State plan for green jobs training programs.

A. The department, in coordination with existing apprenticeship programs administered by the department and the public education department, shall develop a state plan for the development of green jobs training programs with a focus on rural and tribal communities no later than the end of fiscal year 2010. This plan is intended to complement existing apprenticeship programs and in no way replace such programs currently funded with state money. The plan shall include a schedule for funding and implementation that gives priority to programs directed at target populations. The department shall develop the plan: (1) for coordination of a state research program with the workforce solutions department in which labor market data shall be collected and analyzed to track work force trends from renewable energy and energy-efficiency industries and energy-related initiatives; (2) for a municipal and tribal energy training partnership program in which the department shall award competitive grants to higher education institutions in partnerships with cities, towns, counties and tribes to administer green jobs training programs; and (3) for a pathways out of poverty program in which the department shall award competitive grants to higher education institutions in partnerships to administer green jobs training programs directed specifically at disadvantaged target populations. B. The plan shall be followed by interested higher education institutions in New Mexico, and the institutions shall cooperate with the department in the development and the implementation of the plan.