Narrative: III. a. 1.

The Alabama Workforce Development Board (AWDB) was appointed by the Governor in November 2015 in compliance with Section 101(a) of WIOA. The AWDB carries out its WIOA required functions as provided in Section 101(d) of WIOA to ensure the alignment of Alabama’s workforce development programs. The Alabama Workforce Development Board meets quarterly as part of a combined workforce day with the Alabama Workforce Council and the Governor’s Office of Education and Workforce Transformation and provides feedback on policies, programs, and system effectiveness to core workforce partners and employers. In June 2021, the State WDB adopted revised bylaws that require 50 percent of members to reach a quorum, institutes term limits, and requires that the executive committee meet for emergency purposes only. The Board has one (1) working committee in addition to the Executive Committee. The working committees are:

Policy Committee: The Policy Committee assists the Board in developing a strategy to increase external growth and to leverage available existing resources to improve the quality of services.

One Workforce Committee: The One Workforce Committee is focused on integrating the workflows of core and partner programs and agencies by developing cross-training, policy, technology, and outreach.

The State Workforce Development Board’s decision-making process starts with committee actions and recommendations. The committees meet between quarterly Board meetings to review recommended state policies, Department of Labor and other federal agency guidance, and core and partner staff proposals for operational guidance. During the lifecycle of the 2020 combined state plan, the State Workforce Development Board adopted a revised credential, Eligible Training Provider, and Pell prioritization policy. Committee recommendations are submitted to the Board with recommendations for action. State Board support staff also provide policy recommendations and operational guidance recommendations electronically to the Board or Board committees for Board feedback and input. Any Board member may also present recommendations to the Board for consideration by the Board. All actions and recommendations by the Board are presented as a motion and require a second before a vote is taken. All motions and Board decisions are maintained in the Board minutes.

The staff support for the Alabama Workforce Development Board is provided by the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Workforce Development Division; however, the Board and its Committees also utilize core and partner staff to assist in carrying out required Board functions outlined in WIOA.

In March 2020, the State WDB adopted a policy, implementing a provision in the 2020 Combined WIOA Plan, requiring local areas to increase the amount of WIOA funds going to training activities from 40 percent in PY2020 to 60 percent by FY2023. In June 2021, the State WDB adopted revised bylaws that require 50 percent of members to reach a quorum, institutes term limits, and requires that the executive committee meet for emergency purposes only. The State WDB also adopted a revised credential, eligible training provider, and Pell prioritization policy at the June 2021 meeting. The revised eligible training provider guidance requires one-stop centers to utilize the DAVID self-sufficiency cliff and benefits cliff mitigation tool when taking a client through the WIOA intake process.

The Alabama Workforce Development Board (AWDB) was appointed by the Governor in November 2015 in compliance with Section 101(a) of WIOA. The AWDB carries out its WIOA required functions as provided in Section 101(d) of WIOA to ensure the alignment of Alabama’s workforce development programs. The Alabama Workforce Development Board meets quarterly as part of a combined workforce day with the Alabama Workforce Council and the Governor’s Office of Education and Workforce Transformation and provides feedback on policies, programs, and system effectiveness to core workforce partners and employers. In June 2021, the State WDB adopted revised bylaws that require 50 percent of members to reach a quorum, institutes term limits, and requires that the executive committee meet for emergency purposes only. The Board has two working committees in addition to the Executive Committee. The working committees are:

Policy Committee: The Policy Committee assists the Board in developing a strategy to increase external growth and to leverage available existing resources to improve the quality of services.

One Workforce Committee: The One Workforce Committee is focused on integrating the workflows of core and partner programs and agencies by developing cross-training, policy, technology, and outreach.

The State Workforce Development Board’s decision-making process starts with committee actions and recommendations. The committees meet between quarterly Board meetings to review recommended state policies, Department of Labor and other federal agency guidance, and core and partner staff proposals for operational guidance. During the lifecycle of the 2020 combined state plan, the State Workforce Development Board adopted a revised credential, Eligible Training Provider, and Pell prioritization policy. Committee recommendations are submitted to the Board with recommendations for action. State Board support staff also provide policy recommendations and operational guidance recommendations electronically to the Board or Board committees for Board feedback and input. Any Board member may also present recommendations to the Board for consideration by the Board. All actions and recommendations by the Board are presented as a motion and require a second before a vote is taken. All motions and Board decisions are maintained in the Board minutes.

The staff support for the Alabama Workforce Development Board is provided by the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Workforce Development Division; however, the Board and its Committees also utilize core and partner staff to assist in carrying out required Board functions outlined in WIOA.

The purpose of the Alabama Workforce Development Board is to assist the Governor in the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the WIOA, and related programs in order to ensure alignment with the Alabama workforce development system, including the development of linkages among workforce development programs.        

The State Workforce Development Board (WBD) is a unique public/private partnership representing the State of Alabama on all statewide workforce development issues and solutions. The WDB is responsible for the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) programs and activities in the State, which includes the Alabama Career Center System, Adult Education, and Rehabilitation Services.

Board members are appointed by the Governor and represent a cross-section of industry and business leaders, labor officials, education leaders, economic development specialists, community-based organizations, and local elected officials. The diversity of its members provides the knowledge and expertise to offer a comprehensive perspective for innovative and creative solutions to Alabama’s current and future workforce needs.

The WDB plays a vital role in the design, development, and direction of Alabama’s workforce system. The board is responsible for developing policies and strategies to form a coordinated workforce development system for a variety of education, employment, and training programs.

The Board assists the Governor, key workforce partners, and stakeholders in obtaining two key outcomes:

• A properly prepared workforce to meet the current and future demands of Alabama’s employers
• Innovative opportunities for Alabama’s workforce to succeed in the 21st century

The WBD accomplishes these key outcomes by: aligning state workforce policy and resources with education and economic development; promoting a proactive, flexible, and innovative talent development system; holding the workforce system accountable for results to ensure Alabamians develop the skills they need to sustain rewarding careers; and, ensuring Alabama’s businesses have the talent they need to be competitive. The efforts of all workforce partners are constantly measured using performance metrics which are reported to the U.S. Department of Labor.

The WDB is driven by the collaboration between its members and workforce partners throughout the state with the goal of connecting Alabama’s workforce with in-demand business and industry that are continually being recruited into the State. 

In accordance with Section 101(d) of WIOA, the State WDB assists the Governor in:

• Development, implementation, and modification of the WIOA Unified State plan;
• Review of statewide policies and programs and development of recommendations on actions the State should take to align core and other programs in a manner that supports the Alabama workforce system, including the review and provision of comments on state plans for activities and programs of career center (one-stop) partners that are not core programs;
• Development of guidance for the implementation and continuous improvement of the Alabama workforce system (addressing alignment, career pathways, effective outreach to individuals and employers, sector partnerships, coordination between the state and local areas, identification of local areas, technical assistance including training and supportive services, support for staff training and awareness, and case management information systems);
• Consulting with both the initial and subsequent designations of local workforce development areas in the State;
• Partnering in establishing criteria for use by chief elected officials in the local areas for appointment of members of the local boards;
• Development and updating of comprehensive State performance accountability measures, including State adjusted levels of performance and customer satisfaction;
• Identification and dissemination of best practices, including the effective operation of career (one-stop) centers and local workforce boards;
• Development and review of statewide policies affecting the coordinated provision of services through the career centers (one-stops) including approaches to facilitate equitable and efficient cost allocation;
• Development of strategies for technological improvements to facilitate access to and improve the quality of services;
• Development of strategies aligning technology and data systems across career center (one-stop) partner programs to improve reporting on performance accountability measures, including design implementation of common intake, data collection, case management information, and performance accountability measurement and reporting processes;
• Development of allocation formulas for distribution of formula funds to local areas;
• Preparation of annual reports;
• Development of statewide workforce and labor market information system;
• Development of other policies as may promote statewide objectives for and enhance the performance of the Alabama workforce system in the State.

Members of the State WDB are appointed by the Governor, except for the one (1) representative appointed by the presiding officer of each chamber of the State Legislature. The Governor selects a Chairperson for the AWDB from among the business representatives on the State WDB. The Vice-Chairperson is appointed by the Governor from the business or workforce representatives on the board.

A State WDB member may not represent more than one (1) of the categories described by WIOA, including business representatives, workforce representatives, and government representatives.

The business representatives, workforce representatives, and government representatives, except the agency heads representing core and partner programs who serve as ex officio members of the AWDB, are appointed to one four- (4) year term that may be renewed once. Members may be reappointed after a one-term break in service.

Representatives of required WIOA core partner programs serve as long as they are employed by the organization for which they were appointed to represent. Members representing other state or local  government entities serve as long as they are employed by the organization for which they were appointed to represent.

Resignations are submitted to the Governor. A vacant position resulting from a resignation is filled by the Governor, and the term of appointment to fill vacancies are for a full four (4) year term.

Alternates may be designated by a State WDB member to attend a meeting. Alternates must be designated prior to the meeting. Alternates should be individuals representing the same category as the appointed member and who have policy-making authority.

Fifty-one percent of the membership of the State WDB constitutes a quorum at Board or committee meetings. Board or committee action shall require a simple majority of a present quorum. The State WDB acts in accordance with Section 101 of WIOA, and no official business shall be conducted by the AWDB if a quorum is not present.

The Chairperson, in the absence of the Governor, presides at meetings of the Board. In the absence of the Chair, or in the event of his/ her inability to act, the Vice-Chairperson exercises all of the powers and performs the duties of the Chairperson.

The Executive Committee membership is composed of the Governor or the Governor’s designee, the State WDB Chairperson, the State WDB Vice-Chairperson, the Executive Secretary, two (2) business members appointed by the Governor, and such other State WDB members deemed necessary by the Governor. Executive sessions are chaired by the Governor, or in the absence of the Governor, the Board Chairperson. Subject to the call of the Governor, the Executive Committee is empowered to meet on an interim basis between regular full Board meetings and make emergency or time-sensitive decisions when necessary.

The Executive Secretary records and maintains all proceeding of the State WDB.