TEN_13-18_acc.pdf

ETA Advisory File Text

TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT NOTICE NO. 1 3-18DATE January 23 2019 EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WASHINGTON D.C. 20210 TO FROM STATE W ORKFORCE AGENCIES STATE WORKFORCE LIAISONS STATE AND LOCAL WORKFORCE BOARD EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS AMERICAN JOB CENTER DIRECTORS MOLLY E. CONWAY s Acting Assistant Secretary SUBJECT State Occupational Licensing Review and Reform Grant Awards and Related Resources 1.Purpose. To notify the workforce system of recent State Occupational Licensing Review and Reform grant awards and related resources including the National Conference of State Legislatures NCSL licensing resources and database available at http www.ncsl.org stateslicense . 2.Action Requested. State and local workforce development boards state workforce agencies and other workforce partners are encouraged to gain familiarity with these resources and make use of them as applicable to assist workers and job seekers in licensed occupations. 3.Summary and Background. This grant program builds on work that the Department of Labor the Department began in fiscal year FY 2016 with an allocation of 7.5 million. In FY 2017 the Department allocated the same amount to address ways in which harmonizing licensing requirements across States can reduce barriers to labor market entry and mobility including for dislocated workers transitioning service members and veterans as required by House Report 114-699 and similar language in Senate Report 114-274. With the first grant in FY 2016 DOL awarded a three-year cooperative agreement to the NCSL and its partners the National Governors Association NGA and the Council of State Governments CSG . Through an application process NCSL selected 11 states Arkansas Colorado Connecticut Delaware Illinois Indiana Kentucky Maryland Nevada Utah and Wisconsin to participate in a consortium to receive targeted technical assistance and begin work to review and streamline occupational licensing requirements for certain occupations. That Occupational Licensing Policy Learning Consortium the Consortium will improve the understanding of occupational licensure issues among the participating states by 1 providing a forum for the selected state team members and the expanded stakeholder group to learn about occupational licensing best practices 2 becoming familiar with and discussing the existing licensing policies in their state 3 identifying current policies that create unnecessary barriers to labor market entry and 4 creating an action plan that focuses on removing barriers to labor market entry and improves portability and reciprocity for select occupations. 2 The FY 2017 grant program builds on the FY 2016 project described above. In June of 2018 the Department announced nine state occupational licensing grantees. Those grantees are Colorado Nevada Kentucky North Dakota Oklahoma Kansas Pennsylvania Vermont and New Hampshire in addition to two grants to national associations including NCSL and the CSG. Each participating state will undertake activities to review and reform state licensing requirements including Streamlining licensing requirements Revising or removing unjustified barriers to entry Working with state lawmakers and policymakers to specifically remove unnecessary licensing barriers preventing former convicted offenders from gaining meaningful employment and reintegration to society. Where barriers are not eliminated working to limit denials based on criminal history to those situations where the conviction is relevant to the occupational license sought and public health and safety could be at risk were a license granted Determining how best to regulate particular occupations so as to improve the fit between occupation and regulation with special attention to alternatives to licensure such as state or private industry-recognized certification mandatory or voluntary bonding or insurance and government registration Identifying revisions needed to state licensure requirements to align with national industry-recognized certifications that would permit a certification to be adopted as a multi-state standard either as part of state licensing requirements or in lieu of licensing Implementing and publicizing the availability of military spouse licensing solutions that the states have already authorized and or Developing and implementing plans to join existing interstate licensing compacts. In the context of these grant awards and related programs the Department understands the term occupation expansively so as to include any trade or profession which is licensed by any state. 4. Available Resources for States. The following resources have been developed by NCSL CSG and NGA and are available for public use The State of Occupational Licensing http www.ncsl.org research labor-and-employment report-the-state-of-occupational- licensing.aspx The National Occupational Licensing Database Compares the requirements for 35 sub-baccalaureate licensed opportunities. http www.ncsl.org research labor-and-employment occupational-licensing-statute- database.aspx Occupational Licensing Legislation Database http www.ncsl.org research labor-and-employment occupational- licensing636476435.aspx 3 Occupational Licensing Examining Challenges for Four Sub-populations A series of four publications focusing on the unique challenges and barriers specific to four population groups when they wish to enter a licensed occupation and practice a licensed occupation across state lines each report outlines specific state policy options to address the unique challenges faced by the individual population. o Low-Income unemployed and dislocated workers http www.ncsl.org research labor-and-employment barriers-to-work-low- income-unemployed-and-dislocated-workers.aspx o Veterans and military spouses http www.ncsl.org research labor-and-employment barriers-to-work- veterans-and-military-spouses.aspx o People with criminal records http www.ncsl.org research labor-and-employment barriers-to-work- individuals-with-criminal-records.aspx o Immigrants with work authorization http www.ncsl.org research labor-and-employment barriers-to-work- immigrants-with-work-authorization.aspx In addition the new webpage http Veterans.gov milspouses brings together occupational license portability resources from across the Federal Government in one place and provides a map to highlight the licensing recognition options that various states have provided for military spouses who must relocate frequently. This page is the result of collaborative work between the Department s Employment and Training Administration Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Veterans Employment and Training Service and Women s Bureau and the Department of Defense. Military spouses can search directly on the portal for summaries and full texts of state laws that control the interstate recognition of occupational licenses. The page provides access to the CareerOneStop License Finder tool so that a military spouse can research the licensing agency and its requirements in a state to which they are relocating and can find contact information as well to initiate the recognition process. In addition information on various interstate licensing reciprocity compacts is provided at the bottom of the page. 5. Inquiries. Please direct questions concerning this information to Pam Frugoli Workforce Analyst by e-mail frugoli.pam dol.gov or telephone 202-693-3643 or to the appropriate regional office. 6. References. DOL News Release June 25 2018 U.S. Department of Labor Awards 7 Million to States to Support Occupational Licensing Reform at https www.dol.gov newsroom releases eta eta20180625. DOL News Release June 28 2018 U.S. Department of Labor s Veterans Employment and Training Service Unveils Resource for Military Spouses at https www.dol.gov newsroom releases vets vets20180628. 7. Attachments. Not Applicable.