States must use the (WIOA) Unified and Combined State Plans Requirements. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has reviewed and approved this data collection. These documents reflect the incorporation of public comments received from the publication of the August 6 Federal Register notice prepared by the Departments of Labor, Education, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, and Agriculture.
WIOA is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy. Congress passed the Act by a wide bipartisan majority; it is the first legislative reform in 15 years of the public workforce system.
WIOA supersedes the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and amends the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, the Wagner-Peyser Act, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. In general, the Act takes effect on July 1, 2015, the first full program year after enactment, unless otherwise noted. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) will issue further guidance on the timeframes for implementation of these changes and proposed regulations reflecting the changes in WIOA soon after enactment.