a. Issue the New Jersey Unified Workforce Investment Plan pursuant to the provisions of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Pub.L.105-220 (29 U.S.C. § 2801 et seq.) and section 10 of P.L.1989, c.293 (C. 34:15C-7);

b. Establish performance standards for workforce investment programs pursuant to the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Pub.L.105-220 (29 U.S.C. § 2801 et seq.) and section 11 of P.L.1989, c.293 (C. 34:15C-8);

c. Act to ensure the full participation of Workforce Investment Boards in the planning and supervision of local workforce investment systems. The commission shall be responsible to oversee and develop appropriate standards to ensure Workforce Investment Board compliance with State and federal law, the State plan, and other relevant requirements regarding membership, staffing, meetings, and functions;

d. Foster and coordinate initiatives of the Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education to enhance the contributions of public schools and institutions of higher education to the implementation of the State workforce investment policy;

e. Examine federal and State laws and regulations to assess whether those laws and regulations present barriers to achieving any of the goals of this act. The commission shall, from time to time as it deems appropriate, issue to the Governor and the Legislature reports on its findings, including recommendations for changes in State or federal laws or regulations concerning workforce investment programs or services, including, when appropriate, recommendations to merge other State advisory structures and functions into the commission;

f. Perform the duties assigned to a State Workforce Investment Board pursuant to subsection (d) of section 111 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, Pub.L.105-220 (29 U.S.C. § 2821);

g. Have the authority to enter into agreements with the head of each State department or commission which administers or funds education, employment or training programs, including, but not limited to, the Departments of Labor and Workforce Development, Community Affairs, Education, and Human Services and the Commission on Higher Education, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and the Juvenile Justice Commission, which agreements are for the purpose of assigning planning, policy guidance and oversight functions to each Workforce Investment Board with respect to any workforce investment program funded or administered by the State department or commission within the Workforce Investment Board’s respective labor market area or local area, as the case may be; and

h. Establish guidelines to be used by the Workforce Investment Boards in performing the planning, policy guidance, and oversight functions assigned to the boards under any agreement reached by the commission with a department or commission pursuant to subsection g. of this section. The commission shall approve all local Workforce Investment Board plans that meet the criteria established by the commission for the establishment of One-Stop systems. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development shall approve the operational portion of the plans for programs administered by the department.

The commission shall have access to all files and records of other State agencies and may require any officer or employee therein to provide such information as it may deem necessary in the performance of its functions.

Nothing in P.L.2005, c.354 (C. 34:15C-7.1 et al.) shall be construed as affecting the authority of the State Treasurer to review and approve training programs for State employees pursuant to N.J.S. 11A:6-25

L.1989, c.293, s.9; amended 2005, c.354, s.8; 2007, c.253, s.20; 2008, c.29, s.91.