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Plan: New Jersey PYs 2016-2017
Combined Plan C

Section: WIOA State Plan Common Elements

Narrative: III. b. 3. B. ii.

Published
Located in:
  • III. Operational Planning Elements
    The Unified or Combined State Plan must include an Operational Planning Elements section that support the State’s strategy and the system-wide vision described in Section II.(c) above. Unless otherwise noted, all Operational Planning Elements apply to Combined State Plan partner programs included in the plan as well as to core programs. This section must include—

III. b. 3. B. ii. Board Activities

Provide a description of the activities that will assist State Board members and staff in carrying out State Board functions effectively.

Current Narrative:

The vision of the State Employment and Training Commission (SETC) is that New Jersey’s Workforce System is an innovative and dynamic talent development engine that fuels the state’s 21st Century ambition for success in a global economy.

SETC’s mission is to improve the skills of New Jersey’s workforce by creating a coherent, integrated system of employment and training programs and services which, in concert with the efforts of the private sector, will provide each citizen of the State with equal access to the learning opportunities needed to attain and maintain high levels of productivity and earning power.

The SETC partners with business, employees and jobseekers, organized labor, and state and county agencies to set policy, develop plans and evaluate the performance of the workforce system to improve the workforce for the economic viability of New Jersey.

The SETC identifies and analyzes critical issues relating to workforce readiness and provides policy guidance to the Governor and to state professionals in the fields of employment, training and education; supports innovative programs that advance collaboration among governmental agencies; and, reports to the Governor on the progress that has been made and the issues that must be addressed in the area of employment, training and education.

Under New Jersey law, the SETC performs the duties required of the State Workforce Development Board. As described in N.J.S.A. 34:15C-5, “the purpose of the commission shall be to develop and assist in the implementation of a State workforce investment policy with the goal of creating a coherent, integrated system of workforce investment programs and services which, in concert with the efforts of the private sector, will provide each citizen of the State with equal access to the learning opportunities needed to attain and maintain high levels of productivity and earning power. The principal emphasis of the workforce investment policy shall be developing a strategy to fill significant gaps in New Jersey’s workforce investment efforts, with special attention to finding ways to mobilize and channel public and private resources to individuals who would otherwise be denied access to the training and education they need to make their fullest contribution to the economic well-being of the State. To the extent practicable, the strategy shall emphasize types of training and education which foster the communication and critical thinking skills in workers and jobseekers which will be of greatest benefit for long term career advancement.”

The duties of the SETC are outlined in N.J.S.A. 34:15C-6, as follows:

1) Issue the New Jersey Workforce Investment Plan pursuant to the provisions of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Pub.L.105-220 (29 U.S.C. § 2801 et seq.) and section 10 of P.L.1989, c.293 (C.34:15C-7); [This duty is in keeping with WIOA Section 101(d)(1), “the development, implementation and modification of the State Plan.”]

2) Establish performance standards for workforce investment programs pursuant to the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Pub.L.105-220 (29 U.S.C. § 2801 et seq.) and section 11 of P.L.1989, c.293 (C.34:15C-8); [This duty is in keeping with WIOA Section 101(d)(4), “(4) the development and updating of comprehensive State performance accountability measures, including State adjusted levels of performance, to assess the effectiveness of the core programs in the State as required under section 116(b).”]

3) Act to ensure the full participation of Workforce Investment Boards [and now Workforce Development Boards] in the planning and supervision of local workforce investment systems. The commission shall be responsible to oversee and develop appropriate standards to ensure Workforce Investment Board compliance with state and federal law, the State Plan, and other relevant requirements regarding membership, staffing, meetings, and functions;

4) Foster and coordinate initiatives of the Department of Education and Higher Education to enhance the contributions of public schools and institutions of higher education to the implementation of the state workforce investment policy;

5) Examine federal and state laws and regulations to assess whether those laws and regulations present barriers to achieving any of the goals of this act. The commission shall, from time to time as it deems appropriate, issue to the Governor and the Legislature reports on its findings, including recommendations for changes in state or federal laws or regulations concerning workforce investment programs or services, including, when appropriate, recommendations to merge other State advisory structures and functions into the commission;

6) Perform the duties assigned to a State Workforce Investment Board pursuant to subsection (d) of section 111 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Pub.L.105-220 (29 U.S.C. § 2821) [and now Section 101 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, Public Law 113-128];

7) Have the authority to enter into agreements with the head of each state department or commission which administers or funds education, employment or training programs, including, but not limited to, the Departments of Labor and Workforce Development, Community Affairs, Education, and Human Services and Higher Education, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and the Juvenile Justice Commission, which agreements are for the purpose of assigning planning, policy guidance and oversight functions to each Workforce Investment Board with respect to any workforce investment program funded or administered by the state department or commission within the Workforce Investment Board’s respective labor market area or local area, as the case may be; and

8) Establish guidelines to be used by the Workforce Investment Boards in performing the planning, policy guidance, and oversight functions assigned to the boards under any agreement reached by the commission with a department or commission pursuant to subsection g. of this section. The commission shall approve all local Workforce Investment Board plans that meet the criteria established by the commission for the establishment of One-Stop systems. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development shall approve the operational portion of the plans for programs administered by the department.

The SETC is also responsible for administering two additional councils, established by state statute, both of which were added to their purview after the Commission was established. The first is the State Council for Adult Literacy Education Services (SCALES) and the second is the Council on Gender Parity in Labor and Education (GPC).