§ 32-1603. Workforce Investment Council.

(1) Developing the District's workforce investment system;

(2) Assigning duties and responsibilities to the Department of Human Services ("DHS") and the Department of Employment Services ("DOES") to implement the Federal Act, and to do so in a manner that avoids conflicts of interest and capitalizes on the experience developed by workforce partners who are efficient and effective at meeting the requirements of the Federal Act;

(3) Developing an employment statistics system, as described in section 15(e) of the Wagner-Peyser Act, approved October 13, 1982 (96 Stat. 1392; 29 U.S.C. § 49L-2(e));

(4) Preparing an annual report and submitting it to the Council of the District of Columbia by September 30th of each year;

(5) Establishing performance standards for training and employment programs pursuant to § 32-1606;

(6) Fostering and coordinating initiatives of the District of Columbia Public Schools and the University of the District of Columbia as well as with any institution of higher education accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and located in the District to enhance the contributions of public schools and institutions of higher education to the implementation of the District employment and training policy;

(7) Examining federal and local laws and regulations to assess whether those laws and regulations present barriers to achieving any of the goals of this subchapter. The Council shall, as it deems appropriate, issue to the Mayor and the Council of the District of Columbia reports on its findings, including recommendations for changes in local and federal laws or regulations concerning employment and training programs or service; and

(8) Developing a wage progression strategy that includes mechanisms to help low-income workers upgrade skills to assist them in moving up the career ladder toward self-sufficiency.

(9) Implementing the Educational Stepladder program established by subchapter III of this chapter, including establishing the criteria for certificate course approval and working with interested institutions of higher education accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and located in the District of Columbia to develop a curriculum of courses that will meet the institutions's educational mission as well as provide Educational Stepladder students with marketable knowledge or skills that meet the stated workforce needs of business and industry in the District.