20 CFR § 683.600 - What local area, State, and direct recipient grievance procedures must be established?

(a) Each local area, State, outlying area, and direct recipient of funds under title I of WIOA, except for Job Corps, must establish and maintain a procedure for participants and other interested parties to file grievances and complaints alleging violations of the requirements of title I of WIOA, according to the requirements of this section. The grievance procedure requirements applicable to Job Corps are set forth at §§ 686.960 and 686.965 of this chapter.

(b) Each local area, State, and direct recipient must:

(1) Provide information about the content of the grievance and complaint procedures required by this section to participants and other interested parties affected by the local workforce development system, including one-stop partners and service providers;

(2) Require that every entity to which it awards title I funds provide the information referred to in paragraph (b)(1) of this section to participants receiving title I-funded services from such entities; and

(3) Must make reasonable efforts to assure that the information referred to in paragraph (b)(1) of this section will be understood by affected participants and other individuals, including youth and those who are limited-English speaking individuals. Such efforts must comply with the language requirements of 29 CFR 37.35 regarding the provision of services and information in languages other than English.

(c) Local area procedures must provide:

(1) A process for dealing with grievances and complaints from participants and other interested parties affected by the local workforce development system, including one-stop partners and service providers;

(2) An opportunity for an informal resolution and a hearing to be completed within 60 days of the filing of the grievance or complaint;

(3) A process which allows an individual alleging a labor standards violation to submit the grievance to a binding arbitration procedure, if a collective bargaining agreement covering the parties to the grievance so provides; and

(4) An opportunity for a local level appeal to a State entity when:

(i) No decision is reached within 60 days; or

(ii) Either party is dissatisfied with the local hearing decision.

(d) State procedures must provide:

(1) A process for dealing with grievances and complaints from participants and other interested parties affected by the statewide Workforce Investment programs;

(2) A process for resolving appeals made under paragraph (c)(4) of this section;

(3) A process for remanding grievances and complaints related to the local Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act programs to the local area grievance process; and

(4) An opportunity for an informal resolution and a hearing to be completed within 60 days of the filing of the grievance or complaint; and

(5) An opportunity for appeal to the Secretary under the circumstances described in § 683.610(a).

(e) Procedures of direct recipients must provide:

(1) A process for dealing with grievance and complaints from participants and other interested parties affected by the recipient's Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act programs; and

(2) An opportunity for an informal resolution and a hearing to be completed within 60 days of the filing of the grievance or complaint.

(f) The remedies that may be imposed under local, State, and direct recipient grievance procedures are enumerated at WIOA sec. 181(c)(3).

(g)

(1) The provisions of this section on grievance procedures do not apply to discrimination complaints brought under WIOA sec. 188 and/or 29 CFR part 38. Such complaints must be handled in accordance with the procedures set forth in that regulatory part.

(2) Questions about or complaints alleging a violation of the nondiscrimination provisions of WIOA sec. 188 may be directed or mailed to the Director, Civil Rights Center, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N4123, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210, for processing.

(h) Nothing in this subpart precludes a grievant or complainant from pursuing a remedy authorized under another Federal, State, or local law.