§ 15-4-2206 - Powers and duties of Arkansas Workforce Investment Board. - Arkansas Statutes

15-4-2206. Powers and duties of Arkansas Workforce Investment Board.

(a) The Arkansas Workforce Investment Board shall advise and assist the Governor and the General Assembly in the:

(1) Development of a state workforce development plan;

(2) Development and continuous improvement of a statewide system of activities that are funded under this subchapter or carried out through a one-stop delivery system which receives funds under this subchapter including:

(A) Development of linkages in order to assure coordination and nonduplication among the programs and activities; and

(B) Review of local plans;

(3) Commenting on an annual basis on the measures taken pursuant to section 113(b)(14) of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act;

(4) Designation of local workforce investment areas;

(5) Development of an allocation formula for the distribution of funds for adult employment and training activities and youth activities to local areas;

(6) Development and continuous improvement of comprehensive state performance measures, including state adjusted levels of performance, to assess the effectiveness of the workforce investment activities in the state;

(7) Preparation of the annual report to the United States Secretary of Labor;

(8) Development of a statewide employment statistics system as described in section 15(e) of the Wagner-Peyser Act;

(9) Development of an application for an incentive grant;

(10) Recommendation of the programs identified in 15-4-2207(b)(8)(A) which may be consolidated or realigned;

(11) Creation of workforce investment program accountability measures and standards;

(12) Development of workforce training standards;

(13) Evaluation of the entire Arkansas workforce investment system, including, but not limited to, the education system, the Career Development system, and the youth programs, to determine if it is meeting the goals of this subchapter;

(14) Reevaluation of this subchapter;

(15) Coordination of state agencies to assist in the development of the state workforce development plan;

(16) Development of additional state workforce development plans every three (3) years;

(17) Use of federal, state or private funds, donations, and grants made available for the development of the Arkansas workforce development plan;

(18) Establishing procedures that will be taken by the state to assure coordination of and to avoid duplication among workforce investment programs; and

(19) Provide a report prior to each regular session to the General Assembly with recommendations for appropriate statutory changes which may enhance the delivery of workforce investment in and for Arkansas.

(b) The board may recommend to the Governor the resolution of any disagreements between or among state agencies pertaining to their duties and responsibilities in the state workforce investment plan. The board shall notify the agencies involved of the recommendation in writing.

(c) The board may recommend to the Governor that he or she require state agencies to cooperate with the board in implementing the state workforce investment plan, including, but not limited to, providing information to the board and providing staff assistance.

(d) The board shall have the authority to promulgate any rules or regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this subchapter and to comply with the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998.

(e) The board shall present a report quarterly to the Legislative Council concerning the progress, performance, and compliance with the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and this subchapter and shall provide to the Legislative Council any information requested of it.

(f) Based upon measures established through subdivision (a)(11) of this section, the board shall recommend performance incentives and shall recommend sanctions for failure to achieve such measures.

(g) (1) The Director of the Arkansas Workforce Investment Board shall be appointed by the Governor with the consent of the board and be subject to confirmation by the Senate.

(2) The director shall hire the necessary staff to carry out the provisions of this subchapter.