Senate Joint Resolution No. 5

Introduced By aklestad, bergsagel, swysgood, baer, miller, thomas, menahan, halligan, bishop, sprague, grosfield



A Joint Resolution of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the state of Montana encouraging additional performance measures and assessment of outcomes for adults in certain Job Training Partnership Act programs; and encouraging the targeting of certain available Job Training Partnership Act funds to at-risk youths and youths who have committed offenses.



WHEREAS, the state receives funds under the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) to operate adult and youth job training programs throughout Montana; and

WHEREAS, currently, assessment of the efficacy of certain JTPA-funded job training programs is conducted only once, at 13 weeks following completion of the programs; and

WHEREAS, verification of employment consists only of contacts with current employers and employees; and

WHEREAS, job placements for participants in certain JTPA-funded training programs have not been compiled over sufficient durations to measure outcomes over longer terms; and

WHEREAS, youth job training and education services for at-risk youth and juvenile offenders are limited throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, the Youth Justice Advisory Council, reestablished by Executive Order No. 5-95, is responsible for promoting juvenile justice coordination and performance; and

WHEREAS, a 39% increase is projected in youth JTPA Title IIB funding.



NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

That the 55th Legislature encourage the Governor and the Private Industry Councils to establish additional followup measures to identify long-term outcomes of adults participating in JTPA Title IIA programs. Additional followup should be conducted on 10% of the participants who are placed in employment by JTPA operators and should require followup at 13 weeks and at 26 weeks to more accurately determine, at a minimum, the actual duration of employment, type of occupation, employer, and week-by-week earning history. To the extent possible, employment data should be verified against available employment records, including records maintained on the unemployment insurance and workers' compensation insurance. These outcomes of the JTPA-funded job training programs should be compared to federal performance standards and verified against original placement data. This information should be included in the annual performance report of the Job Training Coordinating Council STATE JOB TRAINING BUREAU, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY, to the Governor.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the 55th Legislature encourage the use of certain JTPA youth funds to be targeted to serve at-risk youths and juvenile offenders. Funding transfers between JTPA programs for at-risk youths and juvenile offenders should be completed at the federally established maximum levels to address geographic areas of the state where additional or supplemental juvenile programs are needed. Areas served should be determined by the Private Industry Councils, based on recommendations from the Youth Justice Advisory Council. The Private Industry Councils should have performance standards to address the needs of youth at risk and of juvenile offenders, as identified by the Youth Justice Advisory Council. Any increases in JTPA Title IIB funding should target those areas.

-END-