1.4 Local Workforce Development Boards (Local WDBs) | 1.4.8 Local WDB Membership and Criteria

Table of Contents 

1.4.8 Local WDB Membership and Criteria ¹

Effective date: July 1, 2017

The chief elected officials (CEOs) in each local area shall appoint members to the local WDB in accordance with the criteria outlined below:

Business

No less than 51% of each local WDB shall be representatives of businesses in the local area.

Local WDB members representing the Business category must be:

• individuals with optimum policymaking or hiring authority;
• from businesses, including small businesses or organizations representing businesses, that provide employment opportunities and include high-quality, work-relevant training and development opportunities in in-demand industry sectors or occupations ² in the local area. ³
  • "Businesses" can include non-profit organizations representing in-demand industry sectors, such as employers in healthcare and/or education.
  • "Organizations representing businesses" can include trade associations and local and/or regional chambers of commerce.

Business Category Nominations

CEOs in each local area must solicit nominations for local WDB representatives from local business organizations and business trade associations, and make appointments to the local WDB from among the individuals nominated.

Workforce

Not less than 20% of the members of each local WDB shall be representatives of the workforce within the local area.

In this category, local WDBs must include:

• at least two (2) representatives of labor organizations; and
• at least one (1) representative who is a member of a labor organization or a training director from a joint labor-management apprenticeship program.

In local areas where no organized labor representation exists, CEOs shall ensure that at least two (2) other representatives of employees are included in the local WDB membership.

In local areas where no joint labor-management program exists, CEOs shall ensure that at least one (1) additional representative of an apprenticeship program is included in the local WDB membership.

Labor Representative Nominations

For local WDB representatives from labor organizations and joint labor-management programs, CEOs must solicit nominations from local labor federations, and then must make appointments to the local WDB from those individuals nominated.

Within the Workforce category, CEOs may also include:

• representatives of community-based organizations that have demonstrated experience and expertise in addressing the employment needs of individuals with barriers to employment, including organizations that serve veterans or that provide or support competitive integrated employment for individuals with disabilities; and/or
• representatives of organizations that have demonstrated experience and expertise in addressing the employment, training, or education needs of eligible youth, including representatives of organizations that serve out-of-school youth.

Education and Training

In this category, local WDBs must include:

• at least one (1) representative of eligible providers administering Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) activities under Title II of WIOA; and
• at least one (1) representative of institutions of higher education providing workforce investment activities (including, but not limited to, Wisconsin Technical Colleges).

In cases where there is more than one (1) provider of AEFLA activities, or multiple institutions of higher education providing workforce investment activities, operating within the local area, the CEO must solicit nominations from those providers and institutions, and appoint required representatives from among the individuals nominated. There is no requirement that the local WDB include a representative from each provider operating within the local area.

Within this category, CEOs may also include:

• representatives of local educational agencies, and of community-based organizations with demonstrated experience and expertise in addressing the education or training needs of individuals with barriers to employment.

Government and Economic and Community Development

In this category, local WDBs must include:

• at least one (1) representative of economic and community development entities;
• at least one (1) representative of the State employment service office under the Wagner-Peyser Act serving the local area;
• at least one (1) representative of the programs carried out under Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 serving the local area;
• at least (1) representative of Unemployment Insurance.
  • NOTE: Inclusion of an Unemployment Insurance representative is neither strictly required, nor strictly prohibited, in WIOA Section 107(b)(1). In the interest of partnership with all relevant workforce development agencies, the State requires each local WDB to include a representative from the Division of Unemployment Insurance.

See Special Note About Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Appointees.

In the event one or more of the DWD-appointed positions becomes vacant during the two (2) year certification period, the local WDB must follow the procedures outlined in Changes to Local WDB Membership to notify the LPL of the vacancy so the DWD Secretary can appoint a replacement.

Other

CEOs may appoint other individuals to the local WDB at their discretion, including:

• representatives of agencies or entities administering programs serving the local area relating to transportation, housing, and public assistance;
• representatives of philanthropic organizations serving the local area; and/or
• other individuals or representatives of entities the CEO determines appropriate.

If appointing other representatives, the CEO must ensure that required percentages for Business (at least 51%) and Workforce (at least 20%) categories are maintained.

For a summary of WDB Membership Requirements, including recommendations for appropriate nominating agencies in each category, please see Attachment A, Summary of WDB Membership Requirements.

Representation of Multiple Categories

Members of a local WDB may be appointed as representatives to multiple categories if they meet all the criteria for representation in each of those categories. ⁴

In cases where a single individual is representing multiple categories, the individual shall only receive one (1) vote.

When no representation of multiple categories occurs, the minimum size of a local WDB will be 23 members. [Attachment A, Summary of WDB Membership Requirements, p. 3.]

Demographic and Geographic Diversity

CEOs in each local area shall strive to ensure that their local WDB includes adequate representation of diversity in the following areas:

• in-demand industry sectors;
• geographic location within the local area; and
• demographics including gender, race/ethnicity, ability/disability, etc.

Additional Requirements

Members appointed to the local WDB must be individuals with optimum policy-making authority within the entities they represent, meaning they can reasonably be expected to speak affirmatively on behalf of the entities they represent and commit those entities to a chosen course of action. ⁵

All required local WDB members, as outlined above, must have voting privilege. The CEO may choose whether or not to convey voting privileges to non-required members. ⁶

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• ¹ WIOA Section 107(b)
• ² Defined in WIOA Section 3(23), TEGL 27-14
• ³ WIOA Section 107(b)(2)(A)
• ⁴ TEGL 27-14
• ⁵ 20 CFR 679.340
• ⁶ 20 CFR 679.320(i)