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Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

WIOA Final Rules

President Barack Obama signed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) into law on July 22, 2014. WIOA is landmark legislation that is designed to strengthen and improve our nation's public workforce system and help get Americans, including youth and those with significant barriers to employment, into high-quality jobs and careers and help employers hire and retain skilled workers.

Following are the final rules as published in the Federal Register:

WIOA: Joint Rule for Unified and Combined State Plans, Performance Accountability, and the One-Stop System Joint Provisions – Final Rule
(Effective Date: October 18, 2016)
State Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program; State Supported Employment Services Program; Limitations on Use of Subminimum Wage – Final Rule
(Effective Date: September 19, 2016, with the exception of 34 CFR 361.10; 34 CFR 361.23; 34 CFR 361.40; and subparts D, E, and F of part 361, which become effective October 18, 2016)
WIOA: Miscellaneous Program Changes – Final Rule
(Effective Date: September 19, 2016, with the exception that the removal of part 388 becomes effective October 1, 2016)

WIOA Unified State Plan

For the period of July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2020
Effective: July 1, 2016
Disclaimer: This draft version of North Dakota's Unified State Plan is not to be considered final. All content herein is subject to change.

WIOA Unified State Plan (2.85 Mb pdf)
North Dakota Department of Human Services Organizational Chart (18KB pdf)
WIOA Unified State Plan Supporting Data (155 kb pdf)

2016-2018 ND State VR Triennial Needs Assessment

2016-2018 ND State Triennial Needs Assessment (pdf)

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) employment programs provide training and employment services to individuals with disabilities so they can become and remain employed. In order to administer the programs, VR must submit a state plan to the Rehabilitation Services Administration for approval every four years. Bi-annual updates are also required for certain sections of the plan. Before making any annual changes to the plan, VR requests comments from the public.

The links above include the state plan preprint which contains the legal requirements for VR, and all state plan attachments with their effective date.

Questions, comments, or requests for additional information can be directed to:

North Dakota Vocational Rehabilitation
1237 West Divide Avenue, Suite 1B
Bismarck, ND 58501-1208
Phone: (701) 328-8950
Toll Free: (800) 755-2745
rthrolson@nd.gov

Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS)

DVR, in partnership with local educational agencies, shall provide or arrange for the provision of Pre-Employment Transition Services for all students with disabilities in need of such services who are eligible or potentially eligible for services.

Pre-Employment Transition Services - PowerPoint (743kb pdf)
Memorandum of Understanding (403kb pdf)

Section 511 - Subminimum Wage

Section 511 is a new requirement for employers or agencies who hold special wage certificates, commonly known as 14(c) certificates, under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) (29 U.S.C. 214(c)). The purpose of Section 511 is to ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to information and services that will enable them to achieve competitive, integrated employment.

Section 511 Flyer (142kb pdf)
Section 511, What does it Mean? (1.3Mb pdf)
Section 511 Subminimum Wage FAQ (665kb pdf)
Fact Sheet #39H: The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and Limitations on Payment of Subminimum Wages under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (pdf)
ND Section 511 Data (194 kb pdf)
Documentation Requirements (188kb pdf)
Documentation Requirements 24 and Younger (295kb pdf)
24 and Younger Flowchart (206kb pdf)

Technical Assistance

Youth Pathways to Post-Secondary and Employment
The above site brings together five different National Youth-Focused Training and Technical Assistance Centers.

The National Training and Technical Assistance Centers focus on Youth, Disability, and Transition centers collaborating on this site include: