1997 Minnesota Statutes

     268.9771 Rapid and expeditious response. 

    Subdivision 1.    Responsibility.  The commissioner 
 shall respond quickly and effectively to announced or actual 
 plant closings and substantial layoffs.  Affected workers and 
 employers, as well as appropriate business organizations or 
 associations, labor organizations, substate grantees, state and 
 local government units, and community organizations shall be 
 assisted by the commissioner through either rapid response 
 activities or expeditious response activities as described in 
 this section to respond effectively to a plant closing or mass 
 layoff. 

    Subd. 2.    Coverage.  Rapid response is to be provided 
 by the commissioner where permanent plant closings or 
 substantial layoffs affect at least 50 workers over a 30-day 
 period as evidenced by actual separation from employment or by 
 advance notification of a closing or layoff.  Expeditious 
 response is to be provided by worker adjustment services plan 
 grantees in coordination with rapid response activities or where 
 permanent plant closings and substantial layoffs are not 
 otherwise covered by rapid response. 

    Subd. 3.    Coordination.  The commissioner and 
 expeditious response grantees shall coordinate their respective 
 rapid response and expeditious response activities.  The roles 
 and responsibilities of each shall be detailed in written 
 agreements and address on-site contact with employer and 
 employee representatives when notified of a plant closing or 
 substantial layoff.  The activities include formation of a 
 community task force, collecting and disseminating information 
 related to economic dislocation and available services to 
 dislocated workers, providing basic readjustment assistance 
 services to workers affected by a plant closure or substantial 
 layoff, conducting a needs assessment survey of workers, and 
 developing a plan of action responsive to the worker adjustment 
 services needs of affected workers. 

    Subd. 4.    Rapid response activities.  The commissioner 
 shall be responsible for implementing the following rapid 
 response activities: 

    (1) establishing on-site contact with employer and employee 
 representatives within a short period of time after becoming 
 aware of a current or projected plant closing or substantial 
 layoff in order to: 

    (i) provide information on and facilitate access to 
 available public programs and services; and 

    (ii) provide emergency assistance adapted to the particular 
 closure or layoff; 

    (2) promoting the formation of a labor-management committee 
 by providing: 

    (i) immediate assistance in the establishment of the 
 labor-management committee; 

    (ii) technical advice and information on sources of 
 assistance, and liaison with other public and private services 
 and programs; and 

    (iii) assistance in the selection of worker representatives 
 in the event no union is present; 

    (3) collecting and disseminating information related to 
 economic dislocation, including potential closings or layoffs, 
 and all available resources with the state for dislocated 
 workers; 

    (4) providing or obtaining appropriate financial and 
 technical advice and liaison with economic development agencies 
 and other organizations to assist in effort to avert 
 dislocations; 

    (5) disseminating information throughout the state on the 
 availability of services and activities carried out by the 
 dislocated worker unit; 

    (6) assisting the local community in developing its own 
 coordinated response to a plant closing or substantial layoff 
 and access to state economic development assistance; and 

    (7) promoting the use of prefeasibility study grants under 
 section 268.978. 

    Subd. 5.    Expeditious response activities.  Grantees 
 designated to provide worker adjustment services through worker 
 adjustment services plans shall be responsible for implementing 
 the following expeditious response activities: 

    (1) establishing on-site contact with employer and employee 
 representatives, not otherwise covered under rapid response, 
 within a short period of time after becoming aware of a current 
 or projected plant closing or mass layoff in order to provide 
 information on available public programs and services; 

    (2) obtaining appropriate financial and technical advice 
 and liaison with local economic development agencies and other 
 organizations to assist in efforts to avert dislocations; 

    (3) disseminating information on the availability of 
 services and activities carried out by the grantee through its 
 worker adjustment services plan; 

    (4) providing basic readjustment assistance services for up 
 to 90 days following the initial on-site meeting with the 
 employer and employee representatives; 

    (5) assisting the local community in the development of its 
 own coordinated response to the closure or layoff and access to 
 economic development assistance; 

    (6) facilitating the formation of a community task force, 
 if appropriate, to formulate a service plan to assist affected 
 dislocated workers from plant closings and mass layoffs; 

    (7) conducting surveys of workers, if appropriate, affected 
 by plant closings or layoffs to identify worker characteristics 
 and worker adjustment service needs; and 

    (8) facilitating access to available public or private 
 programs and services, including the development of proposals to 
 provide access to additional resources to assist workers 
 affected by plant closings and substantial layoffs. 

    HIST: 1993 c 369 s 103