Workforce Information Advisory Council; Charter Renewal, 36587 [2021-14679]

Agencies

• Employment and Training Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 130 (Monday, July 12, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 36587]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14679]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Workforce Information Advisory Council; Charter Renewal

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice of renewal.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (Department) announces the renewal of 
the Workforce Information Advisory Council (WIAC) charter.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Rietzke, Division of National 
Programs, Tools, and Technical Assistance, Office of Workforce 
Investment (address above); (202) 693-3912; or use email address for 
the WIAC, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background and Authority

    Section 15 of the Wagner-Peyser Act, 29 U.S.C. 49 l-2, as amended 
by section 308 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 
(WIOA), Public Law 113-128 requires the Secretary of Labor (Secretary) 
to establish and maintain the WIAC.
    The statute, as amended, requires the Secretary, acting through the 
Commissioner of Labor Statistics and the Assistant Secretary for 
Employment and Training, to formally consult at least twice annually 
with the WIAC to address: (1) Evaluation and improvement of the 
nationwide workforce and labor market information system established by 
the Wagner-Peyser Act, and of the statewide systems that comprise the 
nationwide system, and (2) how the Department and the States will 
cooperate in the management of those systems. The Secretary, acting 
through the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Employment and 
Training Administration (ETA), and in consultation with the WIAC and 
appropriate Federal agencies, must also develop a 2-year plan for 
management of the system, with subsequent updates every two years 
thereafter. The statute generally prescribes how the plan is to be 
developed and implemented, outlines the contents of the plan, and 
requires the Secretary to submit the plan to designated authorizing 
committees in the House and Senate.
    By law, the Secretary must ``seek, review, and evaluate'' 
recommendations from the WIAC, and respond to the recommendations in 
writing to the WIAC. The WIAC must make written recommendations to the 
Secretary on the evaluation and improvement of the workforce and labor 
market information system, including recommendations for the 2-year 
plan. The 2-year plan, in turn, must describe WIAC recommendations and 
the extent to which the plan incorporates them.
    The WIAC accomplishes its objectives by, for example: (1) Studying 
workforce and labor market information issues; (2) seeking and sharing 
information on innovative approaches, new technologies, and data to 
inform employment, skills training, and workforce and economic 
development decision making and policy; and (3) advising the Secretary 
on how the workforce and labor market information system can best 
support workforce development, planning, and program development.

II. Structure

    The Wagner-Peyser Act at section 15(d)(2)(B), requires the WIAC to 
have 14 representative members, appointed by the Secretary, consisting 
of:
    (i) Four members who are representatives of lead State agencies 
with responsibility for workforce investment activities, or State 
agencies described in Wagner-Peyser Act Section 4 (agency designated or 
authorized by Governor to cooperate with the Secretary), who have been 
nominated by such agencies or by a national Start Printed Page 39021 
organization that represents such agencies;
    (ii) Four members who are representatives of the State workforce 
and labor market information directors affiliated with the State 
agencies responsible for the management and oversight of the workforce 
and labor market information system as described in Wagner-Peyser Act 
Section 15(e)(2), who have been nominated by the directors;
    (iii) One member who is a representative of providers of training 
services under WIOA section 122 (Identification of Eligible Providers 
of Training Services);
    (iv) One member who is a representative of economic development 
entities;
    (v) One member who is a representative of businesses, who has been 
nominated by national business organizations or trade associations;
    (vi) One member who is a representative of labor organizations, who 
has been nominated by a national labor federation;
    (vii) One member who is a representative of local workforce 
development boards, who has been nominated by a national organization 
representing such boards; and
    (viii) One member who is a representative of research entities that 
use workforce and labor market information.
    The Secretary must ensure that the membership of the WIAC is 
geographically diverse, and that no two members appointed under clauses 
(i), (ii), and (vii), above, represent the same State. Each member will 
be appointed for a term of three years and the Secretary will not 
appoint a member for any more than two consecutive terms. Any member 
whom the Secretary appoints to fill a vacancy occurring before the 
expiration of the predecessor's term will be appointed only for the 
remainder of that term. Members of the WIAC will serve on a voluntary 
and generally uncompensated basis, but will be reimbursed for travel 
expenses to attend WIAC meetings, including per diem in lieu of 
subsistence, as authorized by the Federal travel regulations. All WIAC 
members serve at the pleasure of the Secretary. Members may be 
appointed, reappointed, or replaced, and their terms may be extended, 
changed, or terminated at the Secretary's discretion. A member's 
excessive absence from WIAC meetings may result in the member's removal 
and replacement.

    Authority: Pursuant to the Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933, as 
amended, 29 U.S.C. 49 et seq.; Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
Act, Public Law 113-128; Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, 
5 U.S.C. App.

Suzan G. LeVine,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2021-14679 Filed 7-9-21; 8:45 am]
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