SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 63
(By Senators Unger, Craigo, Sharpe, Jackson, Chafin,
Prezioso, Plymale, Love, Helmick, Bowman, Bailey, Anderson,
Edgell, McCabe, Boley, Minear and Sprouse)
(Originating in the Committee on Finance; reported April 13,
2001.)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study
workforce development initiatives in and for the State of West
Virginia.
Whereas, The federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 has
provided an opportunity for West Virginia to coordinate and hold
accountable the various state and federal workforce investment
programs;
Whereas, The future economic development of West Virginia
depends on a highly skilled workforce;
Whereas, West Virginians need high-quality education,
training, literacy and vocational rehabilitation programs to obtain
the skills needed for gainful employment;
Whereas, The educational system, from preschool to post-
secondary training, is critical in ensuring that businesses' needs
are met;
Whereas, To compete in the new global economy, West Virginia
needs to develop a workforce investment system that anticipates and
responds to the changing economy and its workforce;
Whereas, A single workforce investment system with a shared
vision, mission and goals that is linked to employer needs and
aligns with economic development plans is necessary to achieve
increased employment, earnings and occupational skills, thus
enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of West Virginia;
and
Whereas, An effective workforce investment system must
encompass workforce investment programs that are outcome-focused,
coordinate activities, maintain accountability standards and
emphasize system building at the state and regional levels;
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is
requested to review, examine and study the status of West
Virginia's workforce development initiatives by addressing the
development of a workforce investment system that: Is closely
aligned with the standards and practices that are part of
businesses' internal resource system; moves beyond initial job
preparation and placement to include ongoing skill development and
career progression for employed workers and for the most disadvantaged in the labor market; emphasizes better coordination
of workforce investment programs; encompasses accountability
measures; promotes efficiencies by reducing multiple duplication of
efforts in the provision of welfare-to-work and workforce programs;
and improves the effectiveness and responsiveness of the workforce
investment system by creating a system that mandates employers'
involvement and links economic development efforts to the system,
thus allowing the system to be more responsive to changing economic
requirement; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the study shall serve the purpose of
outlining a workforce investment system that provides workforce
investment activities, through statewide and regional workforce
investment systems, that increases employment, retention, earnings
and occupational skill attainment of participants and, as a result,
improves the productivity and competitiveness of West Virginia;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2002, on
its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts
of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this
study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.
Email
Webmaster | © 2024 West Virginia Legislature **
