Governor's Workforce Investment Board

• Timely
• Accessibility
• Quality
• User Friendly
• Appropriateness of Service
• Measure of Customer Satisfaction
• Continual Improvement (responding to customer feedback)
• Coordinated
• Array of Services Available
• Leveraging of funds

III. 11:15 a.m.- Workforce Investment Act Requirements:  Chair Leroy Bingham reviewed the sections of the Workforce Investment Act regulations that appear to directly align with the goals and duties of the Regulatory Committee.  He stated that a large part of the committee's responsibility would be ensuring that State Agencies work well together, as charged to the State Board in the Federal Register.  Desiree Taggart facilitated a discussion regarding ways to measure State Agency's relationships.  Ideas discussed and general steps agreed upon were:

The committee needs to have the current Montana Workforce Development System and the ideal Workforce Development System clearly defined before being able to access effectiveness on any level or recommend policy.  Staff will provide this information at the next meeting

• Gather information from all partners regarding barriers
• Ascertain responsiveness
• Solicit information regarding both employer and individual needs in Montana
• Publicize the Workforce Development System (include monetary and non-monetary resources available)
• Evaluate the need to establish process (such as advising on applications for waivers requesting additional federal funds)
• The committee agreed to evaluate the need for developing a state or strategic plan for action once information is gathered about the Workforce Development System, including employers and individuals. If a plan is created, it will be aligned with the Governor's Economic Opportunity Office's workforce development piece. Chair Leroy Bingham suggested that a state or strategic plan could be inclusive of Native American Tribes to compensate for their absence in the Five Year Plan.  One piece of a plan could address the need to evaluate trends and train the workforce for real existing and future jobs
• Staff will provide a summary sheet on Carl Perkins for comment at the next meeting
• Requirements to receive incentive grants have been met for adult basic education and Carl Perkins performance measures.  The Workforce Investment Act has 17 performance indicators and many states have failed the "credentialing" measure, including Montana.  The committee is prepared to act swiftly to review the application for additional funds prepared by Montana Department of Labor, if allowed to apply.  Staff will provide committee members with the recommendations that were given to the early implementing states by the Federal Department of Labor. Staff will also prepare a draft letter from the State Board to be discussed at the April 16, 2002 meeting. The letter will ask for forgiveness from the Federal Department of Labor for failure to meet the credentialing measure and allowance of application for incentive funds.
• The State Board will receive the 2001 Workforce Investment Act Annual Report in the mailing for the April 16, 2002 meeting.  The Regulatory Committee will give input to the Montana Department of Labor between now and December of 2002 regarding the 2002 Workforce Investment Act Annual Report.

IV.  1:20 p.m. - Overview of One-Stop Workforce Delivery:  Kelly Chapman, Public Information Officer for the Montana Department of Labor and Industry presented committee members with a handout and brief explanation of the Title I portion of the Workforce Investment Act as it is in Montana.

Committee suggestions included:

• Need for a system-wide chart for clarity and to differentiate between programs and organizations
• Making a recommendation to the Executive Committee to change the State Board's name to the "Workforce Development Board"

V.  1:35 p.m. - Coordination and Policy Issues:  Wendy Keating, Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry, updated the committee on the following:

• The newly formed State Agency Management (SAM) Team, of which she is a member, is working on a proposal regarding how to fulfill requirements of Senate Bill 469.
• The Governor's Blue Ribbon Health Care Task Force, of which Wendy is a member, is looking at health care shortages and workforce development issues.
• The Governor's sub-cabinet on human services meets every other week and includes some of the Governor's staff.  Most of the issues dealt with affect the Department of Labor and Industry, Public Health and Human Services and Corrections.

VI.  1:50 p.m. - 10% set-aside:  Desiree Taggart explained that reports on program     

outcomes were provided due to interest shown at the Executive Committee meeting in       January 2002.  The funds used for these items were received from the Governor's 10% Discretionary Funds in Program Year 2000.   Ingrid Childress, Workforce Services Division Administrator explained incumbent worker funds received from the Governor were used to leverage additional community development block grant funds; therefore increasing the number of people served.

Dennis Lerum and Wendy Keating explained there are no designated state funds for incumbent workers in Montana, unlike every other state in the nation.  Verdell Jackson suggested that the committee look at the cost and effectiveness ratios of Project Challenge versus drop out programs run by public schools.  At the committee's suggestion, Desiree Taggart will find out if the Governor would like suggestions from the State Board regarding how to spend her Discretionary Funds.  Desiree will report to the State Board at the April 16, 2002 meeting.

VII.  Call to the Public:  Chair Leroy Bingham asked for comments from the public .

VIII. Next Meeting Date:  Wednesday, June 26, 2002

IX.  Adjourn:  Chair Leroy Bingham adjourned the meeting at 2:05 PM.