OKC Standard

Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) is set to introduce two legislative measures aimed at enhancing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The proposed WIOA Performance Accountability Improvement Act and WIOA Planning Extension Act are designed to improve training program performance and update the submission timeline for Unified State Plans, aligning them more closely with the needs of state workforce agencies and local workforce development boards.

"Supporting America’s workers means investing in education and training services that strengthen our workforce," said Sen. Mullin, a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. "WIOA is vital to accomplishing this goal. As economic uncertainty rises and businesses across Oklahoma struggle with workforce shortages, it’s crucial our workers have access to quality job training regardless of their background. These two bills specifically target current holes in the system that, once addressed, will strengthen the process, increase accountability, and improve program outcomes."

The WIOA Performance Accountability Improvement Act aims to enhance accountability standards for states and local workforce boards under WIOA by updating performance metrics for WIOA-funded training programs. These updated metrics would include labor force retention rates, measurable skill gains, and the percentage of participants who complete on-the-job training, employer-directed skills development, or an apprenticeship upon exiting the program. This bill mandates that the Departments of Labor and Education propose target performance levels for each state; states can then either accept these levels or issue a counterproposal. Additionally, it enforces stricter corrective actions for states and local workforce boards failing to achieve 90 percent of their agreed-upon performance levels. These provisions were part of H.R. 6655, A Stronger Workforce for America Act, which reauthorizes WIOA and passed the House on April 9th, 2024.

The WIOA Planning Extension Act proposes extending the state planning processes for utilizing WIOA funds. Specifically, it requires states to submit their Unified State Plans—outlining their workforce strategies for WIOA funding—to the Department of Labor every five years instead of every four years. It also necessitates that local workforce development boards submit a comprehensive plan detailing how they will support the state's Unified State Plan every five years instead of every four years.