1. (a) Basic Workforce Center Standards. The Commission has established basic standards that shall be met by all Texas Workforce Centers. Certified Texas Workforce Centers shall:

   1. (1) be available to employers, job seekers, and students throughout the workforce area;
   2. (2) provide access to information and services, including employment services, such as referring qualified job seekers to employer job postings;
   3. (3) address individual needs of customers by providing processes for basic or enhanced methods of accessing services;
   4. (4) provide services tailored to meet the needs of employers and job seekers and include: job screening and referral, labor market information, a common intake and eligibility determination process, an independent assessment and service strategy, centralized and continuous case management and counseling, access to Individual Training Account (ITA) services for education and training needs, support services (including access to subsidized child care), student loans, and other forms of financial assistance required to participate in and complete training;
   5. (5) ensure that developmental services, such as General Educational Development, English as a Second Language, or Basic Education Skills are not provided by Texas Workforce Center staff;
   6. (6) provide each customer with information on local high-growth, high-demand occupations and industries, projected wage level upon completion of training programs, and performance of training providers when requested;
   7. (7) implement a flexible and market-driven process for services;
   8. (8) ensure access throughout the workforce area by developing electronic methods for service delivery, such as the Internet;
   9. (9) ensure that staff is experienced and knowledgeable in all required services for employers and job seekers;
   10. (10) implement a tiered service delivery strategy that includes self-directed service, job search assistance in group settings, access to information on filing a claim for Unemployment Insurance benefits, and specialized, enhanced staff-assisted services;
   11. (11) prepare and make available to customers understandable information packages that briefly describe services; locations; self-directed options; job openings; career exploration methods; labor market information; high-growth, high-demand job information; training and educational opportunities, and associated institutional performance information; and that also provide a mechanism for feedback on services provided;
   12. (12) implement a timely and efficient referral and follow-up process for employment-related services;
   13. (13) provide independent assessments of individual needs that include assessment of literacy levels for Choices customers;
   14. (14) maintain a user-friendly resource center that makes available computerized information systems with access to labor market information, demographics, occupations, educational opportunities, and WorkInTexas.com, the statewide job matching system;
   15. (15) administer services, as set forth in §801.28(a), of the following programs: WIA Adults, Dislocated Workers, and Youth; Food Stamp Employment and Training (FSE&T); Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Choices; access to subsidized child care services; Wagner-Peyser Employment Service (ES); Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA); and Project Reintegration of Offenders (Project RIO). Boards shall ensure that staff is available to provide these services during all Texas Workforce Center operating hours;
   16. (16) provide access to services, as set forth in §801.28(a), of the following programs: veterans' employment and training; Adult Basic Education; National Literacy Act; noncertificate, postsecondary career and technology training; Senior Community Service Employment Program; Apprenticeship Training Program; National and Community Service Act; and Unemployment Insurance;
   17. (17) ensure availability through the Texas Workforce Centers of other services for the programs listed in paragraph (15) of this section;
   18. (18) provide reasonable accommodation and accessibility in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act;
   19. (19) ensure that federal qualified veterans and qualified spouses, and state qualified veterans, receive priority as set forth in §801.31 of this subchapter;
   20. (20) ensure that eligible foster youth receive priority as set forth in §801.31 of this subchapter;
   21. (21) comply with the provisions of the memorandum of understanding between the Board and DFPS to further the objectives of the Preparation for Adult Living program, as required by Texas Family Code §264.121; and
   22. (22) meet each of the requirements for Certified Full-Service Texas Workforce Centers within twelve months of certification as a Texas Workforce Center.

2. (b) Full-Service Standards. The Commission has established specific standards for a Texas Workforce Center to receive full-service certification. A Certified Full-Service Texas Workforce Center shall meet each of the following requirements within twelve months of certification as a Texas Workforce Center. Certified Full-Service Texas Workforce Centers shall:

   1. (1) design a customer-friendly waiting area and implement written procedures that define the steps taken to minimize customer wait time in the reception area and in other areas of the Texas Workforce Center;
   2. (2) develop written procedures for following up on referrals to determine customer receipt of services, appropriateness of the referral to address the customer's needs, and the extent of customer satisfaction with the referral process and service received;
   3. (3) provide customer access to WorkInTexas.com; resume preparation tools, including software; and the Internet;
   4. (4) provide consumer information on the quality of education and training providers and include a mechanism for customer feedback on personal experience with such providers;
   5. (5) develop and display a menu of services with a corresponding fee schedule for services available at the Certified Full-Service Texas Workforce Center;
   6. (6) demonstrate on-site management of all personnel, a plan for cross-training staff in all services, minimal programmatic specialization of staff, nonduplication of efforts, removal of redundancies within program activities, and maximum flexibility to optimize utilization of resources;
   7. (7) provide basic labor exchange services, including access to job orders for applicants, access to applicants for employers, and screening and referral methods for matching appropriate applicants and job orders; and
   8. (8) provide centralized case management activities for specialized populations, such as the welfare, veterans, dislocated workers, and disabled populations.

Source Note:The provisions of this §801.25 adopted to be effective May 25, 2000, 25 TexReg 4591; amended to be effective October 18, 2006, 31 TexReg 8563.