(2) The program shall provide to participants in the program case management and support services that include, but are not limited to:

(a) Developing an individual development plan for the participant that outlines work readiness, career and educational goals;

(b) Work readiness instruction;

(c) At least 12 weeks of paid internships or other work experience; and

(d) Academic support for earning high school graduation credit, completion of approved high school equivalency programs such as the General Educational Development (GED) certificate program or earning college credit for work experience or internships provided through the program.

(3) The program:

(a) Plan, implementation procedures and evaluation criteria shall be described in the local plan developed by a local workforce development board under ORS 660.327.

(b) May provide for public and private sector employment opportunities.

(4) Local workforce development boards responsible for managing the program shall ensure appropriate training and positive work experiences for participants.

(5) The commission shall collaborate with the local workforce development boards to collect data on youth work experience programs that identify successful work experiences and allow for the identification and dissemination of the most promising practices. The data collected shall also include the number of participants in the program, the number of participants that complete the program, the cost of internships and other work experiences provided, the academic credit earned by participants and the number of certificates for passing approved high school equivalency tests such as the General Educational Development (GED) test earned by participants.

(6) The commission shall adopt rules necessary for the implementation and operation of the program created under subsection (1) of this section. The rules shall include, but are not limited to, establishing eligibility criteria for persons participating in the program. [2011 c.702 §4; 2015 c.366 §67; 2017 c.66 §25; 2017 c.185 §39; 2017 c.297 §17]