[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 178 (Tuesday, September 15, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 49410]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24692]
[[Page 49409]]
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Part III
Department of Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
Employment and Training Administration
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Workforce Investment Act of 1998; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 178 / Tuesday, September 15, 1998 /
Notices
[[Page 49410]]
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Workforce Investment Act of 1998
AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to encourage comments on the
Department of Labor's approach to the implementation of titles I, III,
and V of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) (Pub. L. 105-220)
(dated August 7, 1998). See Conference Report on H.R. 1385, Workforce
Investment Act of 1998 and the Congressional Record, July 29, 1998, pp.
H6604--H6694. Implementation of the title V provisions will be
conducted in conjunction with the Department of Education. Comments are
welcome on a variety of subjects, including: (1) issues and concerns
that should be addressed in regulations; (2) issues and concerns that
should be addressed in policy guidance; (3) questions relating to
provisions in titles I, III, or V of the Act; and (4) suggestions or
comments on the overall implementation plan, such as consultation
strategies. This notice is not a proposed rule. The Department will
consider comments an regulations through the rulemaking process.
DATES: The Department invites written comments on the WIA in response
to this notice. Comments received on or before November 30, 1998 will
be considered in the development of regulations and policy guidance, as
well as the overall implementation strategy. The Interim Final Rule
will be published by February 2, 1999. The Department has already begun
consultation with various individuals within the workforce investment
system and will continue these consultations throughout the
implementation process.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the Employment and Training
Administration, Workforce Investment Implementation Taskforce, 200
Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S5513, Washington, D.C. 20210, Attention:
Mr. Eric Johnson.
All comments will be available for public inspection and copying
during normal business hours at the address listed above. Copies of the
WIA are available at the address above, as well as on the WIA web site
at http://usworkforce.org. Comments may be submitted electronically to
that web address. Commenters wishing acknowledgment of receipt of their
comments must submit them by certified mail, return receipt requested.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Eric Johnson, Workforce Investment
Implementation Taskforce Office, U.S. Department of Labor, 200
Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S5513, Washington, D.C. 20210, Telephone:
(202) 219-0316 (voice) (This is not a toll-free number), or 1-800-326-
2577 (TDD).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Signed into Law on August 7, 1998, the WIA
of 1998 is the first major bill enacted to reform the nation's job
training system in over 15 years. The purpose of the WIA is to provide
workforce investment activities through statewide and local workforce
investment systems that increase the employment, retention and earnings
of participants, and increase occupational skill attainment by
participants, and as a result improve the quality of the workforce,
reduce welfare dependency, and enhance the productivity and
competitiveness of the Nation.
The Department will seek comments regarding ways to build strong
Workforce Investment Boards (WIB) with sustained support by the
community's major business leaders and with broad workforce development
authority. The WIB will also take advantage of the flexibility in the
Workforce Investment Act to examine the labor market and its needs, and
develop an integrated system that is responsive to employers, youth and
adult job seekers.
Timeline
The following timetable is proposed for implementing the Workforce
Investment Act of 1998:
Establish the Website..................... September 1998.
Publish White Paper: Goals and Principles. September 1998.
Begin Consultations on Planning/Program/ September 1998.
Policy Guidance.
Regions and States Identify Closeout October 1998.
Issues.
Publish Planning Guidance................. November 1998.
Publish Interim Final Rule................ February 1, 1999.
Early States Submit Plans................. April 1, 1999.
Early State Implementation and Operation.. July 1, 1999.
Publish Final Rule........................ December 31, 1999.
All States Implementing Workforce July 1, 2000.
Investment Act.
Signed at Washington, D.C., this 8th day of September, 1998.
Raymond L. Bramucci,
Assistant Secretary of Labor.
[FR Doc. 98-24692 Filed 9-14-98; 8:45 am]
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