Workforce Services Interim Committee
Members Present:
Sen. Robert F. Montgomery, Chair
Rep. Orville D. Carnahan, Chair
Sen. Lorin V. Jones
Sen. Robert M. Muhlstein
Sen. Millie M. Peterson
Rep. Jeff Alexander
Rep. Sheryl L. Allen
Members Absent:
Rep. Steve Barth
Sen. Blaze D. Wharton
Rep. Duane Bourdeaux
Rep. Margaret Dayton
Rep. Lloyd W. Frandsen
Rep. Brent H. Goodfellow
Rep. J. Brent Haymond
Rep. Bryan D. Holladay
Rep. Nora B. Stephens
Staff Present:
Arthur L. Hunsaker,
Research Analyst
R. Chet Loftis,
Associate General Counsel Barbara A. Teuscher, Legislative Secretary
Note: Names of others present and copies of information distributed at the meeting are on file in the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.
1. Call to Order and Approval of Minutes of Meeting Held July 15, 1998
Chair Montgomery called the meeting to order at 9:06 a.m.
MOTION: Sen. Jones moved to approve the minutes of July 15, 1998. The motion passed unanimously. Sens. Muhlestein and Wharton and Rep. Alexander were absent for the vote.
2. Staff Report: Current Federal Workforce Services - related Legislation - Mr. Hunsaker presented a brief update. He discussed how a new federal grant program called the Job Access and Reverse Commute Program is helping low income individuals and welfare recipients with transportation needs. Mr. Hunsaker also referred to potential cuts in the TANF program included in the proposed Agricultural Research Extension and Education Act, but cited a letter from the Speaker of the House of Representatives reassuring the National Governors Association that this will not happen.
Mr. Mason Bishop, Department of Workforce Services, informed the committee that the Workforce Investment Act (HR1385), which recently passed Congress, contains several provisions of interest in relation to whether rehabilitation should be part of the Department of Workforce Services.
3. Update - Child Care Issues - Rep. Allen, Cochair, Child Care Task Force, distributed handouts and presented a slide presentation. The presentation covered quality, availability, and affordability. She explained how to maximize the Federal Child Development Block Grant to subsidize low income parents needing assistance through state matching funds. Referring to the Child Care Task Force summary of priorities, she expressed her concern regarding turnover, wages, and benefits of child care workers. Rep. Allen informed the committee that funding will be requested during the 1999 General Session for an early literacy program. Committee discussion followed the presentation.
4. Report: Utah Nonprofit Association (UNA) _ Impact on Utah's Economy _ Ms. Roz McGee, of the Utah Nonprofit Association, addressed the committee. A handout was distributed. She discussed the nonprofit sector's unique challenges and shared a few highlights from the report and the association's goals. To achieve these goals, in 1996 UNA established the State of Utah Nonprofit Understanding Project (SUNUP). Ms. McGee then discussed the accomplishments of the project.
Mr. John T. Nielsen, Chair of SUNUP, said the focus of the committee is to help legislators understand the importance of the not-for-profit sector not only in the state's economy but also in the social fabric and quality of life in Utah. Committee discussion and public comment followed.
Ms. Laurie DiPadova, Deputy Director, stated that in other states, SUNUP research focuses on the impact of welfare reform on religious institutions. In Utah, the focus is not only religious institutions but other social service nonprofit associations.
Chair Montgomery suggested for the Legislature to go slow in considering changing tax exempt status for certain charitable organizations.
5. Update: Department of Workforce Services - Implementation of corrective Action Plans Based on State Auditor Recommendations - Ms. Barbara Gittens, Director of Finance, Department of Workforce Services, distributed a handout to committee members. She commented on the response to an audit done by the Office of the State Auditor and presented a brief update on where the department is in implementing the recommendations of the auditor. Ms. Gittens noted that the audit findings, completed as of June 30, 1997, related to workforce services functions prior to consolidation into the new department. She then explained how the recommendations were implemented. A video describing cost allocation was presented. Committee discussion and public comment followed.
Ms. Karen Silver, Salt Lake Community Action Program, expressed concern with state funding of child care. She then said as more TANF recipients move to full time work child care becomes more critical.
6. Update: Business Data Collection - Chair Montgomery asked Rep. Frandsen to report on the progress he has made on the business data collection issues raised in the previous meeting. Rep. Frandsen reported that a meeting involving representatives from the Department of Workforce Services, the education community, the business community, and other interested parties. The group discussed some of the advantages and disadvantages of collecting the data. It was suggested some individuals present their recommendations to the governor. Rep. Frandsen would then consult the members of the group and make a recommendation to the committee.
7. Adjourn
MOTION: Sen. Peterson moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:00 a.m. The motion passed unanimously.
F:\USERS\WOR\INTERIM\8-19-98.MN
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