The mission of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development is to supervise the efficient delivery of programs that provide individuals and businesses with workforce development, labor arbitration and conciliation, and workers compensation services.

The Department of Labor and Workforce Development has direct responsibility for the Corporation for Business, Work and Learning, the Employment Services Program, the Division of Labor and Market Information, the Division of Occupational Safety, and the Division of Employment and Training. Also within the Department are the Division of Industrial Accidents, the Labor Relations Commission, the Joint Labor Management Committee, the Board of Conciliation and Arbitration, the Massachusetts Job Council, and the One-Stop Career Centers,

Objectives

In Fiscal Year 1998, the Weld/Cellucci Administration will continue the process of transforming the Commonwealth's fragmented, duplicative, and category-based training system into one that is efficient, innovative, convenient, and responsive to the needs of individuals and businesses. To achieve this goal, the Department will focus on two initiatives: 1) expanding the number of One-Stop Career Centers, and 2) consolidating the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA).

The Department will expand the number of One-Stop Career Centers from seven to nineteen. These Centers provide individuals and businesses with a single point-of-access to a comprehensive array of job training, education, and placement programs. These programs include skills assessments, on-line job listings, resource libraries, resume development, interview workshops, and other workforce development services.

In addition, the Department will complete the administrative consolidation of the JTPA program, which provides training services to disadvantaged adults who face structural barriers to employment. While other states administer this program in a unified fashion, the Commonwealth has administered this program through two agencies, the Division of Employment and Training, and the Corporation for Business, Work, and Learning (formerly Bay State Skills and the Industrial Services Program). In Fiscal Year 1998, the Corporation will administer the entire JTPA program.

The Department will also supervise an initiative to downsize the Division of Industrial Accidents. In response to a decline in the number of workers compensation cases, the Division will reduce the number of administrative law judges and support staff. This will provide employers with a lower assessment rate for workers compensation and make the Commonwealth an even more competitive state for business expansion.

Budget Recommendations

The Fiscal Year 1998 funding recommendation includes $9 million to support the Weld/Cellucci Administration's goal to increase the number of One-Stop Career Centers.

The Fiscal Year 1998 funding recommendation also transfers two programs to other Departments. The Massachusetts Manufacturing Network (7003-0904) will be consolidated with the Massachusetts Manufacturing Partnership (7007-0350) and administered by the Department of Economic Development. Funding for the operation of the School-to-Work program (7003-0603) will be transferred to a new account (7027-0016) at the Department of Education.

Line-items 7003-0400 and 7003-0500 will be merged into line-item 7003-0700. This will provide the Department with a more flexible funding structure and enable it to improve the management of its resources.