This is in response to your November 8 letter to Acting Assistant Secretary Dellinger transmitting questions in followup to the November 1 oversight hearing on implementation of the Job Training Partnership Act. Our responses to the questions are enclosed. I hope that this information is helpful to the Subcommittee. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance. 1. Federal Role JTPA OVERSIGHT QUESTIONS With respect to DOL's federal role, what functions will be performed by the regional offices? Have the personnel reductions within the DOL regional offices affected their ability to provide effective monitoring and fiscal oversight of the states' JTPA programs? -If the Department becomes aware of violations in the -Do the Governors' letters carry the same weight as field memos used to under CETA? Are you planning to administer the program through letters to the Governors or through field memos? Would you provide the Subcommittee with copies of all past letters to Governors? Finally, please forward any future letters to the Governors to the Subcommittee as well. With respect to DOL's federal role, what functions will be performed by the Regional Offices? Have the personnel reductions within the DOL Regional Offices affected their ability to provide effective monitoring and fiscal oversight of the States' JTPA programs? ANSWER The primary function of the Employment and Training Administration's Regional Offices under the Job Training Partnership Act system will be the review of the States' administration of the system and the monitoring of actual program operations by the States. The States will be informed of the Department's findings, including particularly the problems that have been identified. When the problems identified involve a failure to conform with the Act or applicable regulations, the Department will track the State's corrective actions. Regions will also provide technical assistance to the system where necessary and appropriate and will assist the States in meeting identified training needs. Other functions will include participation in audit resolution' and numerous administrative functions such as overseeing and commenting on such issues as local job training plan appeals. It is the Department's position that Regional Office staffing is sufficient to carry out their JTPA responsibilities. If the Department becomes aware of violations in the terms set forth in the law between State and local responsibilities, will DOL, in its monitoring, insure that those violations are corrected? ANSWER It is the Department's intent to assure that whatever action may be necessary is in fact taken whenever violations of the Act of whatever nature occur. Clearly, certain issues are appropriately resolved between State and local entities, while others may necessitate Federal involvement. The Department of Labor will actively ensure that violations identified are addressed and resolved by the appropriate entity. |