The Alabama Workforce Transformation Act, known as SB247 Enrolled, introduces significant changes to the state's workforce development system. It renames the Alabama Department of Labor to the Alabama Department of Workforce and changes the title of the department head from Secretary of Labor to Secretary of Workforce, with corresponding updates throughout Alabama law. The bill expands the department's duties to include collecting labor statistics, making legislative recommendations for workforce development, and overseeing the Alabama Workforce Board, which replaces the Alabama Workforce Council and Regional Workforce Development Councils. It also restructures the Unemployment Compensation Division and allows for the payment of salaries from federal grants, giving the Secretary of Workforce authority to employ personnel in the exempt service.

Furthermore, SB247 establishes the Workforce Pathways Division, centralizing various workforce development entities and programs. It sets up the Alabama Workforce Board as the State Workforce Development Board for WIOA purposes, with duties including advising the Governor, coordinating federal funding, and developing accountability metrics. The bill mandates the creation of a Strategic Workforce Plan and the establishment of seven regional workforce boards. It also requires annual funding and programmatic recommendations from relevant departments to be consistent with the Strategic Workforce Plan. The bill renames the Alabama Department of Commerce Workforce Development Division to the Alabama Industrial Development and Training Institute and reorganizes the Department of Commerce. The act is to be fully implemented by October 1, 2025, and will become effective on October 1, 2024.

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