Morris-Sussex-Warren Workforce Investment Board Open Meeting Reports - January 29, 2015 WIB Director and One-Stop Operator Director’s Report THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION OPPORTUNITY ACT Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) draft regulations have been delayed and will be issued Spring 2015 instead of January 18, 2015. In Spring 2015, the Departments of Labor and Education plan to concurrently publish five Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs) to implement WIOA. One of these will be a joint NPRM involving jointly administered activities which include unified and combined state plans, performance, and aspects of the one-stop system. Another NPRM will implement the remaining provisions of Title I and Title III that are administered by the Department of Labor. Three additional NPRMs involve Department of Education programs, including one implementing Title II Adult Education and Literacy and two implementing the Title IV Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 of WIOA. These five NPRMs will be published in the Federal Register and posted on www.regulations.gov, where public comments can be submitted following publication. The Departments of Labor and Education will analyze these public comments, and anticipate issuing Final Rules implementing WIOA in early 2016. Because many provisions of WIOA go into effect July 1, 2015, the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) also will issue operating guidance in Spring 2015 to support implementation. In addition, ETA intends to issue targeted guidance documents in the Spring, accompanied by technical assistance activities. Once issued, the guidance can be accessed at www.doleta.gov/WIOA/. STATE WORKGROUPS In preparation for WIOA implementation, the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the NJ State Employment and Training Commission will convene eight workgroups: - Governance - Planning - Performance Accountability - One-Stop Operations WIB Open Meeting Reports – January 29, 2015 Page 1 of 4 - Career Pathways / Industry Partnerships - Services to Individuals with Disabilities - Services to Youth - Business Services ETS Director Donna Buchanan is a member of the One-Stop Operations workgroup and Jack Patten is a member of the Governance and Performance workgroups. WIB POLICY ON WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT ADULT FUNDS On December 22, 2014, the WIB posted the following policy - which will allow Morris, Sussex, Warren Employment and Training Services to provide training to any adult - on the WIB website, mswwib.org: Morris-Sussex-Warren Workforce Investment Board DETERMINATION THAT PROGRAM YEAR 2014 WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT ADULT FUNDS ARE NOT LIMITED Effective January 2, 2015 Under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA): - Unemployed and employed adults are eligible for WIA training. (663:310) - When WIA funds are limited, local areas must give priority for adult intensive and training services to recipients of public assistance and other low-income individuals, unless the local area has determined that funds are not limited under the criteria established under paragraph 663:600(a). - Since funding is generally limited, States and local areas must establish criteria by which local areas can determine the availability of funds and the process by which any priority will be applied. (663:600[b]) As per the above, the Morris-Sussex-Warren Workforce Investment Board has established the following criteria to determine whether or not WIA Adult funds are limited: • When the average unemployment rate of Morris, Sussex and Warren counties is below the New Jersey unemployment rate, Adult funds are considered not limited. WIB Open Meeting Reports – January 29, 2015 Page 2 of 4 • When WIA Adult training funds are expended / obligated at less than 6.667% per month during a program year, Adult funds are considered not limited. • When Adult enrollment is under the amount required to expend / obligate 80% of Adult funds in a program year, Adult funds are considered not limited. • Since the October 2014 Morris (4.7%), Sussex (5.3%), and Warren (4.8%) average unemployment rate of 4.9% is lower than the New Jersey rate of 6.6%, under this criterion Adult funds are considered not limited. • Since WIA Adult training funds are expended / obligated at less than 6.667% per month (4.8% per month through November 2014) during Program Year 2014, Adult funds are considered not limited. • Since Adult enrollment (37 on 12/21/14) versus required enrollment (97 through 12/21/2014) is under the amount required to expend / obligate 80% of Adult funds in a program year, Adult funds are considered not limited. Therefore, as of January 2, 2015, since the three above criteria have been met, the Morris-Sussex-Warren Workforce Investment Board has determined that Program Year 2014 Adult Funds are not limited and training priority for recipients of public assistance and low-income adults has been suspended until further notice. Service and training priority for veterans remains in effect at all times. This policy will be reviewed on April 21, 2015. One-Stop Operator’s Report YOUTH SERVICES REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL IN DEVELOPMENT The Morris-Sussex-Warren WIB area is in the process of developing a Youth Services Request for Proposal (RFP) to serve out-of-school youth (ages 16-24) within the tri-county region. Required supportive services include: tutoring, mentoring, financial literacy, GED classes, basic skills deficient high school graduates, pre-employment training and life skills. The youth population to be served includes dropouts, teen parents, classified students, homeless, adjudicated youth, youth from dysfunctional families, and youth with a history of substance abuse and/or mental health issues. The RFP will be solicited by the end of March. WIB Open Meeting Reports – January 29, 2015 Page 3 of 4 FREE TRANSPORTATION TO RANDOLPH ONE-STOP CAREER CENTER Effective January 5, 2015, Morris-Sussex-Warren Employment and Training Services announced the availability of free round-trip shuttle transportation between the Dover Train Station and the Randolph One-Stop Career Center. Since the relocation of the OneStop Career Center from Dover to Randolph in early 2014, individuals residing in the area seeking job and career services have found it difficult to access the Randolph location given the lack of bus and rail transportation. Individuals interested in transportation should call (973) 285-6880 two days in advance to schedule a pick-up. WORKFORCE LEARNING LINK PROGRAM RECEIVES ADDITIONAL FUNDING On December 15, the Morris-Sussex-Warren WIB area received an additional $66,000 for a total of $179,000, more than double the 2013 funding level for Program Year 2014. With this additional funding (effective February 2015), Workforce Learning Links in the MorrisSussex-Warren One-Stop Career Centers will have full-time (five days a week) teacher coverage through June 30, 2015. Coverage beyond June will be assessed when new program year allocations are announced. WIB Open Meeting Reports – January 29, 2015 Page 4 of 4