§ 11-13-106 - Work experience projects. - Arkansas Statutes

11-13-106. Work experience projects.

(a) Work experience projects shall be undertaken in urban, suburban, and rural areas and shall be selected on the basis of the environmental and natural resource benefits each offers, the opportunities for public use each offers, the educational opportunities and on-the-job training value of each, the future public value of the completed project, the estimated additional revenue to be generated for the state or its subdivisions from the completion of each project, and the savings in other public expenditures that are provided by virtue of the project.

(b) (1) All work experience projects developed or approved and funded by the Department of Labor shall be limited to public lands and facilities except where a property involving other lands will provide documented public value or benefit.

(2) The reimbursement will be retained by the department for use in the corps program.

(3) In the case of emergencies and natural disasters, projects may take place on land or at facilities not owned by the department, other state agencies, or local agencies without regard to public benefit and private reimbursement.

(c) (1) (A) Whenever available and appropriate, adult education, job training, and placement services provided through other federal, state, and local funded programs such as the Job Training Partnership Act program, the Community Services Block Grant program, and the Arkansas Employment Security Department shall be coordinated with projects developed under this chapter to assist eligible participants.

(B) Coordinated services may include, but are not limited to, job placement assistance, adult literacy training, job search skills, job application skills, and ability assessments.

(C) Whenever possible, eligible participants without a high school diploma shall receive coordinated services that provide an opportunity to obtain a high school equivalency diploma.

(2) Job training may be provided directly by the agency administering the work experience project or by other agencies as provided in this chapter.

(d) (1) Work sites of work experience projects shall conform to state and federal health and safety standards.

(2) Work experience shall not include the removal or cleaning up of any toxic waste or other hazardous substance.

(e) (1) Corpsmember participation in emergency projects and exchange projects shall be voluntary.

(2) Corpsmembers shall receive adequate training prior to participating in an emergency project.