The secretary has broad powers over workforce programs, labor-law enforcement, publications, and coordination with other agencies and boards.
§6. Powers and duties In addition to any other powers and duties which may be conferred upon the secretary by law, he may: (1) Integrate the administration and functions of the programs under the authority of the department to achieve efficient and effective delivery of services. (2) Administer each program and implement corresponding federal and state legislation consolidated under the authority of the department in this Title and other applicable state law. (3) Determine the organization and procedural methods of the department in accordance with applicable state and federal laws. (4) Delegate authority to persons appointed under this Title as is reasonable and proper for the effective administration of the office of workforce development. (5) Bond any person who handles money or signs checks for the office of workforce development. (6) Implement workforce training and services policies and programs consistent with recommendations from the council and as approved by the governor. (7) Coordinate with affected state agencies and workforce development entities the integration of the delivery of all education, training, employment, apprenticeship, and related programs to ensure the efficient and effective provision of these services. (8) Develop interagency agreements for service integration. (9) Serve as an advocate at the state and federal levels for local workforce development boards. (10) Contract with local workforce development boards for program planning and service delivery. (11) Provide training and professional development services for the office of workforce development staff, local workforce development boards, and the staff of those boards. (12) Collect, collate, and publish statistical and other information relating to employment conditions of workers, and make public such reports as in his judgment he may deem necessary, including printing of commission laws, rules, and regulations or other legal publications as would be helpful to any person affected by such laws, rules, and regulations. The secretary shall make such publications available for a fee, not to exceed the basic printing, mailing, and handling costs plus twenty percent of any such publication and same shall be retained and disbursed by the secretary. This fee shall be excluded when furnishing mandatory issues to governmental agencies. Further, such publications may be made available electronically either for or without such a fee. (13) Enforce all labor laws. (14) Do all in his power to promote the voluntary conciliation of disputes between employers and employees to avoid the necessity of resorting to discriminations and legal proceedings in matters of employment. The secretary shall designate a deputy for the purpose of executing these provisions and may detail other deputies as his assistants. (15) Designate an existing senior-level staff member of Louisiana Works to serve as liaison to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Department of Education, the Board of Regents, and the postsecondary education management boards to facilitate the identification of regional and statewide workforce needs and work-based educational and training opportunities and ensure coordination in the delivery of career and technical education across all educational agencies and institutions. Amended by Acts 1950, No. 283, §1; Acts 1974, No. 297, §1; Acts 2001, No. 1032, §9; Acts 2008, No. 743, §2, eff. July 1, 2008; Acts 2009, No. 257, §2, eff. July 1, 2009; Acts 2015, No. 426, §2; Acts 2025, No. 478, §7, eff. Oct. 1, 2025.