§353. Workforce training and education pilot initiative; creation; functions

A.(1) Subject to any applicable requirements and limitations of federal law and regulation, the secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, the secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services, the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, the state superintendent of education, and the president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System shall collaborate to design and implement a workforce training and education pilot initiative for public assistance recipients for the purpose of improving employment opportunities and promoting workforce advancement. The secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission shall lead coordination of the pilot initiative. The heads of the state partners shall administer the pilot initiative in accordance with the provisions of this Part.

(2) The state partners shall design the pilot initiative's operations and system of services in such a manner as to facilitate replication of the program in all regions of the state.

B.(1) The state partners shall establish the pilot initiative to operate and serve participants in the following regions:

(a) The service area of Local Workforce Development Area No. 40.

(b) The service area of the Franklin Parish Consortium.

(c) The service area of the Ouachita Parish Workforce Investment Board.

(2) If agreed to by the head of each state partner, the partners may expand the geographic service area of the pilot initiative beyond the regions specified in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection.

C. Participation in the pilot initiative by public assistance recipients shall be strictly voluntary.

D. Work supports and workforce education services provided by the pilot initiative may include, without limitation, any of the following:

(1) Job referral services.

(2) Job skills development.

(3) Job support services.

(4) Career planning.

(5) Job training.

(6) Workforce readiness.

(7) Apprenticeship programs.

Acts 2018, No. 271, §1.