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Archived News Release--Caution: information may be out of date.

ETA Press Release: Four States Receive Authority to Streamline, Consolidate Federal Employment and Training Programs [02/24/1998]

For more information call: 202-219-6871

U.S. Labor Secretary Alexis M. Herman announced that the states of Arizona, Illinois, Massachusetts and Vermont have won approval to operate their multi-million dollar federal employment and job training programs with less oversight and fewer restrictions from the federal government.

"The waivers granted to these four states are great examples of how the federal government and our state and local partners continue to improve performance in the workforce development system," Herman stated. "Waivers allow greater flexibility, and the states can now tailor their employment and training efforts to better meet the needs of a wide variety of job-seekers and local employers."

The waivers enable the states to bypass certain federal regulations and customize their job training programs for displaced workers, welfare recipients and disadvantaged youth and adults. In exchange for increased flexibility to design seamless delivery of services, the states commit to improved accountability and performance outcomes.

Thirty other states have already been approved for a variety of waivers from the requirements of the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) and the Wagner-Peyser Act.

Waivers, along with Work-Flex and One-Stop Career Centers have brought about consolidations and improved performance, which are among the key principles for workforce development reform. These reforms were set forth by the President in his G.I. Bill for America's Workers. The Administration and Congress are currently working together to finalize legislation that supports lifelong learning and continues progress toward reforming, streamlining and integrating job training and employment services.

Training programs funded under the JTPA make up the nation's largest employment and training system. The Wagner-Peyser Act funds the public employment service. Congressional appropriations legislation allows the Secretary of Labor to waive certain requirements of law so states can design their own programs with greater flexibility and less administrative burden.

States already operating under waiver authorities are: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming. Guam also received a waiver approval.

Additional states are expected to receive waiver approvals in the next several weeks.

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Editors: For further information about waivers, see attached Waiver Fact Sheet and List of Contacts in the States.

Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) Waivers

U.S. Department of Labor
Employment and Training Administration
February 1998

BACKGROUND

The nation's federal job training programs are moving from a complex, cumbersome, fragmented "one size fits all" system to a more integrated, performance-driven system which offers more customer choice and individual opportunity and is more responsive to local needs.

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 are currently working 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.

THE WAIVER AUTHORITY

As an interim solution to move ahead on reform, Congressional appropriations legislation allows the Secretary of Labor to waive provisions in both the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) and the Wagner-Peyser Act, as well as corresponding regulations, in response to state requests. This opportunity enables the states to bypass certain federal regulations and customize their job training programs for displaced workers, welfare recipients and other disadvantaged adults and youth.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR JOB TRAINING CUSTOMERS?

The waivers enable state and local programs to focus on the customer's needs and are intended to stimulate innovative program changes based on state and local labor market conditions. Government red tape will be cut and, in exchange for the flexibility to design seamless delivery of services for youth and adults, the states commit to improved accountability and performance outcomes for program participants.

EXAMPLES OF GREATER CHOICE AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOB-SEEKERS

• Working with welfare-to-work agencies, job training agencies now have an increased capacity to pay child care costs for welfare-to-work trainees.
• Job-seekers who want a job will have the option of being referred directly to a job without first being required to apply for job training and job readiness services.
• Individuals can participate in training after they become employed to help them stay on the job --- fostering the "work first" approach under welfare reform.

EXAMPLES OF REDUCING RED TAPE

• Simplified administrative requirements means paperwork can be reduced significantly.
• Increased flexibility means being able to integrate separate workforce and education programs to provide people with a broader array of training and job opportunities.

EXAMPLES OF FLEXIBILITY FOR STATES AND LOCALITIES

• State and local job training agencies can design workforce programs in accordance with streamlined and simplified federal requirements.
• With fewer administrative regulations to follow, more staff and training resources will be available to serve more customers.
• Instead of encountering a "one size fits all" approach, customers can obtain the combination of training and job-placement services that best meet their individual needs within the shortest time.

CURRENT STATUS

To date, 40 states and territories have requested and are using comprehensive general waiver proposals. Oregon received waiver authority in February 1997. Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee and Washington received waiver authority in July 1997. California, Georgia, Guam, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming received waiver authority in October 1997. Pennsylvania, Arkansas and North Carolina received waiver authority earlier this year, and Arizona, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Vermont received waiver authority in February, 1998. Additional states are expected to receive waiver approvals in the weeks ahead.

In addition, a new demonstration project is allowing six states to be given waiver authority through their Governors, eliminating the need to get prior permission from the Secretary of Labor. The six states approved for the Work-Flex demonstration in February, 1998, were Florida, Iowa, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota and Texas.

State JTPA Liaison Contacts for Further Information on Waivers

States Granted Waivers in February, 1998

States Granted Waivers earlier this year

States Granted Waivers in October 1997

Granted Waivers in July 1997:

Granted Waivers in February 1997:

Archived News Release--Caution: information may be out of date.