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a. 1. C. Provide the appeals process referred to in section 106(b)(5) of WIOA relating to designation of local areas

Current Narrative:

Denial of Local Area Designation

A unit of general local government that requests but is not granted designation as a local Workforce Investment area under section 106 (b) (2) or (3) may submit an appeal to the State Workforce Development Council.

All such appeals shall be in writing and be filed within twenty (20) calendar days of the date the denial letter was mailed by the Governor or the Governor’s designee. The appeal must include all factual and legal arguments as to why the appeal should be granted. The appeal shall be filed with the:

Executive Director of the Workforce Development Council                                                                                                                                                317 West Main Street                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Boise, Idaho 83735.

The Executive Director shall promptly acknowledge receipt of the appeal.

The existing designated workforce areas will continue while the appeal is in progress and will be modified should the initial denial of designation be overturned.

(i) Appeal to the State Workforce Development Council

The appeal shall be deemed timely filed if it is received by the Executive Director of the Workforce Development Council within the 20-day period, unless the appeal is filed by mail, in which case the official postmark affixed by the U. S. Postal Service shall be deemed to be the date of filing. Any appeal that is filed late shall be summarily dismissed.

The Chair of the Council will select a hearing officer. The appeal shall be heard by the hearing officer not more than forty-five (45) days after the appeal was filed. With the consent of the appealing party, the hearing may be held after the 45-day period, but in no case shall the hearing be conducted more than sixty (60) days after the appeal was filed.

The hearing officer shall inform the appellant of the date, time and place of the hearing by written notice mailed at least ten (10) calendar days in advance. The appellant shall have the right to present testimony and documentary evidence, to offer evidence in rebuttal, to present oral argument and to be represented by legal counsel. All testimony received by the hearing officer shall be under oath or affirmation. If the appellant retains legal counsel, federal WIOA funds cannot be used for remuneration.

An appellant must establish that it is entitled to designation as a local area according to this policy and WIOA.

Within fifteen (15) days of the hearing, the hearing officer shall issue a recommended decision, which shall include findings of fact, recommendations and the basis therefore. That decision shall be mailed to the appealing party. The hearing officer shall file a copy of the recommended decision with the Executive Director of the Council.

The recommended decision of the hearing officer shall be placed on the agenda of the next Council meeting for disposition, if there are at least 14 calendars days remaining prior to the meeting; however, if no Council meeting is scheduled within forty-five (45) days of the date the decision was issued, a special meeting of the Council, or a Committee designated by the Chair, shall be conducted within that 45-day period to accept, reject or modify the hearing officer’s recommended decision.

In its deliberations, the Council shall consider only the evidence presented to the hearing officer. The Council shall not receive or consider any evidence not presented to the hearing officer. The decision of the Council shall be reduced to writing and be mailed to the Governor and the appealing party. The decision must set out in summary fashion the Council’s findings and conclusions. The Council may adopt, in whole or in part, the findings of fact, recommendations and rationale of the hearing officer.

(ii) Appeal to USDOL

If a timely appeal of the decision does not result in the requested designation, the unit of general local government or grant recipient may further appeal the designation decision to the U.S. Secretary of Labor within thirty (30) days after receipt of the Council’s written decision. The appeal to the Secretary must be consistent with the requirements of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The Secretary, after receiving a request for review and upon determining that the entity has met the burden of establishing that it was not accorded procedural rights under the appeal process established in the state plan, or that the area meets the requirements of Section 106(b) paragraph (2) or (3) and 20 CFR 679.250, as appropriate, may require that the area be designated as a local area. As part of this determination, the Secretary may consider comments submitted by the Council in response to the appeal.

Appeals made to the Secretary must be filed no later than 30 days after receipt of written notification of the denial from the Council, and must be submitted by certified mail, return receipt requested, to:

Secretary                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 U.S. Department of Labor                                                                                                                                                                                                               Attention: ASET                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   200 Constitution Ave NW                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Washington, DC 20210

A copy of the appeal must also be simultaneously provided to the State Council, submitted to:

Workforce Development Council                                                                                                                                                                                                 317 West Main Street                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Boise, Idaho 83735

The Secretary will notify the Governor and the appellant in writing of the Secretary's decision.