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Committee backs bill to pay industry to share instructors with community colleges
Summary
The Senate Education Committee reported House Bill 807 favorable, a measure to create a fund that would incentivize industry partnerships supplying instructors to community and technical colleges. Sponsors and industry representatives said the program would help meet training demand tied to large private investments.
The Senate Education Committee voted to report House Bill 807 favorably after sponsor remarks and testimony from higher‑education and industry partners.
House Bill 807, sponsored by Representative Brasch, would create a workforce instructor capacity investment program and a special treasury fund to incentivize industry to partner with community and technical colleges to supply instructors for high‑demand programs. The bill includes reporting requirements, restrictions against supplanting existing higher‑education funding, and provisions governing the fund’s administration.
Quintin Taylor, chancellor of River Parishes Community College, described a Dow instructor‑share model in which several full‑time company employees receive relief from regular shifts to teach process technology, instrumentation and electrical programs. “It’s a win‑win situation,” Taylor said, adding the arrangement helps industry identify future talent while giving students practical instruction. Brian Landry of the Louisiana Chemistry Association and other industry witnesses echoed the need to "train the trainers" to staff an expected wave of industrial projects across the Gulf Coast region.
Senators asked whether the program could expand emphasis to healthcare training; the sponsor said he is open to working with colleagues to adapt the program to rural health needs. The committee had numerous green cards in support and several industry and education representatives waived speaking. The chair moved HB 807 and, with no objections, the bill was reported favorable.
Why it matters: Supporters said HB 807 will help community colleges fill instructor shortages for in‑demand technical programs at a moment when large private investments are generating training demand. The bill would create a new incentive fund rather than directly reallocate existing higher‑education monies, and it contains provisions meant to prevent supplanting existing funding.
Next steps: HB 807 was reported favorable by the committee and will proceed in the legislative process.
