

The goal is to provide entry-level positions for inexperienced and unemployed workers in public works projects and to reduce unemployment and crime rates in areas with high unemployment.

If passed, the program would be funded with no more than $2 million annually from the state’s Strategic Fund.

The state would partner with nonprofits in all three counties and with government agencies and private-sector companies to find jobs for the participants.

The Council on Development Finance would oversee the program and, if the program is approve, would accept grant applications from nonprofits beginning Oct. 1.

The bill is sponsored by Sen. Robert I. Marshall and Rep. Michael P. Mulrooney