Workforce Development Proposals Advance

The legislature’s Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee concluded its business this week, approving a series of bills designed to promote workforce development and lower the cost of post-secondary education.

HB 5441, which creates a tax credit for a preceptor who provides clinical placements for nursing students, was among the featured bills. 

Under the bill, a $1,000 credit may be claimed for every 100 clinical placement hours, provided the preceptor does so at no cost to the nursing student or institution of higher education and is the only credit claimed against the liability.

The credit may not exceed $4,000 in any taxable year.  

Proponents of the bill, which the committee approved unanimously, expect that this approach will help reduce bottlenecks most commonly found in the clinical requirement.

Incentive-Based

CBIA supports this incentive-based approach to increasing the eligible workforce.

Healthcare is experiencing a significant workforce shortage, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

HB 5441 also requires the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority to create a student loan subsidy program for in-demand professions.

The bill defines high-demand professions to include registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, home health aides, providers of programs or services for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities employed by a state agency or nonprofit organization, and childcare providers employed by a childcare center, group childcare home, or family childcare home.  

CBIA supports efforts to reduce costs for residents and make the state more affordable.

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For more information, contact CBIA’s Ashley Zane (860.244.1169) | @AshleyZane9.