ARTICLE 1.0
NAME AND NATURE OF THE BOARD

Section 1.1

The Delaware Workforce Development Board (the “Board”) is established pursuant to the authority in, “The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (WIOA).” The purpose of the Board is to review statewide policies and programs and make recommendations on actions that should be taken by the State to align workforce development programs in a manner that supports a comprehensive and streamlined workforce development system.

The Board shall assist the Governor in executing the duties outlined in Executive Order 51 dated June 12, 2015. Those duties shall include:

1. the development, implementation and modification of the state plan required by applicable federal law;
2. consistent with paragraph (a), the review of statewide policies of statewide programs, and recommendations on actions that should be taken by the state to align workforce development programs in the state in a manner that supports a comprehensive and streamlined workforce development system in the state, including the review and provision of comments on the state plans, if any, for programs and activities of one-stop partners that are not core programs as defined by applicable federal law;
3. the development and continuous improvement of the workforce development in the state through:
   1. the identification of barriers and means for removing barriers to better coordinate, align, and avoid duplication among the programs and activities carried out through the system;
   2. the development of strategies to support the use of career pathways for the purpose of providing individuals, including low skilled adults, youth, and individuals with barriers to employment (including individuals with disabilities), with workforce investment activities, education, and supportive services to enter or retain employment;
   3. the development of strategies for providing effective outreach to and improved access for individuals and employers who could benefit from services provided through the workforce development system;
   4. the development and expansion of strategies for meeting the needs of employers, workers, and jobseekers particularly through industry or sector partnerships related to in-demand sectors and occupations;
   5. the development of strategies to support staff training and awareness across programs supported under the workforce development system;
4. the development and updating of comprehensive state performance accountability measures, including state adjusted levels of performance, to assess the effectiveness of the core programs in the state;
5. the identification and dissemination of best practices;
6. the development and review of statewide policies affecting the coordinated provision of services through the state’s one-stop delivery system;
7. the development of strategies for technological improvements to facilitate access to, and improve the quality of, services and activities provided through the one-stop delivery system;
8. the development of strategies for aligning technology and data systems across one-stop partner programs to enhance service delivery and improve efficiencies in reporting on performance accountability measures (including the design and implementation of common intake, data collection, case management information, and performance accountability measurement and reporting processes and the incorporation of local input into such design and implementation to improve coordination of services across one-stop partner programs);
9. the preparation of the Board’s annual reports;
10. the development of the statewide workforce and labor market information system;
11. the development of such other policies as may promote statewide objectives for, and enhance the performance of, the workforce development system in the state;
12. the development and the implementation of a plan for assuming the duties, responsibilities and functions of the Delaware Workforce Investment Board including oversight of the “Blue-Collar Act” Title 19 Del. C §3402 (3)(a) & (3)(b);

ARTICLE 2.0
MEMBERS

Section 2.1 Membership

The Governor of Delaware shall appoint the members of the Board according to WIOA. Members of the Board shall be “Board members.” The number of voting Board members shall not exceed 53.

Section 2.2 Qualifications

The composition of the Board will satisfy the criteria for membership as delineated in the WIOA. Any Board member who no longer represents the organization that served as the basis for his or her initial appointment to the Board shall be succeeded by another representative of that organization or another organization in the same category.

Section 2.3 Compensation

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

Section 2.4 Removal

A Board member may be recommended to the Governor for removal for valid cause from the Board by the vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the Board members presently serving. Lack of attendance at meetings may be considered a reason for such action.

ARTICLE 3.0
GENERAL POWERS

General Powers

The business and affairs of the Board shall be managed by the Board and/or its Executive Committee.

ARTICLE 4.0
MEETINGS

Section 4.1 Meetings

The Board shall meet annually and additionally as needed, on dates determined by the Chair. Notice of all such meetings shall be sent by the Executive Director of the Board to each Board member at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting. Such notice shall state the time, date, and place of meeting, and shall also state the purpose thereof. In addition, meetings will be held in compliance with 29 Del. C. § 10004.

Section 4.2 Quorum

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. No proxy voting will be allowed.

ARTICLE 5.0
OFFICERS

The Board officers shall consist of the Chair and Vice-Chair and such other officers as may be required and whose duties may be fixed by the Board. The Chair and Vice-Chair are appointed by the Governor. The Chair shall be a representative of private industry. Should there be a vacancy of an officer other than the Chair or Vice-Chair, the Chair will appoint a member to serve in that capacity until the next annual meeting.

ARTICLE 6.0
COMMITTEES

Section 6.1 Executive Committee

The Executive Committee will be composed of Board members who are officers of the Board, the chairpersons of committees, the Secretary of Labor, the Director of the Delaware Economic Development Office, the Secretary of the Department of Education, and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services. The majority of the members shall be from the private sector. The Chair shall appoint the undesignated members. Membership shall not exceed 15. The Board Chair will serve as Chair of the Executive Committee.

Section 6.2

The Executive Committee shall exercise all the authority of the Board during the intervals between the meetings. The Executive Committee will meet as requested by the Chair.

Section 6.3 Other Committees

Other committees, standing or special, shall be appointed by the Chair as the Board or the Executive Committee deems necessary to carry out the work of the Board. Except as otherwise prohibited by law and these bylaws, the Chair may invest any such committee with such powers and authority, subject to such conditions, as may be fitting.

ARTICLE 7.0
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Board shall employ an Executive Director to be responsible for day-to- day operations. Other persons or firms may also be engaged or employed to assist the Board in carrying out its programs and responsibilities. All such employment must be by action of the Chair, with the concurrence of the Board or the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE 8.0
CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Any member of the Board who is an employee or a board member of an organization applying for funds, or deemed eligible to receive Individual Training Accounts, shall disclose this fact at Board meetings and/or Committee meetings. In all such cases, these individuals shall refrain from voting upon any matter related to such contracts, or upon any matter in which he or she, or his or her, immediate family may have a financial interest.

ARTICLE 9.0
AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS

Amendments to these bylaws shall be adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Board at a meeting as provided in 29 Del. C. § 10004.

Related Topics:  Department of State, JobLink, Workforce, Workforce Development Board