The Connecticut Worker-Merit Credentialing Act (CT-ACSA)

Connecticut state companion to ACSA. Extends licensure recognition under Conn. Gen. Stat. Title 20, the Office of Higher Education, the Governor's Workforce Council, and Conn. Gen. Stat. Chapter 208 credits, with labor-protective worker provisions.

THE CONNECTICUT WORKER-MERIT CREDENTIALING ACT (CT-ACSA)

Vehicle: State passage. Connecticut General Assembly, regular session. Primary referral to Joint Committee on Labor and Public Employees / Higher Education / Finance, Revenue and Bonding.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “Connecticut Worker-Merit Credentialing Act (CT-ACSA).”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The General Assembly finds that Connecticut occupational licensure operates under Conn. Gen. Stat. Title 20; that the Office of Higher Education operates under Conn. Gen. Stat. Chapter 185; that the Governor’s Workforce Council operates under Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 31-3h et seq.; that Conn. Gen. Stat. Chapter 208 authorizes tax credits; and that Conn. Gen. Stat. Title 31 provides labor protections. This Act extends these frameworks.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH CONNECTICUT LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

(a) “Connecticut Recognized Merit Credential” or “CTRMC” means a competency-based credential designated by the Executive Director of the Office of Higher Education in coordination with the Governor’s Workforce Council under Sec. 201.
(b) “Federal FRAC” means a Federally Recognized Alternative Credential under Section 202 of the federal ACSA.
(c) “Covered State licensing authority” means a board under Conn. Gen. Stat. Title 20.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Connecticut Law

(a) Consistent with:

Conn. Gen. Stat. Title 20 (licensing).
Conn. Gen. Stat. Chapter 185 (Office of Higher Education).
Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 31-3h et seq. (Workforce Council).
Conn. Gen. Stat. Chapter 208 (corporation business tax).
Conn. Gen. Stat. Title 31 (labor).

TITLE II — CONNECTICUT RECOGNIZED MERIT CREDENTIALS

Sec. 201. Designation Authority

(a) The Office of Higher Education shall maintain a Connecticut Recognized Merit Credentials registry (“CTRMC Registry”) in machine-readable form, updated at least annually, crosswalked to Federal FRAC.

Sec. 202. Degree-Optional State Employment

(a) The Department of Administrative Services, acting under Conn. Gen. Stat. Chapter 67 (State Personnel Act), shall apply classifications so that a CTRMC-holder satisfies any position qualification stated in terms of a college degree, unless expressly required by Connecticut statute.

TITLE III — WORKFORCE-TRAINING TAX CREDIT (Worker-Protective Rewire)

Sec. 301. Connecticut Skills-Based Hiring Tax Credit

(a) A new credit is added to Conn. Gen. Stat. Chapter 208 equal to a percentage of qualified first-year wages paid to a Connecticut-resident employee whose qualifying pathway is a CTRMC or Federal FRAC.
(b) Credit availability is conditioned on compliance with Conn. Gen. Stat. Title 31 (wages, labor relations), including Sec. 31-53 (prevailing wage).
(c) Coordinated with federal IRC Sec. 45AA; aggregate cap.
(d) Department of Revenue Services administers.

TITLE IV — OCCUPATIONAL LICENSURE PORTABILITY

Sec. 401. Licensure by Demonstrated Competency

(a) Demonstrated-competency pathway accepting CTRMC, Federal FRAC, or examination-plus-supervised-experience, subject to public health and safety requirements.

Sec. 402. Interstate Recognition for Federal-Fund Recipients

(a) Recognition by federally-funded authorities, consistent with Section 401 of the federal ACSA.

TITLE V — IMPLEMENTATION & GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 501. Severability

If any provision is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the remainder.

Sec. 502. Effective Date

This Act shall take effect on July 1 of the year following enactment, except that Sec. 301 shall apply to income years beginning on or after January 1 of the year following enactment.

Canonical federal version: ACSA. Other Connecticut bills: CT-MEWRA, CT-GT&P, CT-AI-Workforce.