The Alabama Workforce Transformation Act (SB247) proposes a comprehensive overhaul of the state's workforce management structure, including the renaming of the Alabama Department of Labor to the Alabama Department of Workforce and changing the title of its head from Secretary of Labor to Secretary of Workforce. The bill introduces new responsibilities for the Department, such as establishing the Alabama Workforce Board as the State Workforce Development Board, and outlines the roles of the Department of Commerce and the Alabama Industrial Development and Training Institute. It also amends various sections of the Code of Alabama 1975 to reflect these changes and repeals sections related to the Alabama Workforce Council and Regional Workforce Development Councils. Key amendments emphasize the Department's role in labor force development and the collection of labor statistics, while ensuring that references to the former Department of Labor are updated to reflect the new terminology.

Additionally, the bill establishes a framework for workforce development that includes the creation of a Strategic Workforce Plan, which must be submitted to the Governor and Legislature every four years. The Secretary of Workforce is designated as the primary workforce development officer, responsible for aligning budget requests with the Strategic Workforce Plan and soliciting recommendations from state agencies. The bill also reorganizes the Department of Commerce into two divisions and mandates collaboration among state and local entities involved in workforce development. Notably, it removes a provision requiring the merging of the Department of Industrial Relations and the Department of Labor for cost reduction, and it ensures that employees transitioning to the new Department of Workforce maintain their salaries and benefits. The provisions of the act are set to be fully implemented by October 1, 2025, following approval by the Governor.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 25-2-2, 25-2-3, 25-2-6
Engrossed: 25-2-2, 25-2-3, 25-2-6
Enrolled: 25-2-2, 25-2-3, 25-2-6