About Us - Workforce Investment Act

Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA)

Workforce Investment Act

GOVERNANCE

The Workforce Investment Board has a major role in linking and leveraging federal funding and local community resources to enable job seekers to be prepared for employment opportunities and to help businesses find workers who will contribute to competitive strength in a global economy. Below are answers to the following questions:

What is the structure of governance?

The Workforce Investment Board of Ventura County (WIB) operates under the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA). The Act superseded the earlier Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) and was designed to enable greater flexibility in local decision-making and mandate private-sector majority representation on state and local boards.

Administered by the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration and the State Employment Development Department/Workforce Investment Division, the WIA calls for each state’s governor to appoint a State Workforce Investment Board that includes a business majority, plus representatives from labor organizations, educational institutions and community organizations. The State WIB helps to distribute federal funds to Local Workforce Investment Area (LWIA) boards within the state. California has 49 LWIAs that mirror the composition of the California Workforce Investment Board.

The Workforce Investment Board of Ventura County is responsible for WIA funding for programs and services within the County’s boundaries. The Ventura County Board of Supervisors is designated as the Chief Elected Local Official and is responsible for appointing members of the local WIB. The WIB consists of more than 40 members who are from business, labor, education, and the community and represent a cross-section of the county’s five Supervisorial districts.

Funding for the local WIB originates with the Department of Labor and is distributed to the states. In the case of California, funds come to the Employment Development Department, which uses an elaborate set of formulas to apportion funding to each of the local WIBs. The Ventura County Board of Supervisors is the local fiscal agent, the recipient of funds to be administered by the Ventura County WIB.

Once accepted by the Board of Supervisors, WIA funds are put into the budget of the County’s Human Services Agency for use by the Ventura County WIB for operations and administration. Apart from special grants that the WIB may receive from time to time, the WIB’s regular budget consists of four separate core grants, usually announced in May: Adult, Dislocated Worker, Youth, and Rapid Response.

The relationship between the WIB and the Board of Supervisors is defined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This memorandum delineates the respective roles and responsibilities of the Board of Supervisors, the Workforce Investment Board, the Director of the Human Services Agency, the Executive Director of the WIB and the WIB administration staff.

The Bylaws of the WIB specify the purpose and function of the WIB, rules governing membership, officers and their election, committees, meetings and quorums, conflict of interest, and amendments.

What are the WIB’s legal mandates?

The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 ensures the full involvement of business, labor, education, and community organizations and designing and implementing the local workforce development system.

Each state establishes both state and local workforce investment boards. The California WIB helps the governor to develop a five-year strategic plan that is submitted to the U.S. Secretary of Labor. The plan outlines statewide workforce development activities, explains how the requirements of WIA will be implemented, and describes how special population groups will be served. Details about how local employment service/job service/activities fit into the new service delivery structure ad included. The California WIB advises the governor on ways to develop the statewide workforce investment system and a statewide labor market information system. In addition, the California WIB helps the governor to monitor statewide activities and report outcomes to the U.S. Secretary of Labor.

In partnership with local officials, WIBs are required to plan and oversee the local system. Local plans, revised every year, are submitted for the governor’s approval. Local boards designate “One-Stop” operators (called Job & Career Centers in Ventura County), identify providers of training services, monitor system performance against established performance measures, negotiate local performance measures with the state board and the governor, and help develop the local labor market system.

Youth councils are established as a subgroups of the WIB to develop parts of the local plan relating to youth, recommend providers of youth services, and coordinate local Youth Services and initiatives.

Workforce boards are responsible for identifying the appropriate issues and establishing priorities for action (what work gets done), while the WIB-contracted employment and training agencies and providers are responsible for managing the activities to meet these identified needs and priorities (how the work gets done).

How does the WIB accomplish its work?

Because the WIB is a public board, all proceedings are conducted in compliance with the Brown Act, operate under approved Bylaws, and function according to Roberts Rules of Order.

Each WIB determines priorities and administers programs and services based on WIA requirements and local needs. Different courses of action may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Ensure program and service quality in One-Stop Job & Career Centers.
Provide services to employers on workforce and business development issues.
Initiate dialogue with and among communities and constituencies to build support for job opportunities and training.
Engage and inform elected officials at all levels of government.
Participate in economic development and community planning efforts.
Convene community stakeholders to discuss industry needs.
Assemble and disseminate information about prevailing wages, occupations, needed skills and future trends (the state of the workforce).
Help educational institutions develop, fund, or deliver quality training to meet employer needs.
Seek and apply for other funds that will leverage private and public workforce investments.

What is the governance structure in California?
California's Structure

What is the governance structure in Ventura County?
Ventura County's Structure

What is the role of the One-Stops?

The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 specifies three funding streams to the states and local areas: adults, dislocated workers and youth.

Most services for adults and dislocated workers are provided through the One-Stop system, and most participants use their individual training accounts to determine which training programs and training providers fit their needs.
The Act authorizes “core” services (which are available to all adults with no eligibility requirements) and “intensive” services for unemployed individuals who are not able to find jobs though core services alone. In some cases, the intensive services also are available to employed workers who need more help to find or keep a job.

While the services for adults and dislocated workers may be the same, there is a separate funding stream for dislocated workers.

Who operates the One-Stop system?

In Ventura County the One-Stop system is operated by a consortium that includes three partners: Business and Employment Services Department of the County’s Human Services Agency; the State’s Employment Development Department; and the Ventura County Superintendent of Schools Office.

This consortium oversees, through individual Memoranda of Understanding, a number of One-Stop partners: Candelaria American Indian Council; Ventura County Community College District; Commission on Human Concerns; County of Ventura Agency on Aging; Center for Employment Training; Ventura County Adult Education Programs (Conejo, Ojai, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Ventura); City of Oxnard Housing Authority; National Association of the Hispanic Elderly; Ser-Jobs for Progress, Inc.; Experience Works, Inc.; Inland Empire Job Corps; Department of Rehabilitation.

What services are provided for adults?

Core services include job search and placement assistance (including career counseling); labor market information (which identifies job vacancies; skills needed for in-demand jobs); and local, regional and national employment trends), initial assessment of skills and needs, information about available services and some follow-up services to help participants keep their jobs once they are placed.

Intensive services include more comprehensive assessments, development of individual employment plans, group and individual counseling, case management and short-term pre-vocational services.

In cases where qualified participants receive intensive services and still are unable to find jobs, they may receive training services that are directly linked to job opportunities in their local area. These services may include occupational skills training, on-the-job training, entrepreneurial training, skill upgrading, job readiness training and adult education and literacy activities in conjunction with other training.

If adult funds are limited in an area, recipients of public assistance and low-income clients are given priority for services. The Act also authorizes the provision of supportive services (e.g., transportation) to assist participants receiving the other services and the provision of temporary income support to enable participants to remain in training.

What services are provided for youth?

Eligible youth are low-income, ages 14 through 21 (although up to five percent who are not low-income may receive services if they face certain barriers to school completion or employment). Young participants must also face one or more of the following challenges to successful workforce entry:

School dropout
Basic literacy skills deficiency
Homeless, runaway, or foster child
Pregnant or a parent
An offender
Needs help completing an educational program or securing and holding a job

Youth are prepared for postsecondary educational opportunities or employment. Programs link academic and occupational learning. Service providers have strong ties to employers. Programs also include tutoring, study skills training and instruction leading to completion of secondary school (including dropout prevention); alternative school services; mentoring by appropriate adults; paid and unpaid work experience (such as internships and job shadowing; occupational skills training; leadership development; and appropriate supportive services. Youth participants also receive guidance and counseling and follow-up services for at least one year, as appropriate.

FINANCE

The information below provides background on federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) funding for workforce and business development in Ventura County.

Introduction to WIA Funding
Historical Perspective on WIA Funding
Federal Allotments of WIA Funds to State

INTRODUCTION TO WIA FUNDING

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 supports Ventura County workforce and business development by:

Allocating federal funds that enable states and local workforce areas to offer a comprehensive range of workforce development activities to qualifying adults, dislocated workers, and youth
Promoting an increase in employment, job retention, earnings, and occupational skills development for program participants, resulting in an overall improvement of workforce quality, reduced welfare dependence, and increased national productivity and competitiveness
Providing approximately $478 million in funding to the State of California (2007-2008), which then allocates funds to be administered by California's 50 local workforce areas
Administering funding for programs and services in Ventura County through the Workforce investment Board of Ventura County, as authorized by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors

FEDERAL ALLOTMENTS OF WIA FUNDS TO STATES

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) prescribes the formula the federal government must use in allotting adult, youth and dislocated worker funds to States. Using the formula for each funding stream, the federal government determines the share of national funding that each State will receive in a given year. Two primary factors determine a State allocation:

The amount of funding available nationally and
The State’s economic and demographic statistics as a relative share of those statistics for all states

In addition, WIA establishes minimum and maximum amounts by which a State’s share of total adult and youth funding may change from the prior year. This provision protects States from losing too much of their relative share from year to year. There is no similar provision for the dislocated worker funding stream.

Following is a description of the allotment formula for each funding stream:

Adult Program Formula

1/3: State’s relative share of unemployed individuals in areas of substantial unemployment areas with greater than 6.5 percent unemployment)
1/3: State’s relative share of excess unemployed (in excess of 4.5 percent unemployment)
1/3: State’s relative share of economically disadvantaged adults
Youth Program Formula
1/3: State’s relative share of unemployed individuals in areas of substantial unemployment (areas with greater than 6.5 percent unemployment)
1/3: State’s relative share of excess unemployed (in excess of 4.5 percent unemployment)
1/3: State’s relative share of economically disadvantaged youth

Dislocated Worker Formula

1/3: State’s relative share of total unemployed
1/3: State’s relative share of excess unemployed (in excess of 4.5 percent unemployment)
1/3: State’s relative share of long-term unemployed (individuals who have been unemployed for 15 weeks or more)

Source: California Employment Development Department (May 2007)

LEGISLATION

WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT OF 1998

Workforce Investment Act of 1998 provides the framework for a unique national workforce preparation and employment system designed to meet both the needs of the nation’s businesses and the needs of job seekers and those who want to further their careers. Title I of the legislation is based on the following elements:

Training and employment programs must be designed and managed at the local level where the needs of businesses and individuals are best understood.
Customers must be able to conveniently access the employment, education, training, and information services they need at a single location in their neighborhoods.
Customers should have choices in deciding the training program that best fits their needs and the organizations that will provide that service. They should have control over their own career development.
Customers have a right to information about how well training providers succeed in preparing people for jobs. Training providers will provide information on their success rates.
Businesses will provide information, leadership, and play an active role in ensuring that the system prepares people for current and future jobs.

The Act builds on the most successful elements of previous Federal legislation. Just as important, its key components are based on local and State input and extensive research and evaluation studies of successful training and employment innovations over the past decade. The law makes changes to funding streams, target populations, system of delivery, accountability, long-term planning, labor market information system, and governance structure.

CALIFORNIA SENATE BILL 293

California Senate Bill 293, signed by the Governor on September 29, 2006, replaces the Family Economic Security Act in the California Unemployment Insurance Code with provisions that generally implement the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 in California. SB 293 took effect on January 1, 2007. Even though a majority of the provisions in SB 293 are taken from the federal WIA, there are new, unique California provisions which will require substantive changes in the workforce system.

There are also re-articulations of some federal requirements that will require interpretation and guidance to Local Workforce Investment Boards, as well as minor adjustments in the way that the state and Local Workforce Investment Boards conduct business. The first is the requirement that the California Workforce Investment Board create a strategic workforce plan for the State. The State Plan is described in SB 293 as a strategic plan for the entire workforce system, and is intended to serve as a framework for the Strategic Two-Year Plan for the WIA. It will also serve as a framework for the development of workforce policy and fiscal investment, and for the operation of California’s labor exchange, workforce education, and training programs.

THE BROWN ACT: OPEN MEETINGS FOR LOCAL LEGISLATIVE BODIES

Throughout California’s history, local legislative bodies have played a vital role in bringing participatory democracy to the citizens of the state. Local legislative bodies - such as boards, councils and commissions - are created in recognition of the fact that several minds are better than one, and that through debate and discussion, the best ideas will emerge. The law which guarantees the public’s right to attend and participate in meetings of local legislative bodies is the Ralph M. Brown Act. While local legislative bodies generally are required to hold meetings in open forum, the Brown Act recognizes the need, under limited circumstances, for these bodies to meet in private in order to carry out their responsibilities in the best interests of the public. For example, the law contains a personnel exception based on notions of personal privacy, and a pending litigation exception based upon the precept that government agencies should not be disadvantaged in planning litigation strategy. Although the principle of open meetings initially seems simple, application of the law to real life situations can prove to be quite complex. The purpose of this pamphlet is to provide a brief description of the Brown Act, along with a discussion of court decisions and opinions of this office that add to our understanding by applying it in specific factual contexts.

Bill Lockyer
Attorney General
State of California

AB 1234: ETHICS TRAINING FOR LOCAL OFFICIALS

On October 7, 2005, the Governor signed Assembly Bill No. 1234. This law requires (among other things) that all local agencies that provide compensation, salary, or stipend to, or reimburses the expenses of, members of a legislative body must provide ethics training to local agency officials by January 1, 2007, and every two years thereafter.

There are numerous training options, including training conducted by commercial organizations, nonprofits, or even the agency's own legal counsel. In addition, interested parties have collaborated to create an on-line training program that will allow local officials to satisfy the requirements of AB 1234 on a cost-free basis. The training may be accessed at the link below.
http://www.fppc.ca.gov

Note: This is a self-serve training program. It is the trainee's obligation to print a certificate and provide it to your agency. No copies can be retained by the program or the website.

Questions, concerns or problems? E-mail: ab1234@fppc.ca.gov.

ECONOMIC DISCLOSURE LAW AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The Political Reform Act of 1974 (Gov. Code sections 81000-91014) requires many state and local public officials and employees to disclose certain personal financial holdings. the Act, which frequently has been amended, began as a ballot initiative approved by over 70 percent of California voters in the wake of the Watergate political scandals. One of the Act's stated purposes declares:

Assets and income of public official which may be materially affected by their official actions should be disclosed and in appropriate circumstances the officials should be disqualified from acting in order that conflicts of interest may be avoided. (Cal. Gov’t. Code section 81002(c).)
In its findings and declarations, the Act adds:

Public officials, whether elected or appointed, should perform their duties in an impartial manner, free from bias caused by their own financial interests or the financial interests of persons who have supported them. (Cal. Gov’t. Code section 81001(b).)

STATEMENT OF ECONOMIC INTERESTS (FORM 700)
For more Information go to www.fppc.ca.gov