(a) A Governor may request a general waiver in consultation with appropriate chief elected officials:

(1) By submitting a waiver plan which may accompany the State's WIA 5-year strategic Plan; or

(2) After a State's WIA Plan is approved, by directly submitting a waiver plan.

(b) A Governor's waiver request may seek waivers for the entire State or for one or more local areas.

(c) A Governor requesting a general waiver must submit to the Secretary a plan to improve the Statewide workforce investment system that:

(1) Identifies the statutory or regulatory requirements for which a waiver is requested and the goals that the State or local area, as appropriate, intends to achieve as a result of the waiver and how those goals relate to the Strategic Plan goals;

(2) Describes the actions that the State or local area, as appropriate, has undertaken to remove State or local statutory or regulatory barriers;

(3) Describes the goals of the waiver and the expected programmatic outcomes if the request is granted;

(4) Describes the individuals affected by the waiver; and

(5) Describes the processes used to:

(i) Monitor the progress in implementing the waiver;

(ii) Provide notice to any Local Board affected by the waiver;

(iii) Provide any Local Board affected by the waiver an opportunity to comment on the request; and

(iv) Ensure meaningful public comment, including comment by business and organized labor, on the waiver.

(d) The Secretary issues a decision on a waiver request within 90 days after the receipt of the original waiver request.

(e) The Secretary will approve a waiver request if and only to the extent that:

(1) The Secretary determines that the requirements for which a waiver is requested impede the ability of either the State or local area to implement the State's plan to improve the Statewide workforce investment system;

(2) The Secretary determines that the waiver plan meets all of the requirements of WIA section 189(i)(4) and §§661.400 through 661.420; and

(3) The State has executed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Secretary requiring the State to meet, or ensure that the local area meets, agreed-upon outcomes and to implement other appropriate measures to ensure accountability.

(f) The Secretary will issue guidelines under which the States may request general waivers of WIA and Wagner-Peyser requirements. (WIA sec. 189(i).)