[nfbwatlk] Obama Administration Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Rules to Implement Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, ED.Gov Press Release, April 16 2015

[Nightingale, Noel]

More information about WIOA regulations.

Link:
http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/obama-administration-seeks-public-comment-proposed-rules-implement-workforce-innovation-and-opportunity-act

Text:
Obama Administration Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Rules to Implement Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
April 16, 2015
Contact: Education Department, Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press at ed.gov<mailto:%20press at ed.gov>
Jason Kuruvilla , Labor Department, (202) 693-6587, kuruvilla.jason at dol.gov<mailto:%20kuruvilla.jason at dol.gov>
David Roberts , Labor Department, (202) 693-5945, roberts.david at dol.gov <mailto:%20roberts.david at dol.gov%20%20%20>
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The departments of Education and Labor today announced that they are seeking comment on five Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs), proposing rules that would implement the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act<http://doleta.gov/wioa/> (WIOA). The act, signed by President Obama on July 22, 2014, is the first major reform to federal job training programs in more than 15 years. It's designed to streamline and improve the coordination of employment and training services across federal agencies and strengthen collaboration with state and local partners to increase, access to and opportunities for the employment, education, training, and support services for individuals to succeed in the labor market.

"WIOA will provide the opportunities for workers and learners to obtain the foundation skills necessary for 21st century jobs and foster a modern workforce that can compete in a global economy," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "It makes key improvements in the nation's workforce development and education system, by emphasizing the creation of career pathway programs, improved training, and streamlined service delivery to individuals-especially for underserved youth and adults."

"We are embarking on a fundamental transformation in the way we prepare people for the careers of today and tomorrow," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "More than ever before, we're taking a job-driven approach and making sure training programs connect businesses that want to grow with workers who want to punch their ticket to the middle class."

The proposed regulations are designed to: update and improve federal workforce programs that serve workers, job seekers, and employers; strengthen accountability and transparency; increase access to work-based learning tools, such as apprenticeships<http://www.dol.gov/apprenticeship/>; improve relationships with employers, including through sector partnerships, and foster more cohesive planning within economic regions. The proposed rules would also improve access to education and workforce services for individuals with significant barriers to employment-veterans, individuals with disabilities, disconnected youth, and other vulnerable populations-to help them find good work.

The proposed regulations align closely with principles outlined in Vice President Joseph R. Biden's Ready to Work report<https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/skills_report.pdf> on developing a more evidence-based, job-driven workforce system. The vice president's report included a call for greater coordination and more strategic use of federal resources to yield better results; transparent and relevant information so job-seekers and the public know what works, and putting business front and center so our investments are directly responsive to hiring needs.

WIOA supersedes the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, reauthorizes the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, and amends the Wagner-Peyser Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

The five NPRMs announced today include: a joint rule, issued by the departments of Labor and Education, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services, proposing to implement jointly-administered activities related to unified planning, performance accountability, and the one-stop system; a Department of Labor rule proposing to implement DOL-specific activities under Title I; and three Department of Education rules proposing to implement the requirements of Titles II and IV.

Please visit www.regulations.gov<http://www.regulations.gov> to share your comments on the specific proposed rules, in accordance with the process outlined in the NPRMs. Any comments not received through the processes outlined in the NPRMs will not be considered by the departments.

A webinar on how to provide comments on the NPRMs will be available the week of April 27. For more information, visit www.doleta.gov/WIOA<http://www.doleta.gov/WIOA>.

Here are summaries of each proposed rule and a link for additional information:

*        Unified and Combined State Plans, Performance Accountability, and the One-Stop System Joint Provision
This rule, jointly proposed by Labor and Education, would strengthen the alignment of the workforce development system's six core programs administered by the two departments. It would impose requirements related to unified strategic planning at the state level, common performance accountability measures, and the one-stop delivery system.https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/04/16/2015-05528/workforce-innovation-and-opportunity-act-joint-rule-for-unified-and-combined-state-plans-performance

*        Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA)
This rule, proposed by Education's Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, would implement changes to programs authorized under AEFLA, which is contained in Title II of WIOA.https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/04/16/2015-05540/programs-and-activities-authorized-by-the-adult-education-and-family-literacy-act-title-ii-of-the

*        State Vocational Rehabilitation Services program; State Supported Employment Services program; Limitations on Use of Subminimum Wage
This rule, proposed by Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, would implement changes authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which is contained in Title IV of WIOA, including changes to the State Vocational Rehabilitation Services program and the State Supported Employment Services program, as well as provisions in new Section 511 related to the Limitations on the Use of Subminimum Wages.https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/04/16/2015-05538/state-vocational-rehabilitation-services-program-state-supported-employment-services-program

*        Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Miscellaneous Program Changes
This rule, proposed by Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, would implement changes to other Rehabilitation Act programs administered by the Department of Education, including Client Assistance, American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights, Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind programs, and the discretionary grant programs authorized under Title III of the Rehabilitation Act. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/04/16/2015-05535/workforce-innovation-and-opportunity-act-miscellaneous-program-changes

*        Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
This rule, proposed by Labor, would implement changes to the adult, dislocated worker and youth formula programs; the state and local workforce development boards; the designation of regions and local areas; local plans; the one-stop system; national programs, including Job Corps, YouthBuild, Indian and Native American programs; and Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker programs. The proposed rules also would implement changes related to employment services and workforce and labor market information systems and requires the Secretary of Labor to establish a Workforce Information Advisory Council.https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/04/16/2015-05530/workforce-innovation-and-opportunity-act-notice-of-proposed-rulemaking#addresses

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