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

Dan and Renee westfrye at optimum.net
Mon Jun 8 17:16:14 UTC 2015 

Hi all-

FYI, the public comment period ends June 15th. The fabulous Noel provided 
the link to read the proposed regulations on docket ID ED-2015-OSERS-OOO1 in 
her email below, but just so you know, that page is also a direct link to 
submit your comment; look for the link that says "Submit a Formal Comment." 
Again the link providing text for proposed rules affecting VR, supported 
employment, and subminimum wages (that's section 511) is:

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/04/16/2015-05538/state-vocational-rehabilitation-services-program-state-supported-employment-services-program

-Renee

-----Original Message----- 
From: Nightingale, Noel via nfbwatlk
Sent: Monday, June 08, 2015 12:37 PM
To: nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
Cc: Nightingale, Noel
Subject: [nfbwatlk] Obama Administration Seeks Public Comment on Proposed 
Rules to Implement Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, ED.Gov Press 
Release, April 16 2015

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>
*

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

# # #

Editor's Note: If you require this press release in an alternate format as a 
reasonable accommodation such as Braille, large print or CD Rom, please 
contact press at ed.gov<mailto:press at ed.gov>.

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