WIA Regulations on Waivers
(This excerpt pertains only to the Secretary's General Waiver Authority)
20 CFR
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PART 661--STATEWIDE AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE OF THE WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT SYSTEM UNDER TITLE I OF THE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT
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Subpart D--Waivers and Work-Flex Waivers
Sec. 661.400 What is the purpose of the General Statutory and
Regulatory Waiver Authority provided at section 189(i)(4) of the
Workforce Investment Act?
(a) The purpose of the general statutory and regulatory waiver
authority is to provide flexibility to States and local areas and
enhance their ability to improve the statewide workforce investment
system.
(b) A waiver may be requested to address impediments to the
implementation of a strategic plan, including the continuous
improvement strategy, consistent with the key reform principles of WIA.
These key reform principles include:
(1) Streamlining services and information to participants through a One-Stop delivery system;
(2) Empowering individuals to obtain needed services and
information to enhance their employment opportunities;
(3) Ensuring universal access to core employment-related services;
(4) Increasing accountability of States, localities and training
providers for performance outcomes;
(5) Establishing a stronger role for Local Boards and the private sector;
(6) Providing increased State and local flexibility to implement
innovative and comprehensive workforce investment systems; and
(7) Improving youth programs through services which emphasize
academic and occupational learning.
Sec. 661.410 What provisions of WIA and the Wagner-Peyser Act may be
waived, and what provisions may not be waived?
(a) The Secretary may waive any of the statutory or regulatory
requirements of subtitles B and E of title I of WIA, except for
requirements relating to:
(1) Wage and labor standards;
(2) Non-displacement protections;
(3) Worker rights;
(4) Participation and protection of workers and participants;
(5) Grievance procedures and judicial review;
(6) Nondiscrimination;
(7) Allocation of funds to local areas;
(8) Eligibility of providers or participants;
(9) The establishment and functions of local areas and local
boards;
(10) Procedures for review and approval of State and Local plans;
and
(b) The Secretary may waive any of the statutory or regulatory
requirements of sections 8 through 10 of the Wagner-Peyser Act (29
U.S.C. 49g-49i) except for requirements relating to:
(1) The provision of services to unemployment insurance claimants and veterans; and
(2) Universal access to the basic labor exchange services without cost to job seekers.
(c) The Secretary does not intend to waive any of the statutory or regulatory provisions essential to the key reform principles embodied in the Workforce Investment Act, described in Sec. 661.400, except in
extremely unusual circumstances where the provision can be demonstrated as impeding reform. (WIA sec. 189(i).)
Sec. 661.420 Under what conditions may a Governor request, and the Secretary approve, a general waiver of statutory or regulatory requirements under WIA section 189(i)(4)?
(a) A Governor may request a general waiver in consultation with
appropriate chief elected officials:
(1) By submitting a waiver plan which may accompany the State's WIA 5-year strategic Plan; or
(2) After a State's WIA Plan is approved, by directly submitting a waiver plan.
(b) A Governor's waiver request may seek waivers for the entire
State or for one or more local areas.
(c) A Governor requesting a general waiver must submit to the Secretary a plan to improve the Statewide workforce investment system
that:
(1) Identifies the statutory or regulatory requirements for which a waiver is requested and the goals that the State or local area, as
appropriate, intends to achieve as a result of the waiver and how those
goals relate to the Strategic Plan goals;
(2) Describes the actions that the State or local area, as
appropriate, has undertaken to remove State or local statutory or
regulatory barriers;
(3) Describes the goals of the waiver and the expected programmatic
outcomes if the request is granted;
(4) Describes the individuals affected by the waiver; and
(5) Describes the processes used to:
(i) Monitor the progress in implementing the waiver;
(ii) Provide notice to any Local Board affected by the waiver;
(iii) Provide any Local Board affected by the waiver an opportunity to comment on the request; and
(iv) Ensure meaningful public comment, including comment by
business and organized labor, on the waiver.
(d) The Secretary issues a decision on a waiver request within 90
days after the receipt of the original waiver request.
(e) The Secretary will approve a waiver request if and only to the
extent that:
(1) The Secretary determines that the requirements for which a
waiver is requested impede the ability of either the State or local
area to implement the State's plan to improve the Statewide workforce
investment system;
(2) The Secretary determines that the waiver plan meets all of the requirements of WIA section 189(i)(4) and Secs. 661.400 through
661.420; and
(3) The State has executed a Memorandum of Understanding with the
Secretary requiring the State to meet, or ensure that the local area
meets, agreed-upon outcomes and to implement other appropriate measures
to ensure accountability.
(f) The Secretary will issue guidelines under which the States may
request general waivers of WIA and Wagner-Peyser requirements. (WIA
sec. 189(i).)
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Created: February 28, 2006
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