Virginia 2022 Regular Session

Virginia House Bill HJR54

Introduced

1/11/22

Refer

1/11/22

Caption

Workforce development; Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study.

Impact

If enacted, HJR54 would require the JLARC to investigate various aspects of workforce development activities including the entities involved in these programs and the financial resources allocated to them. The study will evaluate the effectiveness of spending through metrics that show which agencies produce the best results. The resolution calls for all relevant agencies to assist JLARC, which may lead to improved collaboration between state agencies focused on workforce initiatives.

Summary

HJR54 proposes to direct the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to conduct a comprehensive study of workforce development in Virginia. The resolution underscores the need for an updated assessment due to the significant time that has passed since JLARC's last review conducted in 2014. Previous findings had indicated that the Commonwealth's workforce training programs were poorly organized and not effectively aligned with the needs of employers and the labor market. This resolution aims to bring attention back to these issues of alignment and efficiency in workforce programs.

Contention

Debates around HJR54 may center on the adequacy of the prior workforce assessments and the potential implications of the findings. Some legislators may be concerned about whether another audit is necessary or if the previous assessments adequately addressed the ongoing issues in workforce training. Moreover, the outcome of the study may lead to recommendations for policy changes which could generate varying responses among stakeholders committed to jobs and training in Virginia.