Mayors' Threshold Amendment to be Offered; Workforce Bill Awaits for Floor Time

By Joan Crigger

etc4@usmayors.org

Workforce legislation -- which had been expected to move to the Senate floor the week of March 30 -- was still awaiting floor time as the recess approached. In a new development, Senator Frank Lautenberg (NJ) has indicated that he will offer an amendment that would "grandfather" existing Service Delivery Areas between 200,000 and 500,000. This amendment would address the Conference's opposition to the amended population threshold, set at 500,000 in the Senate legislation.

The bill, S 1186, would amend the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) of 1982. The Conference has worked in support of passing the legislation with the State and Local Coalition, except for the provision which would set the population threshold at 500,000.

At the leadership meeting in Key West, the Conference opposed that higher threshold and advocated continuance of the 200,000 population threshold currently under JTPA. The threshold designation under present law, stipulates that "any unit of general local government with a population of 200,000 or more" must be automatically approved by the Governor as a service delivery area upon request. Prior to this decision, the Conference had worked with the State and Local Coalition to present alternate provisions to the senate bill to ensure a successful workforce development system. The recommendations centered on the development of the state unified plan, accountability, and "grandfathering" existing state reforms.

Mayors are urged to contact Senators supporting Sen. Lautenberg's amendment and in support of S. 1186.