Bill to assess skills of Nevada’s jobless clears Senate

By Cy Ryan

Thursday, March 24, 2011 | 5:23 p.m.

CARSON CITY – A bill to evaluate the skills of unemployed workers and then match them up with job openings has cleared the Senate on a unanimous vote.

It’s an effort by the Legislature to lower the unemployment rate in Nevada, which is the highest in the nation.

The measure would allocate $350,000 to the College of Southern Nevada and $60,000 to Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno to assess the skills of jobless workers and determine what training might be needed to get he or she employed.

Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-North Las Vegas, said 3,800 workers would be in the first phase of the program. After the evaluation, the individual might be able to move to another area where jobs are available or to be retrained.

The state Unemployment Security Division would conduct the assessments when the person applies for jobless benefits.

Under questioning from Republican lawmakers, Horsford said the $410,000 would come from an excess amount in the reserve fund of the state. The money is not being diverted from the budget of Gov. Brian Sandoval, he said.

Senate Bill 219 now goes to the Assembly.