State Workforce Investment Board

Operating Rules for Conducting Business

The Montana Workforce Investment Board has adopted these procedures as operating rules for conducting business:

Article One: Name/Identity

The organization shall be commonly known as the "Governors' Workforce Investment Board", the "Montana Workforce Investment Board" or the "State Workforce Board". Board members and staff support of the board will identify themselves in that manner when conducting the business of the organization.

Article Two: Purpose

The Governor established the State Workforce Board for several purposes:

1. To create policy recommendations for the Governor related to the establishment and maintenance of an integrated, statewide workforce development system
2. To serve as a focal point for addressing the major workforce development issues of Montana
3. To lead the strategic planning process for an integrated workforce development system, including guidance to the local workforce investment boards for local planning
4. To create performance standards that identify and reward effective workforce development initiatives
5. To coordinate the state's workforce investment initiatives with the state's economic development plan

The State Workforce Board has been formed in accordance with the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and Governor's Executive Order 2-99. In order to assure objective management and oversight, the State Workforce Board shall not operate programs or provide services directly to program participants, but shall exist to plan, coordinate, provide policy guidance and measure success of workforce preparation programs, initiatives and services.

Article Three: Membership

1. The State Workforce Board is comprised of members appointed by the Governor consistent with membership requirements established by the federal Workforce Investment Act. The majority of members will be business leaders. Other members will include: the Governor; two members of each chamber of the state legislature; chief elected officials representing cities and counties; representatives of labor organizations; cabinet officers from relevant state departments responsible for workforce development initiatives; other education, economic development and community leaders deemed appropriate by the Governor.
2. Under the current administration initial member terms shall be for one year. Additionally, members may be re-appointed for additional three or four year terms. There is no limit on the number of terms a member may serve.
3. For purposes of membership and appointments, the yearly term begins July 1st and ends on June 30th of each year.

Article Four: Termination of Membership

With the exception of legislative members, all Board members serve at the pleasure of the Governor. Legislative members serve at the pleasure of their respective chamber’s presiding officers.  Membership may be terminated for:

1. Failure of a member to continue to hold the qualifications which were the basis for his/her initial appointment
2. Receipt by the board of the written resignation of the member
3. Failure of a board member to attend at least 50% of scheduled board and committee meetings during a one-year period, except for excused absences.
4. Failure to represent the State Workforce Board in a manner deemed appropriate by the board; in all cases, the Chair in consultation with the Governor will make final determination.

Article Five: Officers

The officers of the State Workforce Board shall include a Chair and Vice Chair. The Chair and Vice Chair are to be appointed by the Governor.

Article Six: Executive Committee

1. There shall be an Executive Committee comprised of the officers and no more than ten at-large representatives.
2. The Executive Committee shall be composed of a majority of business members.
3. The at-large representatives of the Executive Committee shall be members of the State Workforce Board and shall be nominated by the Chair. At-large members are appointed for one-year terms and may serve multiple terms.
4. The Executive Committee shall have all of the authority of the State Workforce Board whenever State Workforce Board action is required.

Article Seven: Committees and Task Forces

There will be at a minimum one Standing Committee of the State Workforce Board, a Regulatory Committee consisting of the members of the State Workforce Board who are appointed by the Chair and shall include state agency department heads.

1. The State Workforce Board may create as many other committees or task forces, as it deems necessary to carry out the work of the State Workforce Board.
2. Committees are to be chaired by any member of the State Workforce Board. Committee Chairs are to be appointed by the State Workforce Board Chair.
3. Committee Chairs will be responsible for recruitment and selection of their committee members in consultation with the State Workforce Board Chair. Committees may contain members who are not State Workforce Board members but will not have voting privileges; rather they will act as specialists or consultants on specific board issues. However, a majority of committee members must be from the State Workforce Board.

Article Eight: Meetings

1. Special meetings of the membership may be called by the Chair or the Governor or by the petition of at least ten members of the State Workforce Board.
2. The State Workforce Board shall meet at least two (2) times per year or more if necessary in accord with a meeting schedule adopted by the State Workforce Board.
3. The Executive Committee shall meet at least two (2) times per year or more if necessary in accord with a meeting schedule adopted by the Executive Committee.

Article Nine: Conduct of Meetings

1. All State Workforce Board, committee and task force meetings will be publicly announced and will comply with the state's "open door" policies.
2. All State Workforce Board, committee and task force meetings will be conducted using Robert Rules of Order on issues requiring action.
3. At regular meetings of the State Workforce Board and committees, the Chair will provide opportunities for public comment with time constraints determined by the Chair as appropriate.
4. The Chair of the State Workforce Board, or in his/her absence, the Vice Chair, shall chair state Workforce Board meetings. In the absence of the aforementioned, the members present will select a chair for the meeting.
5. The committee or task force Chair will chair committee and task force meetings. In the absence of the Chair, committee or task force members will select a Chair for the meeting.

Article Ten: Quorum

1. The quorum for the State Workforce Board meetings shall be those members of the current State Workforce Board present and eligible to vote.
2. The quorum for committee meetings shall be those members of the committee present and eligible to vote.
3. There is no established quorum requirement for task force meetings.

Article Eleven: Proxy

No proxy voting is allowed for State Workforce Board meetings or for any of the State Workforce Board's committees.

Article Twelve: Address

The State Workforce Board shall maintain a mailing address established by the State Workforce Board:  State Workforce Investment Board, Commissioner’s Office, Department of Labor and Industry, PO Box 1728, Helena, Montana 59624-1728.  Phone:  406-444-9091.

Article Thirteen: Records

The State Workforce Board shall designate a site for maintaining all records of the State Workforce Board, including minutes of proceedings of all State Workforce Board meetings. The State Workforce Board shall maintain a web site http://www.state.mt.us/martz/css/boards/workforce/default.asp.

Article Fourteen: Fiscal Year

The State Workforce Board's Fiscal Year shall be July 1st through June 30th. Membership and appointment terms will be based on the fiscal year.

Article Fifteen: Staff Support and Financial Record-Keeping

Staff support for the State Workforce Board's work will be administratively housed within the Department of Labor and Industry, Commissioner’s Office. The Director of the State Workforce Board will be accountable to the State Workforce Board for work products of the staff. The State Workforce Board will, from time to time, review its staff requirements and make recommendations to the Governor concerning staff support for State Workforce Board work. The Director of the State Workforce Board will be responsible for supplying financial information to the State Workforce Board related to resources available to support the work of the State Workforce Board.

Article Sixteen: Member Compensation and Expense Reimbursement

All State Workforce Board members are eligible for reimbursement of expenses including meals, mileage and lodging while attending State Workforce Board meetings or committee meetings away from their city of origin. Members will be reimbursed according to established state rates and rules. State Workforce Board members who are not state or federal employees, full time salaried officers of the state or federal government, or any political subdivision of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) grantees, may be paid $25.00 per day when more than three hours is spent on State Workforce Board business on the day of a meeting. This amount is in addition to reimbursement for travel expenses. Representatives and Senators will be reimbursed at the legislative pay rate and following the Legislative reimbursement rules.

Article Seventeen: Conflict of Interest

The State Workforce Board, in conducting its business, will comply with state or federal laws regarding conflict of interest. See the Conflict of Interest policy.

Article Eighteen: Amendments

These operating procedures may be changed or new procedures may be adopted by a majority vote of the State Workforce Board at any meeting of the State Workforce Board, following a meeting where the proposed changes are introduced.

-- Amended March 11, 2003