1. The Workforce Investment Board (the "Board") is hereby established.

2. The Board shall not exceed fifty-three voting members appointed by the Governor. The Governor shall designate one of the business representatives on the Board to serve as Chairperson and one other business member to serve as Vice-Chairperson. Each member shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The membership of the Board shall reflect the demographic and geographic diversity of the State and shall be composed of:

1. the Governor;

2. 2 members of the Senate, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and 2 members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House; and

3. representatives appointed by the Governor, who are-

1. representatives of business in the State, who-

1. are owners of businesses, chief executives or operating officers of businesses, and other business executives or employers with optimum policymaking or hiring authority;

2. represent businesses with employment opportunities that reflect the employment opportunities of the State; and

3. are appointed from among individuals nominated by State business organizations and business trade associations;

2. chief elected officials (representing both cities and counties, where appropriate);

3. representatives of labor organizations who have been nominated by State labor federations;

4. representatives of individuals and organizations that have experience with respect to youth activities;

5. representatives of individuals and organizations that have experience and expertise in the delivery of workforce investment activities, including chief executive officers of community colleges and community-based organizations within the State;

6. the lead State agency officials with responsibility for the programs and activities that are described in section 121(b) of Public Law 105-220-Aug.7 1998, the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and carried out by one-stop partners; and

7. Such other representatives and State agency officials as the Governor may designate, such as State agency officials responsible for economic development and juvenile justice programs in the State.

4. a majority of the members of the State Board shall be representative of business described in paragraph C (i), (I), (ll), and (lll) above.

3. An Executive Director shall staff the Board.

4. The State Board shall assist the Governor in:

1. Promoting and developing a well-educated, highly skilled Delaware workforce by creating a coordinated, comprehensive workforce development system;

2. Overseeing and coordinating all state and federal workforce investment programs;

3. Developing a strategic plan including goals and strategies for all state and federal workforce development programs and/or populations including;

1. School-to-Work (Grades 11 to 14);

2. Welfare-to-Work;

3. Prison-to-Work;

4. Customized Worker Training;

5. Economically Disadvantaged Persons; and

6. Dislocated Workers;

4. Developing, implementing and coordinating standards and measures to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of workforce development programs;

5. Promoting integrated service delivery and information systems at the state and local level for all workforce development programs;

6. Determining which workforce development advisory councils are redundant and recommending which should be eliminated;

7. Assuming the duties, responsibilities and functions of the State Job Training Coordinating Council, the State Occupational Information Coordinating Committee, the Delaware Workforce Development Council, and such other workforce development advisory councils that the Board recommends for elimination;

8. Developing and implementing a plan for assuming the duties, responsibilities and functions of the Delaware Private Industry Council (DPIC) including oversight of the "Blue-Collar Act" Title 19 Del. C. § 3402 (3) a. & (3) b.

9. Developing federal regulatory waiver applications to consolidate training programs and streamline the delivery of services ("One-Stop Shopping");

10. Establishing linkages with other entities necessary to enhance the development of a State strategic plan for workforce development;

11. Commenting annually on the measures taken pursuant to section 113(b)(14) of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act (20 U.S.C. 2323(b)(14));

12. Developing and continuously improving comprehensive State performance measures, to assess the effectiveness of the workforce development in the State;

13. Preparing the annual report to the U.S. Secretary of Labor;

14. Developing the statewide employment statistics system;

15. Developing an application for an incentive grant under section 503 of WIA;

16. Carrying out the responsibilities of the Local Board as outlined in the Act.

5. The Board may promulgate bylaws, consistent with law and with this Executive Order, governing its organization and procedure.

6. The Board shall meet at the call of the Chairperson, or as provided by rules adopted by the Board, but shall not meet less than annually.

7. Members of the Board may receive reimbursement for necessary travel and expenses.

8. Forty Percent (40%) of the serving members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting, notwithstanding the existence of one or more vacancies. Decisions of the Board must be approved by a majority of those members constituting a quorum at a meeting of the Board.

9. The State Auditor of Accounts, or a certified public accountant appointed by the State Auditor of Accounts, may annually conduct and remit to the Governor and the General Assembly an audit of the Board and, in the conduct of the audit, shall have access to all records of the Board.

10. The Delaware Workforce Development Council is hereby eliminated.

11. Executive Orders Twenty-Five and Forty-Seven are hereby rescinded to the extent inconsistent with this Order.

APPROVED this __________ day of January, 2000  

_____________________________________
Governor

Attest:

_____________________________________
Secretary of State