|
 Printer-Friendly Version
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: 202-219-6871
Six States Receive Authority to Further Streamline Job
Training Programs
Vice President Al Gore and Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman today
announced that six states won approval to operate their multi-million dollar
federal job training programs with less oversight and fewer restrictions from
the federal government. The states of Florida, Iowa, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota
and Texas are part of the Workforce Flexibility (Work-Flex) Demonstration
Program, which runs through June 30, 2002.
"Work-Flex partnerships empower each state to approve local officials'
requests to tailor employment and training efforts to the individual needs of
workers and employers and to local labor market conditions," said Vice
President Gore, who heads the National Performance Review to make the federal
government work better and cost less. "Work-Flex is another example of how the
federal government and our state and local partners are moving ahead to make
government more effective, efficient and responsive to the American people."
"Granting Governors the power to approve waivers of certain provisions
of law for federally funded local training programs will result in further
reduction of red tape and administrative costs and allow local communities to
streamline their employment and training services," Herman said. "Work-Flex
will also make it easier for local officials to provide much-needed services
for people making the transition from welfare to work."
Work-Flex demonstration projects allow Governors to grant waiver
authority to local public training programs, eliminating the need to get prior
permission from the federal level. This will allow local programs to pursue
greater innovations and customize their job training programs for displaced
workers, welfare recipients and disadvantaged youth and adults. In exchange for
increased flexibility to design a better system to deliver services, the local
communities commit to improved accountability and performance outcomes.
Congressional appropriations legislation allows the Secretary of Labor
to waive provisions in both the Job Training Partnership Act and the
Wagner-Peyser Act, as well as corresponding regulations, in response to state
requests. Currently, the Secretary has approved general waivers for 30 states
and territories and waiver requests from an additional 7 states are under
review. The Work-Flex demonstration projects present even greater opportunity
for local innovation for the six approved states.
Consolidation and improved performance are among the key principles for
workforce development reform, set forth by the President in his G.I. Bill for
America's Workers. The Administration and Congress continue to work together to
finalize legislation that supports lifelong learning and continues progress
toward reforming, streamlining and integrating job training and employment
services within a one-stop workforce development system.
Training programs funded under the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA)
make up the nation's largest employment and training system. The Wagner-Peyser
Act funds the public employment service.
Editors: For further information about Work-Flex, see attached
Work-Flex List of Contacts in the states.
STATE WORK-FLEX CONTACTS
FLORIDA
Mr. Doug Jamerson, Secretary
Department of Labor and Employment
Security
2012 Capital Circle, Southeast
Suite 303, Hartman Building
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2152
Telephone: 302-922-7021; Fax:
904-488-8930
IOWA
Ms. Cynthia P. Eisenhauer, Administrator
Division of Workforce
Development
Iowa Department of Economic Development
1000 East Grand
Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Telephone: 515-281-5365; Fax:
515-281-5144
OHIO
Ms. Evelyn Bissonnette, Director
Job Training Partnership-Ohio
Ohio Bureau of Employment Services
145 South Front Street, 4th Floor
P.O. Box 1618
Columbus, Ohio 43216
Telephone: 614-466-3817; Fax:
614-752-6582
OREGON
Mr. Roger Bassett, Administrator
Oregon Office of Community College
Services
256 Capitol Street, N.E.
Suite 399
Salem, Oregon
97310-1600
Telephone: 503-373-1995; Fax: 503-378-3365
SOUTH DAKOTA
Mr. Craig W. Johnson, Secretary
South Dakota Department of Labor
Kneip Building
700 Governor's Drive
Pierre, South Dakota 57501-2277
Telephone: 605-773-3101; Fax: 605-773-4211
TEXAS
Mr. Alan Miller, Director
Workforce Development Division
Texas
Workforce Commission
101 E. 15th Street
Austin, Texas 78778-0001
Telephone: 512-463-2654; Fax: 512-463-2799
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
| 
