Pathways to Paychecks Act
The Pathways to Paychecks Act would amend the Wagner-Peyser Act to give states more flexibility in staffing their employment service offices. Specifically, it adds a new option allowing states to use their own state merit staff (civil service employees) or other staff who meet the requirements applicable to federal contractors to perform the duties of employment service offices. The goal is to let states choose staffing arrangements that best fit their needs while continuing to deliver the employment services mandated by law. In practical terms, this could mean that instead of relying only on a particular type of staff arrangement, states could hire or contract with state employees or federal-contractor–qualified staff to run the offices, deliver job search assistance, connect job seekers with opportunities, and perform related functions.
Key Points
- 1Adds a new provision (d) to Section 9 of the Wagner-Peyser Act, creating flexibility in staffing employment service offices.
- 2Allows States to use State merit staff (civil service employees) to carry out the duties of employment service offices under the Act.
- 3Allows States to use other staff that meet the requirements applicable to Federal contractors, opening the door to private-sector or contracted personnel who meet those standards.
- 4Applies to the duties and activities carried out by employment service offices as described in the Wagner-Peyser Act.
- 5The bill is titled the “Pathways to Paychecks Act.”