Approved Waivers

The following provide access to associated waiver information, including waiver request letters, the Texas Workforce Commission Waiver Plan, U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA) approval letters, and implementation guidance.

Waivers Approved as Part of the Texas Workforce Commission Waiver Plan

The following twelve waivers were submitted as part of the Texas Workforce Commission State Workforce Investment Plan and were approved by DOLETA on December 11, 2012.

Texas Workforce Commission Waiver Plan (PDF)
DOLETA Waiver Plan Approval Letter (PDF)

• Employer Contribution for Customized Training
  Permits the Texas Workforce Commission (Commission) to replace the Workforce Investment Act (WIA)-required 50 percent employer match for customized training with a 10 to 50 percent sliding scale match based on the size of the employer.
• Transferring Funds between Adult and Dislocated Worker Programs
  Permits the Commission to approve transfer amounts of up to 50 percent of local workforce development area allocations between the WIA adult and dislocated worker funding streams, as requested by Local Workforce Development Boards.
• Rapid Response/Incumbent Worker Training
  Permits the Commission to use up to 20 percent of rapid response funds for incumbent worker training only as part of a layoff aversion strategy. All training delivered under this waiver is restricted to skill attainment activities.
• WIA Formula Funds Used as Local Activity Funds
  Permits Boards to designate up to 10 percent of local WIA adult funds and up to 10 percent of local WIA dislocated worker funds as local activity funds to use for incumbent worker training only as part of a layoff aversion strategy. These Local Activity Funds may only be used to train incumbent workers for the purpose of layoff aversion.
• Contracting for Board Performance Measures
  Permits the Commission to develop methodologies that allow greater flexibility in contracting Board performance measures.
• Common Measures and Integrated Performance
  Permits the Commission to replace the original 17 WIA performance measures with the six common measures.
• Older and Out-of-School Youth Use of Eligible Training Provider List
  Permits the Commission to allow Boards the option of using the WIA Eligible Training Provider System to secure training providers for older and out-of-school youth through the use of Individual Training Accounts.
• Extension of Certification Period for Currently Certified Training Programs
  Permits the Commission to extend the period of eligibility for training programs currently certified under the WIA Eligible Training Provider System.
• WIA Fund Reallocation
  Permits the Commission to reallocate recaptured funds in accordance with state-developed criteria.
• On-the-job Training Employer Reimbursement
  Permits the Commission to replace the WIA-statutory limit of 50 percent employer reimbursement for on-the-job training with a sliding scale reimbursement percentage that is based on the size of the employer.
• Exemption of Incentive Grants
  Exempts the Commission from the requirement to provide local areas incentive grants to reward regional cooperation, local coordination of activities, and exemplary performance.
• Exemption of Additional Assistance with High Concentrations of Eligible Youth
  Exempts the Commission from the requirement to provide additional assistance to local areas that have high concentration of eligible youth. Additionally, TWC has increased the expenditure requirement for activities for out-of-school youth from 30 percent to 60 percent, thus ensuring that youth most in need are prioritized within each workforce area's WIA youth allocation.