38 U.S.C. § 4102A: Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training; program functions; Regional Administrators

There is established within the Department of Labor an Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training, appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, who shall formulate and implement all departmental policies and procedures to carry out (A) the purposes of this chapter, chapter 42, and chapter 43 of this title, and (B) all other Department of Labor employment, unemployment, and training programs to the extent they affect veterans. The employees of the Department of Labor administering chapter 43 of this title shall be administratively and functionally responsible to the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training. There shall be within the Department of Labor a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training. The Deputy Assistant Secretary shall perform such functions as the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training prescribes. No individual may be appointed as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training unless the individual has at least five years of service in a management position as an employee of the Federal civil service or comparable service in a management position in the Armed Forces. For purposes of determining such service of an individual, there shall be excluded any service described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of section 308(d)(2) of this title . Except as expressly provided otherwise, carry out all provisions of this chapter and chapter 43 of this title through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training and administer through such Assistant Secretary all programs under the jurisdiction of the Secretary for the provision of employment and training services designed to meet the needs of all veterans and persons eligible for services furnished under this chapter. In order to make maximum use of available resources in meeting such needs, encourage all such programs, and all grantees and contractors under such programs to enter into cooperative arrangements with private industry and business concerns (including small business concerns owned by veterans or disabled veterans), educational institutions, trade associations, and labor unions. Ensure that maximum effectiveness and efficiency are achieved in providing services and assistance to eligible veterans under all such programs by coordinating and consulting with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with respect to (A) programs conducted under other provisions of this title, with particular emphasis on coordination of such programs with readjustment counseling activities carried out under section 1712A of this title , apprenticeship or other on-the-job training programs carried out under section 3687 of this title , and rehabilitation and training activities carried out under chapter 31 of this title and (B) determinations covering veteran population in a State. Ensure that employment, training, and placement activities are carried out in coordination and cooperation with appropriate State public employment service officials. disabled veterans’ outreach program specialists appointed under section 4103A(a)(1) of this title , local veterans’ employment representatives assigned under section 4104(b) of this title , and the reasonable expenses of such specialists and representatives described in subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, for training, travel, supplies, and other business expenses, including travel expenses and per diem for attendance at the National Veterans’ Employment and Training Services Institute established under section 4109 of this title . Monitor and supervise on a continuing basis the distribution and use of funds provided for use in the States under paragraph (5). Establish, and update as appropriate, a comprehensive performance accountability system (as described in subsection (f)) and carry out annual performance reviews of veterans employment, training, and placement services provided through employment service delivery systems, including through disabled veterans’ outreach program specialists and through local veterans’ employment representatives in States receiving grants, contracts, or awards under this chapter. With advice and assistance from the Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment, Training, and Employer Outreach established under section 4110 of this title , furnish information to employers (through meetings in person with hiring executives of corporations and otherwise) with respect to the training and skills of veterans and disabled veterans, and the advantages afforded employers by hiring veterans with such training and skills, and to facilitate employment of veterans and disabled veterans through participation in labor exchanges (Internet-based and otherwise), and other means. The distribution and use of funds under subsection (b)(5) in order to carry out sections 4103A(a) and 4104(a) of this title shall be subject to the continuing supervision and monitoring of the Secretary and shall not be governed by the provisions of any other law, or any regulations prescribed thereunder, that are inconsistent with this section or section 4103A or 4104 of this title. duties assigned by the State to disabled veterans’ outreach program specialists and local veterans’ employment representatives consistent with the requirements of sections 4103A and 4104 of this title; the manner in which such specialists and representatives are integrated in the employment service delivery systems in the State; and the program of performance incentive awards described in section 4112 of this title in the State for the program year. The veteran population to be served. the date on which the employee is so assigned; and whether the employee has satisfactorily completed such training by the National Veterans’ Employment and Training Services Institute as the Secretary requires for purposes of paragraph (8). Such additional information as the Secretary may require to make a determination with respect to awarding a grant or contract to the State. the total number of veterans residing in the State that are seeking employment; to the total number of veterans seeking employment in all States. The Secretary shall phase in over the three fiscal-year period that begins on October 1, 2003 , the manner in which amounts are made available to States under subsection (b)(5) and this subsection, as amended by the Jobs for Veterans Act. In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary may establish minimum funding levels and hold-harmless criteria for States. As a condition of a grant or contract under this section for a program year, in the case of a State that the Secretary determines has an entered-employment rate for veterans that is deficient for the preceding program year, the State shall develop a corrective action plan to improve that rate for veterans in the State. The State shall submit the corrective action plan to the Secretary for approval, and if approved, shall expeditiously implement the plan. If the Secretary does not approve a corrective action plan submitted by the State under clause (i), the Secretary shall take such steps as may be necessary to implement corrective actions in the State to improve the entered-employment rate for veterans in that State. To carry out subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall establish in regulations a uniform national threshold entered-employment rate for veterans for a program year by which determinations of deficiency may be made under subparagraph (A). In making a determination with respect to a deficiency under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall take into account the applicable annual unemployment data for the State and consider other factors, such as prevailing economic conditions, that affect performance of individuals providing employment, training, and placement services in the State. the results of reviews, carried out pursuant to subsection (b)(7), of the performance of the employment, training, and placement service delivery system in the State, and the monitoring carried out under this section. to comply with the provisions of this chapter; and on an annual basis, to notify the Secretary of, and provide supporting rationale for, each nonveteran who is employed as a disabled veterans’ outreach program specialist and local veterans’ employment representative for a period in excess of 6 months. Each State shall coordinate employment, training, and placement services furnished to veterans and eligible persons under this chapter with such services furnished with respect to such veterans and persons under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 1 and the Wagner-Peyser Act. 1 See References in Text note below. Of the amount of a grant or contract under which funds are made available to a State in order to carry out section 4103A or 4104 of this title for any program year, one percent shall be for the purposes of making cash awards under the program of performance incentive awards described in section 4112 of this title in the State. As a condition of a grant or contract under which funds are made available to a State in order to carry out section 4103A or 4104 of this title, the Secretary shall require the State to require each employee hired by the State who is assigned to perform the duties of a disabled veterans’ outreach program specialist or a local veterans’ employment representative under this chapter to satisfactorily complete training provided by the National Veterans’ Employment and Training Services Institute during the 18-month period that begins on the date on which the employee is so assigned. For any employee described in subparagraph (A) who does not complete such training during such period, the Secretary may reduce by an appropriate amount the amount made available to the State employing that employee. The Secretary may establish such reasonable exceptions to the completion of training otherwise required under subparagraph (A) as the Secretary considers appropriate. to demonstrate that when the State approves or denies a certification or license described in subparagraph (B) for a veteran the State takes into consideration any training received or experience gained by the veteran while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces; and Criteria applicants must satisfy to receive a certification or license described in subparagraph (B) by the State. A description of the standard practices of the State for evaluating training received by veterans while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces and evaluating the documented work experience of such veterans during such service for purposes of approving or denying a certification or license described in subparagraph (B). Identification of areas in which training and experience described in subclause (II) fails to meet criteria described in subclause (I). A license to be a nonemergency medical professional. A license to be an emergency medical professional. A commercial driver’s license. The Secretary shall share the information the Secretary receives under subparagraph (A)(ii) with the Secretary of Defense to help the Secretary of Defense improve training for military occupational specialties so that individuals who receive such training are able to receive a certification or license described in subparagraph (B) from a State. any guidance the Secretary gives the Secretary of Defense with respect to carrying out this section; and any information the Secretary receives from a State pursuant to subparagraph (A). The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training shall promote and monitor participation of qualified veterans and eligible persons in employment and training opportunities under title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and other federally funded employment and training programs. The Secretary shall assign to each region for which the Secretary operates a regional office a representative of the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service to serve as the Regional Administrator for Veterans’ Employment and Training in such region. Each such Regional Administrator shall carry out such duties as the Secretary may require to promote veterans employment and reemployment within the region that the Administrator serves. The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training shall establish and implement a comprehensive performance accountability system to measure the performance of employment service delivery systems, including disabled veterans’ outreach program specialists and local veterans’ employment representatives providing employment, training, and placement services under this chapter in a State to provide accountability of that State to the Secretary for purposes of subsection (c). be consistent with State performance accountability measures applicable under section 116(b) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; and be appropriately weighted to provide special consideration for placement of (i) veterans requiring intensive services (as defined in section 4101(9) of this title ), such as special disabled veterans and disabled veterans, and (ii) veterans who enroll in readjustment counseling under section 1712A of this title . The Secretary may provide such technical assistance as the Secretary determines appropriate to any State that the Secretary determines has, or may have, an entered-employment rate in the State that is deficient, as determined under subsection (c)(3) with respect to a program year, including assistance in the development of a corrective action plan under that subsection. promotes a more efficient administration of services to veterans with a particular emphasis on services to disabled veterans; and does not hinder the provision of services to veterans and employers; and the Governor submits to the Secretary a proposal therefor at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to a State employee assigned to perform the duties of a disabled veterans’ outreach program specialist or a local veterans’ employment representative under chapter 41 of title 38, United States Code, who is so assigned on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Oct. 13, 2010 ]. In the case of such a State employee who is so assigned on or after January 1, 2006 , and before the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall require the State to require, as a condition of a grant or contract under which funds are made available to the State in order to carry out section 4103A or 4104 of title 38, United States Code, each such employee to satisfactorily complete the training described in section 4102A(c)(8)(A) of such title by not later than the date that is 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.” A description, including any cost to a veteran. Contact information. Whether the program has been endorsed by a veterans service organization or nonprofit organization that caters to veterans. Whether the program prefers to hire veterans. Each certification or degree an individual earns by completing the program. The Assistant Secretary shall update all information regarding programs for veterans listed on apprenticeship.gov (or any successor website) to include the information specified under subsection (a).” Any reference in any law, regulation, directive, or other document to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment shall be deemed to be a reference to the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment, as constituted on the day before the date of the enactment of this section [ Oct. 17, 1980 ], shall remain in existence until a person has been appointed to and has qualified for the position of Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment (established by the amendments made by subsection (a) [amending sections 2002 and 2002A [now 4102 and 4102A] of this title]).”