DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 741 Engrossed 2015 Regular Session Alfred Williams
Abstract: Provides relative to workforce development.
Present law provides for the office of workforce development within the La. Workforce Commission
(LWC) to coordinate, with entities administering the job training plans in the various workforce
investment areas, pursuant to the Workforce Investment Act.
Present law creates the Workforce Investment Council as the state workforce investment board to
meet the requirements of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to receive funds relevant to
workforce activities, advise the governor of the needs of the state's employers and the workforce
along with strategies for its continued improvement, create a common vision, a strategic state plan
to assure cooperation between public and private entities, and direct the Occupational Forecasting
Conference to determine the official information necessary for planning and budgeting with respect
to workforce development.
Proposed law retains the substance of present law and changes references from the Workforce
Investment Act to the Workforce Investment Innovation and Opportunity Act, which was enacted
by congress in 2014. Proposed law further changes "workforce investment boards" to "workforce
development boards".
Proposed law provides for the assignment of workforce development areas pursuant to the new
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
Proposed law allows the governor to decertify any local board for fraud, abuse, failure to perform
their function or to meet accountability measures.
Proposed law changes the number of members of the Workforce Investment Council pursuant to the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
Proposed law alters the composition of the membership of local workforce development boards
pursuant to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
Proposed law repeals present law regarding programs no longer relevant under the new Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act. The functions of these programs are handled by the office of
workforce development within LWC. The repealed programs are:
(1)The Work Opportunity Program which was designed to increase employment opportunities to those on public aid.
(2)Youth Corps Litter Control and Incentive Employment Program which was designed to
provide part-time employment opportunities to students while cleaning up the state's
highways.
(3)Displaced Workers Retraining Program which was created to provide job-search assistance
to those unemployed because their industry has relocated out of Louisiana.
(4)Youth Summer Employment Program which was created to provide summer employment
opportunities to students who reside in economically depressed areas.
(5)Workforce Preparation Program which provided targeted educational, occupational, or
training services to prepare individuals for employment in demand occupations.
(6)Louisiana Health Works Commission which was created to serve as a collaborative working
group to integrate and coordinate resources for workforce development within various state
departments and key organizations.
(Amends R.S. 17:2930(B), R.S. 23:6(9)-(11), 19, 20, 34(A), (C), (E)-(G), 71(C), 76(C)(1) and (11),
1853(B)(intro.para.) and (2), 1855, 1862(A)(intro.para.), 2042(intro.para.), (1), and (3),
2043(A)(intro. para.), (10), (11)(a) and (b)(xi), and (13)(a), and (D), 2044, 2046, 2061(intro.para.),
(2) and (3), 2063(A)(1) and (B), 2065(A)(4), (7), and (8), 2091(A)(intro.para.) and (1), the heading
of Part V of Chapter 14 of Title 23 of the LRS of 1950, R.S. 23:2191, 2192(A) and (C), 2193(A),
(B), and (D), 2195, 2196(A) and (B), 2197(Section heading), 2200(A) and (B)(20), 2210(B) and (C),
R.S. 46:261(D)(7), R.S. 47:12(B)(1)(a)(iii), R.S. 48:1604(A)(1)(e) and (2), R.S. 51:1787(E) and
1807(D); Adds R.S. 23:2199(D) and 2213; Repeals R.S. 23:1801-1809, 1821-1832, 1841-1846,
1851-1855, and 1861-1862, 2193(C), 2196(E), and 2043(A)(9))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations
to the original bill:
1. Add technical changes.
2. Add more provisions of law to change references from the Workforce Investment Act to
Workforce Investment Innovation and Opportunity Act, and from "Workforce investment
boards" to "Workforce development boards".
3. Change the number of members on the Workforce Investment Council pursuant to the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act from 41 in present law to 53, and change the
makeup of the council, increasing the number of members representing business and
industry from 21 to 27, the number of members representing organized labor from 4 to
11, and remove the executive director of the office of elderly affairs. 4. Repeal present law regarding programs no longer relevant under the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act. The programs are: the Work Opportunity Program,
Youth Corps Litter Control and Incentive Employment Program, Displaced Workers
Retraining Program, Youth Summer Employment Program, Workforce Preparation
Program, and the Louisiana Health Works Commission.