Bill Text: GA HB1195 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Labor and industrial relations; Georgia Workforce Investment Board; create

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)

Status: (Passed) 2010-05-20 - Effective Date [HB1195 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2009-HB1195-Comm_Sub.html

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10 LC 36 1663ERS

The Senate Insurance and Labor Committee offered the following substitute to HB 1195:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to labor and industrial relations, so as to create the Georgia Workforce Investment Board; to provide for definitions; to provide for the membership of said board; to provide for the board's powers, functions, and funding; to establish the Governor's Office of Workforce Development; to establish Georgia Work Ready; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to labor and industrial relations, is amended by repealing Chapter 14, relating to the Governor's Employment and Training Council, and enacting a new Chapter 14 to read as follows:

"CHAPTER 14

34-14-1.

As used in this chapter, the term:

(1) 'Board' means the Georgia Workforce Investment Board.

(2) 'Director' means the executive director of the Governor's Office of Workforce Development.

(3) 'Federal law' means the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Public Law 105-220.

(4) 'Georgia Work Ready' means the state's branded workforce development enterprise implemented by the Governor's Office of Workforce Development that links education and workforce development together and aligns to the economic development needs at the local, regional, and state levels.

34-14-2.

(a) Pursuant to the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Public Law 105-220, there is created the Georgia Workforce Investment Board.

(b) The board shall consist of members to be selected by the Governor consistent with federal law requirements, two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House, and two members of the Senate, appointed by the Lieutenant Governor. A majority of the members of the board shall be representatives of businesses in this state. Other members may include, but shall not be limited to, representatives of individuals and organizations that have experience and expertise in education, the economy, the workforce, and labor.

(c) The chairperson of the board shall be appointed by the Governor. Other officers shall be elected or otherwise selected as determined by the Governor.

(d) The members of the board shall serve such terms as established by the Governor, and the members shall continue at the discretion of the Governor, except for the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, who shall continue at the discretion of the Speaker of the House and the Lieutenant Governor, respectively.

(e) The board shall have such powers and duties as specified by the Governor and as provided by federal law.

(f) The board shall adopt bylaws to guide its proceedings.

(g) The board shall be funded by federal law as provided in this chapter.

(h) The board shall be attached to the Office of Planning and Budget for administrative purposes only.

(i) Each member of the board who is not otherwise a state officer or employee shall be authorized to receive reimbursement for reasonably necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of his or her duties as a member of the board, provided that such funds are available and such reimbursements are allowable under federal law. Should funds not be available or allowable for this purpose, such members shall serve without compensation. Each member of the board who is otherwise a state officer or employee shall be reimbursed by the agency of which he or she is an officer or employee for reasonably necessary travel expenses actually incurred in the performance of his or her duties as a member of the board, provided that such funds are available and such reimbursements are allowable under federal law. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, members of the board shall receive no compensation for their services.

(j) The board shall be authorized to consult with and form committees with members and persons knowledgeable on the subject matter at issue in order to carry out effectively its duties. Such consultants shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for travel and other reasonable and necessary expenses incurred while attending meetings of or on behalf of the board, provided that such travel and other expenses are approved by the director and such reimbursements are allowable under federal law.

(k) The Governor's Office of Workforce Development shall be authorized to employ and contract with other individuals and organizations as needed to assist in executing the board's responsibilities, provided that funds are available for such expenditures and such expenditures are allowable under federal law.

(l) All state departments, institutions, agencies, commissions, councils, authorities, boards, bureaus, or other entities of the state shall provide all information and support as required by the board to perform its duties.

34-14-3.

(a) The Governor's Office of Workforce Development is hereby established to implement state workforce development policy as directed by the Governor and to serve as staff to the board.

(b) The Governor's Office of Workforce Development shall have an executive director appointed by the Governor whose duties are to implement state-wide workforce development policy as directed by the Governor, to serve as workforce development policy advisor to the Governor, and to serve as executive director to the board.

(c) The Governor's Office of Workforce Development shall be attached to the Office of Planning and Budget for administrative purposes only.

34-14-4

(a) The annual allocation reserved by federal law for state-wide workforce activities and administration, known as the 'Governor's discretionary funds,' shall be reserved for use by the Governor to support state-wide workforce activities recommended by the board and within parameters set forth in Section 128 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Public Law 105-220, and may be implemented through the creation of the Georgia Work Ready program.

(b) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require any appropriation of state funds."

SECTION 2.

This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval.

SECTION 3.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.