Process for Electing State Agency Representatives for Consultations with Department of Labor Relating to Nationwide Employment Statistics System

The Department of Labor is establishing a process for the election of representatives of the States to participate in formal consultations with the Department relating to the development of an annual employment statistics plan and to address other employment statistics issues. Section 15(d)(2) of the Wagner-Peyser Act, as recently amended by section 309 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, requires the Secretary to establish a process for the election of representatives of each of the 10 Federal regions of the Department. This provision requires that the representatives be elected by and from the employment statistics directors affiliated with State agencies designated to carry out employment statistics responsibilities under section 15 of the Wagner-Peyser Act. The interim final rule addresses the election cycles, the tenure of the representatives, the process for the distribution and tabulation of ballots, tie-breaking procedures, methods of transmitting ballots and votes, and the filling of vacancies.