[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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