Agency Description - The Department of Labor and Industry serves as an employment agency, collects and disburses state unemployment trust funds, compiles and distributes employment statistics, provides training and technical assistance, disseminates labor market information, and oversees federal and state training and apprenticeship programs. The department enforces federal and state labor standards laws, state wage and hour laws, contractor registration, provides adjudicative services in labor and benefit claims disputes, enforces state and federal anti-discrimination laws, performs workers' compensation and safety regulatory duties, and coordinates wide-ranging community service and volunteer efforts statewide.

Statutory Authority - The Fiscal Support, Information Services, and Personnel and Training bureaus operate under state mandates, primarily Title 2, Chapters 15, and 18, MCA, and Title 17, MCA, the state finance laws. Hearings and Legal Services, Workers' Compensation Court, Employment Relations, Unemployment Insurance, and Job Service operate under a number of state and federal laws and regulations. State mandates primarily include Titles 18, 39, 49, and 50, MCA; and Montana state labor, health, and safety laws. Federal mandates include federal labor, health, and safety laws. Commission on Community Services operates under state Title 90, MCA, and the federal Corporation for National Service.

Commissioner's Office and Centralized Services Division

Program Description: Provides program direction and legal, administrative, and support services to the department in accordance with Title 2, Chapters 15 and 18, MCA and Title 17, MCA; the hearing and legal services operate under a number of state mandates, primarily Titles 39, 49, and 50, MCA, as well as federal laws and regulations. The Board of Labor Appeals is administratively attached and hears appeals concerning the administration of Montana unemployment insurance laws and employer/employee relationships.

Authorities:
Federal

State

Centralized Services Goals and Objectives

Employment Relations Division

Program Description: Regulates workers' compensation insurance requirements, administers the Contractor Registration and Independent Contractor Exemption functions, assists with settlements of disputed workers' compensation claims, enforces state and federal labor laws related to payment of wages, conducts mediation of collective bargaining contracts, hears disputes regarding both labor relations and wage and hour issues, enforces state and federal industrial safety laws, impartially investigates and resolves complaints of illegal discrimination in accordance with state Titles 18, 27, and 50, MCA.

Authorities:

Employment Relation Division's Goals and Objectives

Workforce Services Division

Program Description: Provides a wide range of both federal and state-funded employment and training programs in accordance with state Titles 18 and 39, MCA. Federal mandates are the Wagner Peyser Act of 1937, Occupational Safety and Health Act, Carl Perkins Act, Immigration Reform Act, Social Security Act - Title IX, and the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (HR-1385).

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Workforce Services Division's Goals and Objectives

Unemployment Insurance Division

Program Description: Administers the state unemployment insurance law and related federal programs through which benefits are paid, responds to inquiries concerning claims, and adjudicates disputed benefit claims in accordance with state Title 39, chapter 51, MCA. Federal mandates include Titles III and IV of the Social Security Act, the Federal Unemployment Tax, and the Trade Act of 1974.

Unemployment Insurance Division's Goals and Objectives

Business Standards Division

Program Description: The Building Codes Bureau establishes and enforces minimum building (including accessibility), plumbing, mechanical, electrical, energy, elevator, and boiler codes. The Business and Occupational Licensing Bureau is charged with licensing and regulating persons and businesses engaged in specific (non-health care related) professions and occupations. The Health Care Licensing Bureau is charged with licensing and regulating persons and businesses engaged in specific health care related professions and occupations. The Weights and Measures Bureau is responsible for licensing, inspecting, testing, and certifying all weighing or measuring devices used in commercial transactions.

Authorities:

Business Standards Division's Goals and Objectives

Commission on Community Service

Program Description : Provides administration of in-state contracts for federal Corporation for National Service programs, as well as coordinating wide ranging community service and in volunteer efforts statewide, in accordance with state Title 90, MCA, and in relation to Titles 20 and 23. Corporation programs directly involved include, but not limited to: K-12 Service-Learning Programs, 94.004 CFDA; AmeriCorps Programs, 94.006, Administration of State Commissions for National Service, 94.003, and in coordination with Higher Education Service-Learning Programs, 94.005.

Commission on Community Service's Goals and Objectives

Workers' Compensation Court Division

Program Description: Provides a forum for Montana employees and the insurance industry to resolve disputes rising out of work-related injuries and occupational disease in accordance with Title 39, MCA.

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Workers' Compensation Court's Goals and Objectives