The Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933 established a nationwide system of public employment offices, now known as the Employment Service. The Employment Service seeks to improve the functioning of the nation's labor markets by bringing together individuals seeking employment with employers seeking workers.
AN ACT
To provide for the establishment of a national employment system and for cooperation with the States in the promotion of such system, and for other purposes.
SEC. 1. In order to promote the establishment and maintenance of a national system of public employment service offices, the United States Employment Service shall be established and maintained within the Department of Labor.
SEC. 2. [Definitions] For purposes of this Act--
(1) the terms "chief elected official", "institution of higher education", "one-stop center", "one-stop partner", "training services", "workforce development activity", and "workplace learning advisor", have the meaning given the terms in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act;
(2) the term "local workforce "development board" means a local workforce "development board established under section 107 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act;
(3) the term "one-stop delivery system" means a one-stop delivery system described in section 121(e) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act;
(4) the term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Labor;
(5) the term "State" means any of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands; and
(6) the term "employment service office" means a local office of a State agency; and
(7) except in section 15, the term "State agency", used without further description, means an agency designated or authorized under section 4.
SEC. 3.
(a) The Secretary shall assist in coordinating the State public employment service offices throughout the country and in increasing their usefulness by developing and prescribing minimum standards of efficiency, assisting them in meeting problems peculiar to their localities, promoting uniformity in their administrative and statistical procedure, furnishing and publishing information as to opportunities for employment and other information of value in the operation of the system and maintaining a system of clearing labor between the States.
(b) It shall be the duty of the Secretary to assure that unemployment insurance and employment service offices in each State, as appropriate, upon request of a public agency administering or supervising the administration of a State plan approved under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act, of a public agency charged with any duty or responsibility under any program or activity authorized or required under part D of title IV of such Act, or of a State agency charged with the administration of the food stamp program in a State under the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2001 et seq.), shall (and, notwithstanding any other provision of law, is authorized to) furnish to such agency making the request, from any data contained in the files of any such office, information with respect to any individual specified in the request as to
(1) whether such individual is receiving, has received, or has made application for, unemployment compensation, and the amount of any such compensation being received by such individual,
(2) the current (or most recent) home address of such individual, and
(3) whether such individual has refused an offer of employment and, if so, a description of the employment so offered and the terms, conditions, and rate of pay therefor.
(c) The Secretary shall--
(1) assist in the coordination and development of a nationwide system of public labor exchange services, provided as part of the one-stop customer service systems of the States;
(2) assist in the development of continuous improvement models for such nationwide system that ensure private sector satisfaction with the system and meet the demands of jobseekers relating to the system and identify and disseminate information on best practices for such system; and
(3) ensure, for individuals otherwise eligible to receive unemployment compensation, the provision of reemployment services and other activities in which the individuals are required to participate to receive the compensation.
(4) in coordination with the State agencies and the staff of such agencies, assist in the planning and implementation of activities to enhance the professional development and career advancement opportunities of such staff, in order to strengthen the provision of a broad range of career guidance services, the identification of job openings (including providing intensive outreach to small and medium-sized employers and enhanced employer services), the provision of technical assistance and training to other providers of workforce development activities (including workplace learning advisors) relating to counseling and employment-related services, and the development of new strategies for coordinating counseling and technology.
(d) In order to improve service delivery, avoid duplication of services, and enhance coordination of services, including location of staff to ensure access to services under section 7(a) statewide in underserved areas, employment service offices in each State shall be colocated with one-stop centers.
(e) The Secretary, in consultation with States, is authorized to assist the States in the development of national electronic tools that may be used to improve access to workforce information for individuals through-
(1) the one-stop delivery systems established as described in section 121(e) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; and
(2) such other delivery systems as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
SEC. 4. In order to obtain the benefits of appropriations apportioned under section 5, a State shall, [pursuant to State statute, accept the provisions of this Act and, in accordance with such State statute, the Governor shall designate or authorize the creation of a State agency vested with all powers necessary to cooperate with the Secretary under this Act.
SEC. 5.
(a) There is authorized to be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such amounts from time to time as the Congress may deem necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
(b) The Secretary shall from time to time certify to the Secretary of the Treasury for payment to each State which--
(1) except in the case of Guam, has an unemployment compensation law approved by the Secretary under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act and is found to be in compliance with section 303 of the Social Security Act, as amended
(2) is found to have coordinated the public employment services with the provision of unemployment insurance claimant services, and
(3) is found to be in compliance with this Act, such amounts as the Secretary determines to be necessary for allotment in accordance with section 6.
(c)
(1) Beginning in fiscal year 1985 and thereafter appropriations for any fiscal year for programs and activities assisted or conducted under this Act shall available for obligation only on the basis of a program year. The program year shall begin on July 1 of the fiscal year for which the appropriation is made.
(2) Funds obligated for any program year may be expended by the State during that program year and the two succeeding program years and no amount shall be deobligated on account of a rate of expenditure which is consistent with the program plan.
SEC. 6. [Allotment]
(a) From the funds appropriated and (except for Guam) certified under section 5 and made available for allotments under this section for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall first allot to Guam and the Virgin Islands an amount which, in relation to the total amount available for the fiscal year, is equal to the allotment percentage which each received of amounts available under this Act in fiscal year 1983.
(b)
(1) Subject to paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of this subsection, after making the allotments required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall allot the remainder of the funds described in subsection (a) for each fiscal year among the States as follows:
(A) two-thirds of such remainder shall be allotted on the bases of the relative number of individuals in the civilian labor force in each State as compared to the total number of such individuals in all States; and
(B) one-third of such remainder shall be allotted on the basis of the relative number of unemployed individuals in each State as compared to the total number of such individuals in all States. For purposes of this paragraph, the number of individuals in the civilian labor force and the number of unemployed individuals shall be based on data for the most recent calendar year available, as determined by the Secretary. For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘State‘ does not include Guam or the Virgin Islands.
(2) No State's allotment under this section for any fiscal year shall be less that 90 percent of its allotment percentage for the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the determination is made. For the purpose of this section, the Secretary shall determine the allotment percentage for each State (including Guam and the Virgin Islands) for fiscal year 1984 which is the percentage that the State received under this Act for fiscal year 1983 of the total mounts available for payments to all States for such fiscal year. For each succeeding fiscal year, the allotment percentage for each such State shall be the percentage that the State received under this Act for the preceding fiscal year of the total amounts available for allotments for all States for such fiscal year.
(3) For each fiscal year, no State shall receive a total allotment under paragraphs (1) and (2) which is less than 0.28 percent of the total amount available for allotments for all States.
(4) The Secretary shall reserve such amount, not to exceed 3 percent of the sums available for allotments under this section for each fiscal year, as shall be necessary to assure that each State will have a total allotment under this section sufficient to provide staff and other resources necessary to carry out employment service activities and related administrative and support functions on a statewide basis.
(5) The Secretary shall, not later than March 15 of fiscal year 1983 and each succeeding fiscal year, provide preliminary planning estimates and shall, not later than May 15 of each such fiscal year, provide final planning estimates, showing each State's projected allocation for the following year.
SEC. 7.
(a) Ninety percent of the sums allotted to each State pursuant to section 6 may be used--
(1) for job search and placement services to job seekers, including unemployment insurance claimants, including counseling, testing, occupational and labor market information, assessment, and referral to employers;
(2) for appropriate recruitment services and special technical services for employers; and
(3) for any of the following activities:
(A) evaluation of programs;
(B) developing linkages between services funded under this Act and related Federal or State legislation, including the provision of labor exchange services at educational sites;
(C) providing services for workers who have received notice of permanent layoff or impending layoff, or workers in occupations which are experiencing limited demand due to technological change, impact of imports, or plant closures;
(D) developing and providing labor market and occupational information;
(E) developing a management information system and compiling and analyzing reports therefrom;
(F) administering the work test for the State unemployment compensation system, including making eligibility assessments, and providing job finding and placement services for unemployment insurance claimants; and
(G) providing unemployment insurance claimants with referrals to, and application assistance for, training and education resources and programs, including Federal Pell Grants under subpart 1 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a et seq.), educational assistance under chapter 30 of title 38, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Montgomery GI Bill), and chapter 33 of that title (Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance), student assistance under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.), State student higher education assistance, and training and education programs provided under titles I and II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 720 et seq.).
(b) Ten percent of the sums allotted to each State pursuant to section 6 shall be reserved for use in accordance with this subsection by the Governor of each such State to provide--
(1) performance incentives for public employment service offices and programs, consistent with the performance accountability measures that are based on indicators described in section 116(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, taking into account direct or indirect placements (including those resulting from self-directed job search or group job search activities assisted by such offices or programs), wages on entered employment, retention, and other appropriate factors;
(2) services for groups with special needs, carried out pursuant to joint agreements between the employment service offices and the appropriate local workforce investment board and chief elected official or officials or other public agencies or private nonprofit organizations; and
(3) the extra costs of exemplary models for delivering services of the types described in subsection (a), and models for enhancing professional development and career advancement opportunities of State agency staff, as described in section 3(c)(4).
(c)
(1) Funds made available to States under this section may be used to provide additional funds under an applicable program if--
(A) such program otherwise meets the requirements of this Act and the requirements of the applicable program;
(B) such program serves the same individuals that are served under this Act;
(D) such funds would be used to supplement, and not supplant, funds provided from non-Federal sources.
(2) For purposes of this subsection, the term "applicable program" means any workforce investment activity carried out under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
(d) In addition to the services and activities otherwise authorized by this Act, the Secretary or any State agency designated under this Act may perform such other services and activities as shall be specified in contracts for payment or reimbursement of the costs thereof made with the Secretary or with any Federal, State, or local public agency, or administrative entity under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, or private nonprofit organization.
(e) All job search, placement, recruitment, workforce and labor market information, and other labor exchange services authorized under subsection (a) shall be provided, consistent with the other requirements of this Act, as part of the one-stop delivery system established by the State.
SEC. 8. Any State desiring to receive assistance under section 6 shall prepare and submit to, and have approved by, the Secretary and the Secretary of Education, a State plan in accordance with section 102 or 103 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
SEC. 9.
(a)
(1) Each State shall establish such fiscal control and fund accounting procedures as may be necessary to assure that proper disbursal of, and accounting for, Federal funds paid to the recipient under this Act. The Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in consultation with the Comptroller General of the United States, shall establish guidance for the proper performance of audits. Such guidance shall include a review of fiscal controls and fund accounting procedures established by States under this section.
(2) At least once every two years, the State shall prepare or have prepared an independent financial and compliance audit or funds received under this Act.
(3) Each audit shall be conducted in accordance with applicable auditing standards set forth in the financial and compliance element of the Standards for Audit of Governmental Organizations, Programs, Activities, and Functions issued by the Comptroller General of the United States.
(b)
(1) The Comptroller General of the United States shall evaluate the expenditures by States of funds received under this Act in order to assure that expenditures are consistent with the provisions of this Act and to determine the effectiveness of the State in accomplishing the purposes of this Act. The Comptroller General shall conduct evaluations whenever determined necessary and shall periodically report to the Congress on the findings of such evaluations.
(2) Nothing in this Act shall be deemed to relieve the Inspector General of the Department of Labor of his responsibilities under the Inspector General Act.
(3) For the purpose of evaluating and reviewing programs established or provided for by this Act, the Comptroller General shall have access to and the right to copy any books, accounts, records, correspondence, or other documents pertinent to such programs that are in the possession, custody, or control of the State.
(c) Each State shall repay to the United States amounts found not to have been expended in accordance with this Act. No such finding shall be made except after notice and opportunity for a fair hearing. The Secretary may offset such amounts against any other amount to which the recipient is or may be entitled under this Act.
SEC. 10.
(a) Each State shall keep records that are sufficient to permit the preparation of reports required by this Act and to permit the tracing of funds to a level of expenditure adequate to insure that the funds have not been spent unlawfully.
(b)
(1) The Secretary may investigate such facts, conditions, practices, or other matters which the Secretary finds necessary to determine whether any State receiving funds under this Act or any official of such State has violated any provision of this Act.
(2)
(A) In order to evaluate compliance with the provisions of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct investigations of the use of funds received by States under this Act.
(B) In order to insure compliance with the provision of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States may conduct investigations of the use of funds received under this Act by any State.
(3) In conducting any investigation under this Act, the Secretary or the Comptroller General of the United States may not request new compilation of information not readily available to such State.
(c) Each State receiving funds under this Act shall--
(1) make such reports concerning its operations and expenditures in such form and containing such information as shall be prescribed by the Secretary, and
(2) establish and maintain a management information system in accordance with guidelines established by the Secretary designed to facilitate the compilation and analysis of programmatic and financial data necessary for reporting, monitoring, and evaluating purposes.
SEC. 11. In carrying out the provisions of this Act the Secretary is authorized and directed to provide for the giving of notice of strikes or lockouts to applicants before they are referred to employment.
SEC. 12. The Secretary is hereby authorized to make such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 13.
(a) The activities carried out pursuant to section 7 shall be subject to the performance accountability measures that are based on indicators described in section 116(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
(b)
(1) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit the referral of any applicant to private agencies as long as the applicant is not charged a fee.
(2) No funds paid under this Act may be used by any State for advertising in newspapers for high paying jobs unless such State submits an annual report to the Secretary beginning in December 1984 concerning such advertising and the justifications therefore, and the justification may include that such jobs are part of a State industrial development effort.
SEC. 14. There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to enable the Secretary to provide funds through reimbursable agreements with the States to operate statistical programs which are essential for development of estimates of the gross national product and other national statistical series, including those related to employment and unemployment.
SEC. 15. WORKFORCE AND LABOR MARKET INFORMATION SYSTEM.
(a) SYSTEM CONTENT.--
(1) IN GENERAL.-- The Secretary, in accordance with the provisions of this section, shall oversee the development, maintenance, and continuous improvement of a nationwide workforce and labor market information system that includes --
(A) statistical data from cooperative statistical survey and projection programs and data from administrative reporting systems that, taken together, enumerate, estimate, and project employment opportunities and conditions at national, State, and local levels in a timely manner, including statistics on--
(i) employment and unemployment status of national, State, and local populations, including self-employed, part-time, and seasonal workers;
(ii) industrial distribution of occupations, as well as current and projected employment opportunities, wages, benefits (where data is available), and skill trends by occupation and industry, with particular attention paid to State and local conditions;
(iii) the incidence of, industrial and geographical location of, and number of workers displaced by, permanent layoffs and plant closings; and
(iv) employment and earnings information maintained in a longitudinal manner to be used for research and program evaluation;
(B) information on State and local employment opportunities, and other appropriate statistical data related to labor market dynamics, which --
(i) shall be current and comprehensive;
(ii) shall meet the needs identified through the consultations described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (e)(2); and
(iii) shall meet the needs for the information identified in section 134(d);
(C) technical standards (which the Secretary shall publish annually) for data and information described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) that, at a minimum, meet the criteria of chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code;
(D) procedures to ensure compatibility and additivity of the data and information described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) from national, State, and local levels;
(E) procedures to support standardization and aggregation of data from administrative reporting systems described in subparagraph (A) of employment-related programs;
(F) analysis of data and information described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) for uses such as --
(i) national, State, and local policymaking;
(ii) implementation of Federal policies (including allocation formulas);
(iii) program planning and evaluation; and
(iv) researching labor market dynamics;
(G) wide dissemination of such data, information, and analysis in a user-friendly manner and voluntary technical standards for dissemination mechanisms; and
(H) programs of --
(i) training for effective data dissemination;
(ii) research and demonstration; and
(iii)(iii) programs and technical assistance.
(2) INFORMATION TO BE CONFIDENTIAL. --
(A) IN GENERAL.-- No officer or employee of the Federal Government or agent of the Federal Government may --
(i) use any submission that is furnished for exclusively statistical purposes under the provisions of this section for any purpose other than the statistical purposes of this section for which the submission is furnished;
(ii) make any publication or media transmittal of the data contained in the submission described in clause (i) that permits information concerning individual subjects to be reasonably inferred by either direct or indirect means; or
(iii) permit anyone other than a sworn officer, employee, or agent of any Federal department or agency, or a contractor (including an employee of a contractor) of such department or agency, to examine an individual submission described in clause (i);without the consent of the individual, agency, or other person who is the subject of the submission or provides that submission.
(B) IMMUNITY FROM LEGAL PROCESS.-- Any submission (including any data derived from the submission) that is collected and retained by a Federal department or agency, or an officer, employee, agent, or contractor of such a department or agency, for exclusively statistical purposes under this section shall be immune from the legal process and shall not, without the consent of the individual, agency, or other person who is the subject of the submission or provides that submission, be admitted as evidence or used for any purpose in any action, suit, or other judicial or administrative proceeding.
(C) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.-- Nothing in this section shall be construed to provide immunity from the legal process for such submission (including any data derived from the submission) if the submission is in the possession of any person, agency, or entity other than the Federal Government or an officer, employee, agent, or contractor of the Federal Government, or if the submission is independently collected, retained, or produced for purposes other than the purposes of this Act.
(b) SYSTEM RESPONSIBILITIES.--
(1) IN GENERAL.--
(A) STRUCTURE.- The workforce and labor market information system described in subsection (a) shall be evaluated and improved by the Secretary, in consultation with the Workforce Information Advisory Council established in subsection (d).
(B) GRANTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.-
(i) IN GENERAL.-The Secretary shall carry out the provisions of this section in a timely manner, through grants to or agreements with States.
(ii) DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.-Using amounts appropriated under subsection (g), the Secretary shall provide funds through those grants and agreements. In distributing the funds (relating to workforce and labor market information funding) for fiscal years 2015 through 2020, the Secretary shall continue to distribute the funds to States in the manner in which the Secretary distributed funds to the States under this section for fiscal years 2004 through 2008
(2) DUTIES.-The Secretary, with respect to data collection, analysis, and dissemination of workforce and labor market information for the system, shall carry out the following duties:
(A) Assign responsibilities within the Department of Labor for elements of the workforce and labor market information system described in subsection (a) to ensure that the statistical and administrative data collected is consistent with appropriate Bureau of Labor Statistics standards and definitions, and that the information is accessible and understandable to users of such data.
(B) Actively seek the cooperation of heads of other Federal agencies to establish and maintain mechanisms for ensuring complementarity and nonduplication in the development and operation of statistical and administrative data collection activities.
(C) Solicit, receive, and evaluate the recommendations from the Workforce Information Advisory Council established in subsection (d) concerning the evaluation and improvement of the workforce and labor market information system described in subsection (a) and respond in writing to the Council regarding the recommendations.
(D) Eliminate gaps and duplication in statistical undertakings.
(E) Through the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Employment and Training Administration, and in collaboration with States, develop and maintain the elements of the workforce and labor market information system described in subsection (a), including the development of consistent procedures and definitions for use by the States in collecting the data and information described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (a)(1).
(F) Establish procedures for the system to ensure that-
(i) such data and information are timely; and
(ii) paperwork and reporting for the system are reduced to a minimum.
(c) TWO-YEAR PLAN.-The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner of Labor Statistics and the Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, and in consultation with the Workforce Information Advisory Council described in subsection (d) and heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, shall prepare a 2-year plan for the workforce and labor market information system. The plan shall be developed and implemented in a manner that takes into account the activities described in State plans submitted by States under section 102 or 103 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and shall be submitted to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.
The plan shall include-
(1) a description of how the Secretary will work with the States to manage the nationwide workforce and labor market information system described in subsection (a) and the statewide workforce and labor market information systems that comprise the nationwide system;
(2) a description of the steps to be taken in the following 2 years to carry out the duties described in subsection (b)(2);
(3) an evaluation of the performance of the system, with particular attention to the improvements needed at the State and local levels;
(4) a description of the involvement of States in the development of the plan, through consultation by the Secretary with the Workforce Information Advisory Council in accordance with subsection (d); and
(5) a description of the written recommendations received from the Workforce Information Advisory Council established under subsection (d), and the extent to which those recommendations were incorporated into the plan.
(d) WORKFORCE INFORMATION ADVISORY COUNCIL.-
(1) IN GENERAL.-The Secretary, through the Commissioner of Labor Statistics and the Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, shall formally consult at least twice annually with the Workforce Information Advisory Council established in accordance with paragraph (2). Such consultations shall address the evaluation and improvement of the nationwide workforce and labor market information system described in subsection (a) and the statewide workforce and labor market information systems that comprise the nationwide system and how the Department of Labor and the States will cooperate in the management of such systems. The Council shall provide written recommendations to the Secretary concerning the evaluation and improvement of the nationwide system, including any recommendations regarding the 2-year plan described in subsection (c).
(2) ESTABLISHMENT OF COUNCIL.-
(A) ESTABLISHMENT.-The Secretary shall establish an advisory council that shall be known as the Workforce Information Advisory Council (referred to in this section as the ‘Council‘) to participate in the consultations and provide the recommendations described in paragraph (1).
(B) MEMBERSHIP.-The Secretary shall appoint the members of the Council, which shall consist of-
(i) 4 members who are representatives of lead State agencies with responsibility for workforce investment activities, or State agencies described in section 4, who have been nominated by such agencies or by a national organization that represents such agencies;
(ii) 4 members who are representatives of the State workforce and labor market information directors affiliated with the State agencies that perform the duties described in subsection (e)(2), who have been nominated by the directors;
(iii) 1 member who is a representative of providers of training services under section 122 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act;
(iv) 1 member who is a representative of economic development entities;
(v) 1 member who is a representative of businesses, who has been nominated by national business organizations or trade associations;
(vi) 1 member who is a representative of labor organizations, who has been nominated by a national labor federation;
(vii) 1 member who is a representative of local workforce development boards, who has been nominated by a national organization representing such boards; and
(viii) 1 member who is a representative of research entities that utilize workforce and labor market information.
(C) GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY.-The Secretary shall ensure that the membership of the Council is geographically diverse and that no 2 of the members appointed under clauses (i), (ii), and (vii) represent the same State.
(D) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES.-
(i) IN GENERAL.-Each member of the Council shall be appointed for a term of 3 years, except that the initial terms for members may be 1, 2, or 3 years in order to establish a rotation in which one-third of the members are selected each year. Any such member may be appointed for not more than 2 consecutive terms.
(ii) VACANCIES.-Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which the member‘s predecessor was appointedshall be appointed only for the remainder of that term. A member may serve after the expiration of that member‘s term until a successor has taken office.
(E) TRAVEL EXPENSES.-The members of the Council shall not receive compensation for the performance of services for the Council, but shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Council. Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary may accept the voluntary and uncompensated services of members of the Council.
(F) PERMANENT COUNCIL.-Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Council.
(e) STATE RESPONSIBILITIES.--
(1) DESIGNATION OF STATE AGENCY.-- In order to receive Federal financial assistance under this section, the Governor of a State shall --
(A) designate a single State agency to be responsible for the management of the portions of the workforce and labor market information system described in subsection (a) that comprise a statewide workforce and labor market information system and for the State's participation in the development of the plan described in subsection (c); and
(B) establish a process for the oversight of such system.
(2) DUTIES.-- In order to receive Federal financial assistance under this section, the State agency shall --
(A) consult with State and local employers, participants, and local workforce investment boards about the labor market relevance of the data to be collected and disseminated through the statewide workforce and labor market information system;
(B) consult with State educational agencies and local educational agencies concerning the provision of workforce and labor market information in order to meet the needs of secondary school and postsecondary school students who seek such information;
(C) collect and disseminate for the system, on behalf of the State and localities in the State, the information and data described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (a)(1);
(D) maintain and continuously improve the statewide workforce and labor market information system in accordance with this section;
(E) perform contract and grant responsibilities for data collection, analysis, and dissemination for such system;
(F) conduct such other data collection, analysis, and dissemination activities as will ensure an effective statewide workforce and labor market information system;
(G) actively seek the participation of other State and local agencies in data collection, analysis, and dissemination activities in order to ensure complementarity, compatibility, and usefulness of data; and
(H) utilize the quarterly records described in section 116(i)(2) of the Workforce innovation and Opportunity Act to assist the State and other States in measuring State progress on State performance measures.
(3) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.-- Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting the ability of a State agency to conduct additional data collection, analysis, and dissemination activities with State funds or with Federal funds from sources other than this section.
(f) NONDUPLICATION REQUIREMENT.-- None of the functions and activities carried out pursuant to this section shall duplicate the functions and activities carried out under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act (20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.).
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.-- There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $60,153,000 for fiscal year 2015, $64,799,000 for fiscal year 2016, $66,144,000 for fiscal year 2017, $67,611,000 for fiscal year 2018, $69,200,000 for fiscal year 2019, and $70,667,000 for fiscal year 2020.
(h) DEFINITION.-- In this section, the term "local area" means the smallest geographical area for which data can be produced with statistical reliability.
SEC. 16. This Act may be cited as the "Wagner-Peyser Act".
1 The term "chief elected official" means- (A) the chief elected executive officer of a unit of general local government in a local area; and (B) in a case in which a local area includes more than 1 unit of general local government, the individuals designated under the agreement described in section 107(c)(1)(B).
2 The term "institution of higher education" has the meaning given the term in section 101, and subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 102(a)(1), of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001, 1002(a)(1)).
3 The term "one-stop center" means a site described in section 121(e)(2).
4 The term "one-stop partner" means- (A) an entity described in section 121(b)(1); and (B) an entity described in section 121(b)(2) that is participating, with the approval of the local board and chief elected official, in the operation of a one-stop delivery system.
5 The term "training services" means services described in section 134(c)(3).
6 The term "workforce development activity" means an activity carried out through a workforce development program. [The term "workforce development program" means a program made available through a workforce development system.] [The term "workforce development system" means a system that makes available the core programs, the other one-stop partner programs, and any other programs providing employment and training services as identified by a State board or local board.]
7 The term "workplace learning advisor" means an individual employed by an organization who has the knowledge and skills necessary to advise other employees of that organization about the education, skill development, job training, career counseling services, and credentials, including services provided through the workforce development system, required to progress toward career goals of such employees in order to meet employer requirements related to job openings and career advancements that support economic self-sufficiency.
Monitor Advocate System
Job seekers who are migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFW) receive qualitatively equivalent and quantitatively proportionate employment and training services as non-MSFWs. The Wagner-Peyser Act funds the Monitor Advocate System, whose primary responsibility is to ensure equity of service to MSFWs. Learn more about the Monitor Advocate System .