Decision aid, not authority. This AI-assisted resource does not receive human legal or compliance review. Use it to frame the issue and identify what to verify. Current official sources, applicable local policy, agreements, delegations, and required approvals control the actual decision. Trust standard →
WORKFORCE WONKERY · AUTHORITY MAP
What Can My Local Area Decide?
Use this when someone says “WIOA requires it,” “EDD will not allow it,” or “we have always done it this way.” Trace the decision back to the level of authority before you act.
A policy question, exception, local practice, or disagreement about what is required
Federal requirement, California requirement, local policy choice, or staff judgment
Statute/regulation, EDD directive or waiver, adopted local policy, agreement, or delegation
| Decision | Main source | What is fixed vs. flexible |
|---|---|---|
| Adult eligibility | Federal + California | Basic eligibility cannot be rewritten locally. Local procedures can define workflow and documentation steps only within governing policy. |
| Adult priority of service | Federal + California | Priority categories are not optional. Local policy should explain how priority is operationalized, documented, and applied when funds are limited. |
| Dislocated Worker eligibility | Federal + California | The statutory pathways control. Local Areas cannot create a new DW eligibility category because it would be convenient. |
| ITA dollar or duration limit | Local policy choice | WIOA permits Local Boards to establish reasonable limits, while still preserving informed customer choice and required exceptions/processes. |
| Supportive-service amounts and categories | Federal bounds + local policy | WIOA defines the service framework. Local policy should define when support is available, limits, documentation, coordination with other resources, and approval authority. |
| Training occupation priorities | Local strategy | Boards can use labor-market evidence to focus investments, but local priorities should not erase participant choice or create eligibility rules that conflict with WIOA. |
| ETPL status | Federal + California process | Provider/program eligibility follows the statewide ETPL framework. Local Boards have defined roles but should not substitute an informal local list for the required process. |
| OJT reimbursement level | Federal + waiver/state + local policy | The federal baseline and any approved waiver conditions set the outer limits. Local policy determines how available flexibility is used. |
| Incumbent Worker Training | Federal + local policy | Federal rules establish who/what may qualify and employer cost sharing. Local Boards decide whether and how to operate the strategy within those limits. |
| Adult/DW fund transfer | Federal + California process | Local leadership decides whether a transfer is strategically appropriate, but the transfer must follow the state approval/process requirements and applicable limits. |
| Procurement method | Federal + state/local procurement rules | Local procedures may be more restrictive, but they cannot waive competition, conflict, documentation, or other federal requirements. |
| Provider monitoring frequency | California requirement | Current California monitoring policy requires annual on-site fiscal and programmatic monitoring of all subrecipients. Risk assessment can shape scope, but it does not replace the annual review. |
| Performance goals | Federal/state negotiation | Local Areas participate in negotiation. They do not unilaterally set the federal negotiated goals used for formal performance assessment. |
| AJCC service model and partner workflow | Federal/state framework + local design | Required partners, access, certification, and MOU/IFA rules are fixed. The local system has substantial flexibility in how warm handoffs, staffing, direct linkage, and co-enrollment operate. |
| Board committee structure and meeting workflow | Federal/state bounds + local governance | Required composition and functions must be met, while bylaws, standing committees, agenda practices, and delegations are largely local governance choices subject to applicable law. |
The five-question authority test
- Can I point to the federal statute or regulation?
- If not, is it in an EDD directive, state waiver, or state process?
- If not, is it in an adopted Local Board policy, agreement, budget, procurement rule, or delegation?
- If not, is it merely a procedure or habit?
- If we changed it tomorrow, who has the authority to approve the change?
Common warning signs
“EDD requires it” without a directive number. “WIOA says” when the rule is actually local. “We cannot do that” when no one has checked whether the restriction is a policy choice. “We always do it this way” when the original authority has expired.
Those phrases are signals to run the authority test before making or defending the decision.
Current source set
This guide should be used with the current EDD Workforce Services Directives, WIOA and federal regulations, the applicable grant terms, and your Local Board policies. For monitoring, see WSD24-11. For training, see WSD25-02. For local governance, use Governance + Planning.