2006 Louisiana Laws - RS 23:2065 — Commission duties and functions

§2065.  Commission duties and functions

A.  The commission shall:

(1)  Promote the development of a well-educated, highly skilled workforce in this state through literacy, adult basic education, community education, apprenticeship, and state-of-the-art occupational skills education and training programs.

(2)(a)  Serve as an advocate for the development of an integrated workforce development system to provide quality services addressing the needs of business and workers in this state.

(b)  Develop interagency agreements for service integrations.

(3)  Promote and assist in the development of an industry-based skills standards and certification system for occupations requiring less than a baccalaureate level of education and training.

(4)  Promote the development of high productivity workplaces in this state.

(5)  Recommend to the governor the geographic designation of workforce development areas for the delivery of workforce development programs.  In making such recommendations, the commission shall consider:

(a)  Input from chief elected officials of local general purpose units of government.

(b)  The configuration of existing workforce delivery systems.

(c)  Customer access to the delivery system services.

(d)  Local labor market areas.

(e)  The uniqueness of urban, rural, and suburban needs of the residents and businesses of the state.

(6)  Develop and recommend to the governor financial incentives to reward training programs for success in placing individuals in demand occupations.

(7)  Develop and recommend to the governor the level of supportive services necessary for the successful job placement and retention of citizens.

(8)  Implement a statewide system for evaluating the effectiveness of all workforce development programs.

(9)  Foster research and demonstration projects designed to develop new programs and approaches to service delivery.

(10)  Establish and implement a comprehensive labor market information system that serves the needs of the commission, employers, students, workers, and workforce development entities.

(11)  Ensure that occupational skills training is provided for demand occupations.

(12)  Oversee the operation of the state's workforce development programs to assess the degree to which the programs are effective in achieving state and local goals and objectives.

(13)  Develop objective criteria for requesting waivers allowed under federal law, pursuant to R.S. 23:2100.

(14)  Develop and recommend to the governor a plan to ensure client accessibility to workforce programs that includes a uniform statewide client application system for determining an applicant's eligibility for a workforce program for which state or federal financial assistance is available.

(15)  Carry out the federally and state-mandated duties and responsibilities for all advisory councils under applicable federal and state workforce development programs.

(16)  Develop a marketing program, including the design of a logo.

(17)  Identify barriers to efficient operation of the state's workforce development system and policies to reduce bureaucratic procedures and promote one-stop access to workforce development services and school-to-work transition.

(18)  Participate directly in the development of a master plan for vocational education.

(19)  Perform all other duties and responsibilities prescribed in:

(a)  The Human Resource Investment Council law (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.), and any subsequent legislation.

(b)  Any federal act pertaining to workforce development that is not required by federal law to be provided by another body.  Upon the enactment of new federal initiatives relating to workforce development, the commission shall advise the governor and the legislature on mechanisms for integrating the federal initiatives into the state's workforce development system and make recommendations for legislative and administrative measures necessary to streamline and coordinate state efforts to meet federal guidelines.

(20)  Develop and implement a grievance procedure to receive, investigate, and resolve grievances, and to conduct hearings to adjudicate disputes, including but not limited to those of Workforce Investment Act participants, applicants for participation, or others.

B.  The commission may make expenditures, enter into contracts with public, private, and nonprofit organizations or agencies, require reports to be made, and take other actions necessary or suitable to fulfill the commission's duties under this Chapter.

Acts 1997, No. 1, §1, eff. April 30, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 386, §1.