Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Reauthorization Updates and WIA Subsidized Funding For Work-Based Training Programs.

The House and Senate Committees responsible for its reauthorization have been meeting in February. The full House Education and Labor Committee invited Secretary of Labor Solis to update the committee on the activities at the Labor Department. Time and time again, the issue of WIA reauthorization was brought up by the committee members to the Secretary. And again and again, she told the committee that her department was ready to work in a bi-partisan approach (which may be difficult in this political environment). The Republicans in the House have introduced their version of WIA reauthorization (HR 4271).

On the Senate side, the Senate HELP Committee is planning on meeting this month (depending on snow) to discuss how the public workforce system can help with economic recovery. It should be an interesting hearing, and I can only assume that WIA reauthorization will come up in discussion. So, it appears that WIA has a very good chance of getting done this year. ASTD is meeting with key staff on both the House and Senate sides, offering our suggestions and help with this very important legislation. Keep an eye on my blog, and I will update you as we move forward with any new information on WIA.

The Department of Labor issued Training and Employment Notice (TEN) on January 29th, available on the DOLETA web site (www.doleta.gov) that put forward the guidelines in using WIA funds to subsidize new employees to an organization who are engaged in workplace training programs. State and local workforce boards will need to read through this notice and develop policies that work for their state, and local boards, taking into consideration current unemployment insurance policies and other factors.

Looking down the road, it appears that state and local workforce board will be expanding their responsibilities and policy authority over WIA formula funds. By subsidizing wages, WIA funds will be in more demand and the issue of local workforce boards running out of WIA funding sooner is a definite possibility. We will have to wait and see how many boards will use their resources in this manner. Stay tuned as we watch how this rolls out during spring and summer.