(a) The general functions and duties of the Department of Workforce shall be as follows:
(1) To administer all labor laws and all laws relating to the relationship between employer and employee, including laws relating to hours of work, and working conditions in places of employment.
(2) To make or cause to be made all necessary inspections to determine whether or not the laws, the administration of which is delegated to the Department of Workforce, and rules issued pursuant thereto, are being complied with by employers and employees, and to take such action as may be necessary to enforce compliance; provided, however, that there shall be no inspection of boilers which have been inspected, approved, and insured by an insurance company authorized to do business in the State of Alabama. Provided, however, that this provision may not prevent compliance verification by the department.
(3) To propose to the board of appeals, provided for in this chapter, such rules or amendments as may be deemed advisable for the prevention of accidents or the prevention of sickness and diseases in mines. The Secretary of Workforce may appoint committees composed of employers, employees, and experts to suggest and assist in the preparation of rules or amendments.
(4) To administer and perform, by and under the direction of the Secretary of Workforce, all functions and duties of Chapter 4, and it shall have power and authority to adopt and enforce all reasonable rules and orders necessary or suitable to that end, and to require any reports, and to take any other action, consistent with Chapter 4, necessary or suitable to that end.
(5) To cooperate with all authorities of the United States having powers and duties under the Wagner-Peyser Act, approved June 6, 1933 (48 Stat. 113, United States Code, Title 29, Section 49) entitled “An Act to provide for the establishment of a national employment system and for cooperation with the states in the promotion of such system and for other purposes,” and to do and perform all things necessary to secure for the State of Alabama the benefits of such act and the promotion and maintenance of a system of public employment offices. The Department of Workforce is designated as the state agency and vested with all powers necessary to cooperate with the United States Employment Service or its successor.
(6) To administer and perform, by and under the direction of the Secretary of Workforce, all functions and duties of Chapter 5, and it shall have power and authority to adopt and enforce all reasonable rules and orders necessary or suitable to that end, and to require any reports, and to take any other action, consistent with Chapter 5, necessary or suitable to that end.
(7) To make investigations and studies and to collect, collate, and compile statistical information and to make and publish reports concerning the
state’s labor force participation rate, unemployment rate, barriers to employment, conditions of labor generally, including living conditions, hours of work, wages paid, and all matters relating to the enforcement and effect of this title coming under the jurisdiction of the Department of Workforce and the rules issued pursuant thereto and other laws relating to the Department of Workforce. The Secretary of Workforce shall deliver a copy of each report to every person making application therefor.
(8) To make an annual report to the Governor covering the activities and accomplishments of the Department of Workforce during the preceding fiscal year, accompanied by the recommendations of the Secretary of Workforce. The report shall be printed and the Secretary of Workforce shall deliver a copy to every person making application therefor.
(9) To make recommendations to the Legislature for the enactment of laws which, on the basis of information and statistics compiled by the Department of Workforce, appear to be desirable for the
development and training of the state’s labor force, for protection of laborers, and for promoting and fostering amicable relations between employers and employees.
(10) To administer and perform, by and under the direction of the Secretary of Workforce, all functions and duties of Section 25-2-7, and it shall have power and authority to adopt and enforce all reasonable rules and orders necessary or suitable to that end, and to require any reports, and to take any other action, consistent with Section 25-2-7, necessary or suitable to that end.
(11) To administer and perform, by and under the direction of the Secretary of Workforce, all functions and duties of Chapter 7 and such other statutes as may be provided by law and to advise the Governor with respect to the provisions thereof, and it shall have power and authority to adopt and enforce all reasonable rules and orders necessary or suitable to that end, and to require any reports, and to take any other action, consistent with Chapter 7, necessary or suitable to that end.
(12) To administer and perform, by and under the direction of the Secretary of Workforce, all functions and duties of Chapter 8, and it shall have the power and authority to adopt and enforce all reasonable rules and orders necessary or suitable to that end, and to require any reports, and to take any other action, consistent with Chapter 8, necessary or suitable to that end.
(13) To administer and perform, by and under the direction of the Secretary of Workforce, all functions and duties of Chapter 9, and it shall have power and authority to adopt and enforce all reasonable rules and orders necessary or suitable to that end, and to require any reports, and to take any other action, consistent with Chapter 9, necessary or suitable to that end.
(14) To administer and perform, by and under the direction of the Secretary of Workforce, all functions and duties of Chapter 10, and it shall have power and authority to adopt and enforce all reasonable rules and orders necessary or suitable to that end, and to require any reports, and to take any other action, consistent with Chapter 10, necessary or suitable to that end.
(15) To administer and perform, by and under the direction of the Secretary of Workforce, all functions and duties of Chapter 11, and it shall have power and authority to adopt and enforce all reasonable rules and orders necessary or suitable to that end, and to require any reports, and to take any other action, consistent with Chapter 11, necessary or suitable to that end.
(16) To administer and perform, by and under the direction of the Secretary of Workforce, all functions and duties of Chapter 12, and it shall have power and authority to adopt and enforce all reasonable rules and orders necessary or suitable to that end, and to require any reports, and to take any other action, consistent with Chapter 12, necessary or suitable to that end.
(17) To administer and perform, by and under the direction of the Secretary of Workforce, all functions and duties of Chapter 13, and to require any reports, and to take any other action, consistent with Chapter 13, necessary or suitable to that end.
(18) To administer and perform, by and under the direction of the Secretary of Workforce, all functions and duties of Chapter 14, and it shall have power and authority to adopt and enforce all reasonable rules and orders necessary or suitable to that end, and to require any reports, and to take any other action, consistent with Chapter 14, necessary or suitable to that end.
(19) To perform the duties set forth in subdivision (a)(5) related to the administration of Title III of the Wagner-Peyser Act and the Employment Service and the Alabama Career Center Systems within the state.
(20) To cooperate with all authorities of the United States concerning the development, management, and delivery of workforce and labor market information funded through the Workforce and Labor Market Information Grants to States (WIGS) to implement the federal Workforce Information Grant.
(21) To cooperate with all authorities of the United States concerning the management and delivery of the Jobs for Veterans State Grants Program.
(22) To cooperate with all authorities of the United States concerning the management and delivery of the federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit.
(23) To cooperate with all authorities of the United States concerning the management and delivery of the Federal Bonding Program.
(24) To administer the Alabama Workforce Board, its executive committee, and the regional workforce boards.
(25) To collaborate with the Alabama Workforce Board, its executive committee, and other state agencies, departments, boards, and commissions to develop cohesive and coordinated workforce development strategies, programs, and budget recommendations.
(26) To administer all workforce development programs currently administered by the Department of Commerce, except for the Alabama Industrial Development Training Institute, including, but not limited to:
a. Programs funded by Title I of the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
b. The Alabama Office of Apprenticeship.
c. The Alabama Committee on Credentialing and Career Pathways.
d. The Alabama Committee on Credential Quality and Transparency.
e. The Alabama STEM Council.
f. The Office of Education and Workforce Statistics.
(b) All state-level staff and state-owned assets assigned to regional workforce councils at the Department of Commerce shall be transferred to the Department of Workforce.
(c) Any employee who is not subject to the Merit System and who is transferred to the Department of Workforce to work for the programs and councils referenced in Section 25-2-2(a)(26) and Section 25-2-2(b) shall serve in the exempt service of the Merit System and maintain his or her salary, benefits, and years of service upon the transfer. All other employees shall remain subject to the Merit System.
(d) Any Merit System employee who is transferred to the Department of Workforce to work for the programs and councils referenced in Section 25-2-2(a)(26) and Section 25-2-2(b) shall be transferred with no decrease in compensation or benefits.