Amending the Job Training Partnership Act: Inadequate Oversight Among Issues That Need to Be Addressed
Highlights
GAO discussed amending the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), focusing on program oversight and implementation issues. GAO noted that: (1) lack of sufficient program oversight and monitoring left JTPA programs vulnerable to waste, abuse, and mismanagement; and (2) questionable practices at the local level, such as inaccurate reporting of administrative expenditures, excessive time spent on on-the-job training, and inappropriate payments to training providers, generally went undetected. In addition, GAO noted that the Department of Labor's (DOL) proposal for amending JTPA did not fully address previously identified problems involving: (1) proper targeting of participants and services; (2) assessing participant needs and services; (3) uniform definitions; (4) comprehensive and consistent data; and (5) modifying provisions relating to adult competencies.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| To reduce JTPA potential for waste, abuse, and mismanagement and to limit the questionable practices now occurring at the local level, Congress should require that DOL provide technical assistance to states for the development and implementation of monitoring procedures that would detect waste, fraud, and abuse within the program. | The JTPA amendments enacted in 1992, Public Law No. 102-387, address the intent of this recommendation. | |
| To reduce JTPA potential for waste, abuse, and mismanagement and to limit the questionable practices now occurring at the local level, Congress should require that DOL provide definitive policy guidance to the states and service delivery areas (SDA) to clarify regulations for accounting for and reporting administrative costs to accurately reflect program expenditures. | The JTPA amendments enacted in 1992, Public Law No. 102-387, address the intent of this recommendation. | |
| To reduce JTPA potential for waste, abuse, and mismanagement and to limit the questionable practices now occurring at the local level, Congress should require that DOL provide definitive policy guidance to the states and SDA to clarify regulations for developing on-the-job contracts that appropriately reflect the job requirements as well as the individual's work experience. | The JTPA amendments enacted in 1992, Public Law No. 102-387, address the intent of this recommendation. | |
| To reduce JTPA potential for waste, abuse, and mismanagement and to limit the questionable practices now occurring at the local level, Congress should require that DOL provide definitive policy guidance to the states and SDA to clarify regulations for maintaining adequate control over property purchased with JTPA funds to ensure that it is used for its intended purposes. | The JTPA amendments enacted in 1992, Public Law No. 102-387, address the intent of this recommendation. | |
| To reduce JTPA potential for waste, abuse, and mismanagement and to limit the questionable practices now occurring at the local level, Congress should require that DOL provide definitive policy guidance to the states and SDA to clarify regulations for monitoring service providers to ensure that incidents of waste and abuse are detected and corrective action taken. | The JTPA amendments enacted in 1992, Public Law No. 102-387, address the intent of this recommendation. |