NOTICE OF PROPOSED CHANGES RELATING TO RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE 
TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM (TVEP) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
IN THE REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Alaska Workforce Investment Board, proposes to adopt regulation changes in Title 8 of the Alaska Administrative Code, dealing with the Technical Vocational Education Program (TVEP), including the following:

(1)        8 AAC 86.100 is proposed to be amended as follows: A technical and vocational education entity receiving funding under the Alaska technical and vocational education program in AS 23.15.835(d) through the department shall enter into a grant agreement with the department, and those receiving funding directly from the state shall enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the department each fiscal year. If an entity receiving funding directly already has an MOU in place with the department that includes information required under AAC 86.110, a new MOU is not required. If any TVEP fund recipient does not enter into a grant agreement or MOU, then the penalty outlined in AS 23.15.835(h) can be applied.

(2)        8 AAC 86.110 is proposed to be amended as follows: Grant agreements or Memorandums of Understanding between the department and each technical and vocational education entity receiving funding under the Alaska technical and vocational education program in AS 23.15.835(d) shall outline the program participant and financial data reporting requirements necessary to verify the performance of the program. If any TVEP fund recipient does not provide the information required under the agreement, then the penalty under AS 23.15.835(h) can be applied.

You may comment on the proposed regulation changes, including the potential costs to private persons of complying with the proposed changes, by submitting written comments to Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Alaska Workforce Investment Board at 550 W. 7th Ave., Suite 1930, Anchorage, AK 99501. Additionally, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Alaska Workforce Investment Board, will accept comments by facsimile at (907) 269-7487 or (907) 465-2784 and by electronic mail at greg.cashen@alaska.gov. Comments may also be submitted through the Alaska Online Public Notice System, by accessing this notice on the system and using the comment link. The comments must be received not later than 5:00 pm on March 1, 2021.

You may provide oral comments relevant to the proposed action via telephone at the hearing to be held on February 12, 2021 by calling 1-888-354-0094, Conference ID: 4461969111#.  Due to public health and safety concerns associated with the COVID – 19 pandemic, there will not be in-person attendance provided at the hearing site, so please prepare to share your oral comments by telephone only.  The hearing is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and priority will be given to commenters on the line before the beginning of the hearing. The hearing may be extended to accommodate those on the line before 10:00 a.m., who did not have an opportunity to comment. Before the start of the hearing, Alaska Workforce Investment Board, Assistant Director Greg Cashen may limit the time allotted for each person providing oral testimony, as reasonably necessary to conclude the hearing in the time provided.

You may submit written questions relevant to the proposed action to Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Alaska Workforce Investment Board at 550 W. 7th Ave., Suite 1930, Anchorage, AK 99501 or by electronic mail at greg.cashen@alaska.gov. The questions must be received at least 10 days before the end of the public comment period. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Alaska Workforce Investment Board will aggregate its response to substantially similar questions and make the questions and responses available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System https://awib.alaska.gov/.

If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation in order to participate in this process, please contact Louise Dean at (907) 269-7487 or louise.dean@alaska.gov not later than February 8, 2021 to ensure that any necessary accommodations can be provided.

A copy of the proposed regulation changes is available on the Alaska Online Public Notice System and by contacting Greg Cashen at (907) 269-3569 or greg.cashen@alaska.gov.

After the public comment period ends, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development will either adopt the proposed regulation changes or other provisions dealing with the same subject, without further notice, or decide to take no action. The language of the final regulation may be different from that of the proposed regulation. You should comment during the time allowed if your interests could be affected.

Statutory authority: AS 23.15.820; AS 23.15.830; AS 23.15.835

Statutes being implemented, interpreted, or made specific: AS 23.15.820; AS 23.15.835; AS 23.15.840

Fiscal information: The proposed regulation changes are not expected to require an increased appropriation.

The Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Alaska Workforce Investment Board keeps a list of individuals and organizations interested in its regulations. Those on the list will automatically be sent a copy of all of the division notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to the division at Xavien Phillips, 3301 Eagle Street, Ste. 305, Anchorage, AK 99503, or xavien.phillips@alaska.gov, giving your name, and either your e-mail address or mailing address, as you prefer for receiving notices.

Date:   1/26/2021
/S/
Dr. Tamika L. Ledbetter, Commissioner
Department of Labor and Workforce Development