2014 -- S 2252

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS - STATE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT

BOARD

     Introduced By: Senators McCaffrey, Felag, Conley, Algiere, and P Fogarty

     Date Introduced: January 30, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 28 of the General Laws entitled "LABOR AND LABOR

RELATIONS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 45.1

STATE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD

     28-45.1-1. Legislative findings. -- The general assembly finds and declares:

     (1) That the economic future of Rhode Island and the prosperity of its citizens depend

upon the ability of businesses in Rhode Island to compete in the world economy; and

     (2) That a well-educated and highly-skilled workforce provides businesses in Rhode

Island with a competitive edge critical for their success; and

     (3) That it is essential to develop a workforce system that provides needed workforce

skills, sets high performance standards, implements best practices, cooperates with system

partners, and coordinates a wide range of workforce investment resources.

     28-45.1-2. Workforce investment board established. – (a) As a result of the legislative

findings set forth in § 28-45.1-1, there is established a state workforce investment board

("board"), in conformity with the requirements of the Federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998,

29 U.S.C. section 2801 et seq. The state workforce investment board shall be the principal

workforce policy organization for the state.

     (b) The membership of the board shall consist of nineteen (19) members appointed by

the governor with the advise and consent of the Senate; nine (9) of whom shall be representatives

from the employer community, in a manner that is representative of employers of different sizes

and sectors, including the nonprofit sector; four (4) members of whom shall be representing

organized labor; two (2) members of whom shall be representing community-based

organizations; one of whom shall be a representative of the post-secondary education system; one

of whom shall be the director of the department of labor and training, one of whom shall be the

commissioner of education, and one of whom shall be the executive director of the commerce

corporation.

     (c) The governor shall select the chair of the board, who shall serve in such office at the

pleasure of the governor.

     (d) The board may establish an executive committee composed of members appointed by

the chair. The board may delegate to the executive committee any of the powers of the board

except those powers which are required by law to be exercised by the board. The chair may also

appoint ad hoc committees, workgroups or task forces to assist the board as appropriate.

     (e) The board shall hold publicly-announced meetings at such times and places as it

deems necessary. The meetings shall be open and accessible to the general public in accordance

with state law. A quorum shall consist of ten (10) members present and voting.

     (f) The board may promulgate bylaws, consistent with law and with this chapter,

governing its organization and procedure.

     28-45.1-3. Powers and duties. -- (a) The board shall assist the governor in:

     (1) Developing a state workforce investment plan: a strategic plan including goals and

strategies for serving the state’s existing and emerging workforce utilizing all state and federal

workforce development programs.

     (2) Promoting and coordinating private sector involvement of partnerships among state

agencies, the business community and the board.

(3) Developing a statewide system of activities that are funded under the WIA or carried

out through the One-Stop delivery system, including:

(i) Assuring coordination and nonduplication among the programs and activities carried

out by One-Stop partners;

(ii) Establishing a workforce development interagency council consisting of the directors

of state departments responsible for implementing federal and state workforce investment

activities to ensure the coordination of all available programs and initiatives;

(iii) Reviewing local workforce investment plans;

(iv) Designating local workforce investment areas;

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(v) Developing allocation formulas for the distribution of funds for adult employment and

training activities and youth activities to local areas;

(vi) Developing comprehensive state performance measures, including state adjusted

levels of performance, to assess the effectiveness of the workforce investment activities in the

state;

(vii) Preparing the annual report to the United States secretary of labor described in WIA;

(viii) Developing the statewide employment statistics system;

(ix) Developing an application for incentive grants;

(x) Determining which workforce investment boards are redundant and recommending

which should be eliminated;

(xi) Carrying out the responsibilities of the local board as outlined in WIA; and

(xii) Addressing any other issue requiring input from the board under the provisions of WIA.

     (b) The board, when acting concert with the state human resource investment council,

shall conform it activities and procedures to Chapter 102 of title 42 and Chapter 42 of title 28,

and also shall approve a budget, manage, and otherwise provide oversight of the Rhode Island job

development fund to ensure that all programs and expenditures are in compliance with the

approved state plan.

     28-45.1-4. Personal and administration. -- (a) The department of labor and training is

hereby designated as the administrative entity responsible for administration and management of

the board, The department’s one stop career center system is also the primary deliverer of

workforce development services. The department is authorized to act in concert with the

governor’s WIA liaison in the planning, administration, coordination, and oversight functions of

the workforce system assigned to the governor. The department shall provide staff support for the

board.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS - STATE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT

BOARD

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     This act would legislatively establish a state workforce investment board consisting of

nineteen (19) members appointed by the governor with the advise and consent of the Senate,

formerly created by executive order 05-18 dated September 22, 2005. The board would assist the

governor in implementing and conforming to the requirements of the Federal Workplace

Investment Act of 1998.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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