[Workforce Investment Act Information]

WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT OF 1998 (Senate - July 31, 1998)

[Page: S9616]    

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Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I wish to engage my colleague, Senator DeWINE, in a colloquy.

I thank Senator Jeffords, and the other members of the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources for your collective efforts in passing H.R. 1385, the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. This bill promises to improve and revitalize our country's workforce system and will enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of our federal job training programs.

As you know, Texas has been in the forefront of the remaking its state and local workforce delivery system. Beginning in 1993, Texas created a system very similar to one embodied in HR 1385. As with this federal legislation, the new Texas system is based on the principles of local control, customer service, and consolidation.

In this regard, I commend you for recognizing in the bill the uniqueness and foresight of the Texas workforce system by providing flexibility in the bill for our state to fully implement its new laws.

Specifically, I understand that HR 1385 provides that Texas will be able to maintain use of its Human Resource Investment Council (known as the Texas Council for Workforce and Economic Competitiveness) as defined in Texas statute and regulation to fulfill the State Board requirements under Section 111. In addition, Section 117(I) provides that Texas will be able to maintain the Local Workforce Development Boards as defined in Texas statute and regulation to fulfill the Local Board requirements under Section 117. Section 189(I)(2) provides that Texas may maintain the current local workforce board areas as defined in Texas statute and regulation to fulfill the requirements under section 116, and that no other language in HR 1385 may be construed to force Texas to change the configuration of its 28 local workforce areas. Section 189(I)(3) provides that Texas may maintain its sanctioning process for local boards. Section 194(a)(1)(A) provides that Texas may maintain it current process and formulas for allocating funds under sections 127 and 132 to its local workforce boards and that Texas may maintain it current procedures for disbursing money that is allocated to local workforce boards. Section 194(a)(1)(B) provides that local workforce boards in Texas may maintain their disbursal processes and procedures for monies provided under sections 127 and 132. Section 194(a)(2) provides that Texas may maintain the procedure as defined in Texas statute and regulation through which fiscal agents are designated by local boards for monies provided under sections 127 or 132. Section 194(a)(3) provides that Texas may maintain its process by which local boards designate or select one-stop partners and one-stop operators, notwithstanding any requirements set forth in section 121. Section 194(a)(4) provides that Texas may maintain its requirements that service providers shall not be permitted to perform both intake and training services. Section 194(a)(5) provides that Texas may maintain the roles and functions of its state board (otherwise known as the Texas Council for Workforce and Economic Competitiveness) and that no requirements for elements of state plans shall be construed to force a role or function upon Texas' State Board that is inconsistent with Texas statute or regulation. Section 194(a)(6) provides that Texas may maintain the roles and functions of its Local Boards and that no requirements for elements of state or local plans shall be construed to force a role or function upon Texas' local board that is inconsistent with Texas statute or regulation.

Mr. DeWINE. The Senator is correct, and I, too, share your commitment to preserving the leading edge reforms Texas is implementing.

Mrs. HUTCHISON. I thank the Senator. There is, however, one final item on which I request clarification. It is my understanding that the intent of Section 194(a)(4) is to allow Texas to limit providers to provide either intake or training services as defined under section 134.

Mr. DeWINE. The Senator is correct. It was the intent of the Conference Committee to allow Texas this specific flexibility with regard to intake and training providers.

Mrs. HUTCHISON. I thank the Senator for his leadership and his assistance and cooperation in ensuring that the intent of this important bill is allowed to be carried-out according to specific state needs and laws.

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