Senate Amendments to the Workforce Investment Act A Glimpse at the Possibilities

Categories of Amendments  Released after bipartisan review Governance – State boards and plans - Local areas, boards, plans Youth activities of states National programs  Still under review One-stops Adult and dislocated worker services Performance measures Administration

Job Corps  Drops core performance measures Rate of graduation Entered unsubsidized jobs trained for Average wage of grads in related jobs Date of placement Retention in employment Length of work week Entered post-sec ed or advanced training  Secretary free to specify all measures

National Programs  Retain Migrant/Seasonal program  Youth Challenge Grants (80% of funds) States, groups of states eligible Assurance of state board review of apps Criterion for award: Coordination with state Ten percent non-federal match (cash, non-cash)  Youth Challenge Grants (20% of funds) Eligible entities: Whoever Secretary says No state coordination requirement

National Programs (Cont’d)  Demonstration and Pilot Projects No more pet projects in statute Assist national employers Develop systems for effectiveness, etc. High growth industries Innovative service delivery Retention grants for low-income programs Omits “self sufficiency” demos Omits requirement of grantee “expertise” Omits mandate for federal/state DW offices Strategic nuclear waiver for Secretary

One-Stop Centers (Untested)  Moves one-stop from services section  Adds TANF, omits Food Stamp E&T  Makes all centers certifiable next year (no “grandfathering”)  Decisive state board power to certify  Requires partner contributions to infrastructure, Governors determine how much  Governor allocates infrastructure grants, using board’s formula  Partners pay excess and common costs under MOUs (not from WIA funds)

Adult, Dislocated Workers (Untested)  Requires 50 percent pass-through of statewide adult/dislocated worker pool to local one-stops  Rapid response required, all other statewide optional  Opens core services to everybody (truly universal)  Drops program cost info from service providers  Eligibility: Suitable employment, not self sufficiency (Governor defines)  Work experience, work readiness skills (adults?), relocation assistance as newly authorized activities  Priority for Service: Unemployed first, then public assistance and other low-income persons  Work support for low-wage workers after placement  Local 10% for incumbent worker training

Performance Measurement (Untested)  Common measures, of course  No credentials gains for adults any more IN  Customer satisfaction is IN (for now)  New national performance goals set by Secretary based on: GPRA requirements Consultation with states, “appropriate” others  Requires state to validate data as ordered  Omits efficiency measure for sanctions/incentives

Administration (Untested)  Allow employment generating service, revolving loan funds, business cap  Religious exemption from employment discrimination  Puny waiver: “Expedited” procedure (states piggyback on past waivers)  Give states clear title to real property bought with SESA funds

Lurking Landmines  Percent floor on training expenditures  Personal Reemployment Accounts  Single adult services funding stream

Priorities for Creative Input  “Time for big new ideas is past.”  Modest ideas needed for – Funding one-stop infrastructure Providing more training Improved demand-driven services Regulating eligible training providers Linking to economic development Adjustments to performance standards Statewide system measures to match national goals