AGENDA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE SERVICES
INTERIM COMMITTEE
UTAH
LEGISLATURE
Wednesday, June 17, 2015 • 2:30 p.m. • Room 20
House Building
Approximate
Time Frame
2:30 1. Committee
Business
·
Call
to order
·
Approval
of the minutes of the May 20, 2015, meeting
2:35 2. Department of Workforce Services Assistance
Programs
The Department of Workforce
Services administers or determines eligibility for some 24 public assistance
programs. In cooperation with the department, an updated summary has been
prepared that briefly describes each program, including its purpose,
eligibility requirements, benefit amounts and restrictions, administrative
contact information, and statutory citations. The committee will hear a
briefing on the programs from committee staff and further program descriptions,
achievements, challenges, and long-term issues from the department.
·
Benjamin N. Christensen, Policy
Analyst, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel
·
Jon S. Pierpont, Executive Director, Department of
Workforce Services
3:00 3. Performance
Audit of DWS (Department of Workforce Services)
Customer Service and Follow-Up
On May 5, 2015, the Legislative Auditor General released a
Performance Audit of DWS Customer Service and Follow-Up. The audit addressed
whether DWS appropriately responds to customer service complaints, monitors and
seeks to improve customer service, and has acted on previous audit
recommendations. The auditors will present their findings and recommendations,
and a representative of DWS will respond.
·
Leah Blevins, Audit Supervisor,
Office of the Legislative Auditor General
·
Jon S. Pierpont, Executive Director, Department of
Workforce Services
3:20 4. Intergenerational Poverty Five- and Ten-Year
Plan
On
March 31, 2015, the DWS issued a report "Utah's Plan for a Stronger
Future: Five- and Ten-Year Plan to Address Intergenerational Poverty."
Thirty-three percent of children in public assistance are at risk of remaining
in poverty into adulthood. Representatives of the department will present plans
to address this issue.
·
Jon
S. Pierpont, Executive Director, Department of Workforce Services
·
Ann
Williamson, Executive Director, Utah Department of Human Services
·
David
Patton, Executive Director, Utah Department of Health
3:50 5. Child Care
Providers for Low-Income Workers
The Child Care Assistance Program provides child care
assistance to low-income families to allow parents to work outside the home
(see Utah Code Section 35A-3-201 et. seq.). A representative from the Office of
Child Care will explain the program and current issues related to paying child
care providers.
·
Tracy
Gruber, Director, Office of Child Care, Department of Workforce Services
4:10 6. Affordable
Housing and Transit
During
the 2015 General Session, H.B. 437, "Affordable Housing Modifications,"
was introduced but did not pass. The bill would have required public transit
districts that invest in transit-oriented development to contribute to
affordable housing. What opportunities exist to establish more affordable
housing near transit hubs and in other areas?
·
Steve
Erickson, Consultant, Crossroads Urban Center
·
Steve
Meyer, Chief Development Officer, Utah Transit Authority
·
Tara
Rollins, Executive Director, Utah Housing Coalition
4:55 7. Other Committee Business / Adjourn