(a) There is hereby created within the Office of the Governor a committee to be designated as the “Virgin Islands Occupational Information Coordinating Committee”, hereinafter referred to as the Committee. The purpose of the Committee shall be to improve the planning and operation of career and technical education training programs by implementing an occupation information system within the Territory.
(b) The Committee shall be composed of the director of each of the following agencies or his authorized representative:
(1) the Virgin Islands Board of Career and Technical Education;
(2) the Virgin Islands Employment Security Agency;
(3) the Virgin Islands Manpower Services Council; and
(4) the Division of Career and Technical Rehabilitation.
(c) The functions and objectives of the Committee shall be, subject to the availability of funds for such purposes and in cooperation with Federal and Territorial agencies designated herein, to:
(1) improve communication between the agencies comprising the Committee by—
(A) developing a detailed list of Committee policies, goals and objectives;
(B) developing and publishing newsletters, articles and papers describing information systems;
(C) conducting workshops and/or seminars for administrators, planners and practitioners;
(D) conducting meetings or conferences among Committee agencies;
(E) providing displays and materials at conferences and meetings;
(F) establishing focal contact points for occupational information; and
(G) fostering the development, implementation and use of standard definitions between information systems.
(2) improve coordination between the Committee agencies by—
(A) reviewing program and system requirements for duplication;
(B) analyzing data activities for apparent redundancy and effecting necessary changes;
(C) encouraging agreements between agencies relating to roles and responsibilities;
(D) conducting meetings of information developers; and
(E) surveying data users (planners, administrators, clients and students);
(3) develop an occupational information system by—
(A) analyzing the existing system for utility and identifying present gaps;
(B) determining occupational data needs of various user groups; and
(C) adopting a standardized classification system;
(4) implement an occupational information system by—
(A) fostering the use of the occupational information system;
(B) providing financial assistance to supplement existing activities;
(C) distributing occupational information system materials.
(d)
(1) The Committee shall be entitled to receive one hundred percent funding from the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare — Employment and Training Administration, pursuant to the Education Amendments Act of 1976 (P.L. 94–482, § 103(a)), as amended. As a condition precedent to receiving federal funds, the Committee shall perform the following:
(A) execute an agreement with the National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee;
(B) select and designate its fiscal agent; and
(C) adjust its budgeting to coincide with the federal fiscal year of October 1st to September 30th.
(2) The funds provided by the Federal Government shall be used for the following purposes:
(A) base allocations in an amount not to exceed sixty-five thousand dollars to establish the Committee and to fund a minimum of two staff positions; and
(B) special purpose allocations to accomplish specific tasks expected to result in products that can be utilized in other states and to develop integrated information systems.