Title 29 — LaborRelease 119-73
§49b Duties of Secretary
Title 29 › Chapter CHAPTER 4B— - FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE › § 49b
Summary
Make State job centers work together across the country. The Secretary must set minimum efficiency rules, help state offices solve local problems, promote uniform ways to run and report data, publish job and labor information, and keep a system for moving labor between States. The Secretary must also help build and improve a nationwide public labor exchange as part of one-stop centers, share best practices, require reemployment services for people eligible for unemployment benefits, and help train and develop staff so they can give better career guidance, find more job openings (including outreach to small and medium employers), give technical help to other workforce providers, and link counseling with technology. When asked by certain public agencies (those that run or supervise State programs under Part A or Part D of Title IV of the Social Security Act, or the State agency that runs SNAP), State unemployment and employment offices must provide from their files three items about a named person: whether they have applied for or are receiving unemployment compensation and the amount; the current or most recent home address; and whether they refused a job offer and, if so, details about that job and pay. Job centers must be colocated with one-stop centers to improve access in underserved areas. The Secretary may help States build national electronic tools to give people better access to workforce information through one-stop and other delivery systems.
Full Legal Text
Title 29, §49b
Labor — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)The Secretary shall assist in coordinating the State public employment service offices throughout the country and in increasing their usefulness by developing and prescribing minimum standards of efficiency, assisting them in meeting problems peculiar to their localities, promoting uniformity in their administrative and statistical procedure, furnishing and publishing information as to opportunities for employment and other information of value in the operation of the system, and maintaining a system for clearing labor between the States.
(b)It shall be the duty of the Secretary to assure that unemployment insurance and employment service offices in each State, as appropriate, upon request of a public agency administering or supervising the administration of a State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.], of a public agency charged with any duty or responsibility under any program or activity authorized or required under part D of title IV of such Act [42 U.S.C. 651 et seq.], or of a State agency charged with the administration of the supplemental nutrition assistance program in a State under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), shall (and, notwithstanding any other provision of law, is authorized to) furnish to such agency making the request, from any data contained in the files of any such office, information with respect to any individual specified in the request as to (1) whether such individual is receiving, has received, or has made application for, unemployment compensation, and the amount of any such compensation being received by such individual, (2) the current (or most recent) home address of such individual, and (3) whether such individual has refused an offer of employment and, if so, a description of the employment so offered and the terms, conditions, and rate of pay therefor.
(c)The Secretary shall—
(1)assist in the coordination and development of a nationwide system of public labor exchange services, provided as part of the one-stop customer service systems of the States;
(2)assist in the development of continuous improvement models for such nationwide system that ensure private sector satisfaction with the system and meet the demands of jobseekers relating to the system, and identify and disseminate information on best practices for such system; and and 11 So in original.
(3)ensure, for individuals otherwise eligible to receive unemployment compensation, the provision of reemployment services and other activities in which the individuals are required to participate to receive the compensation.22 So in original. The period probably should be “; and”.
(4)in coordination with the State agencies and the staff of such agencies, assist in the planning and implementation of activities to enhance the professional development and career advancement opportunities of such staff, in order to strengthen the provision of a broad range of career guidance services, the identification of job openings (including providing intensive outreach to small and medium-sized employers and enhanced employer services), the provision of technical assistance and training to other providers of workforce development activities (including workplace learning advisors) relating to counseling and employment-related services, and the development of new strategies for coordinating counseling and technology.
(d)In order to improve service delivery, avoid duplication of services, and enhance coordination of services, including location of staff to ensure access to services under section 49f(a) of this title statewide in underserved areas, employment service offices in each State shall be colocated with one-stop centers.
(e)The Secretary, in consultation with States, is authorized to assist the States in the development of national electronic tools that may be used to improve access to workforce information for individuals through—
(1)the one-stop delivery systems established as described in section 3151(e) of this title; and
(2)such other delivery systems as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (b), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620. Part A of title IV of the Social Security Act is classified generally to part A (§ 601 et seq.) of subchapter IV of chapter 7 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. Part D of title IV of such Act is classified generally to part D (§ 651 et seq.) of subchapter IV of chapter 7 of Title 42. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of Title 42 and Tables. The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, referred to in subsec. (b), is Pub. L. 88–525, Aug. 31, 1964, 78 Stat. 703, which is classified generally to chapter 51 (§ 2011 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 2011 of Title 7 and Tables. Codification Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical
Amendments
to this section. The
Amendments
by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.
Amendments
2014—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 113–128, § 303(a), substituted “service offices” for “services”. Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 113–128, § 303(b)(1), substituted “, and identify and disseminate information on best practices for such system; and” for semicolon. Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 113–128, § 303(b)(2), added par. (4). Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 113–128, § 303(c), added subsecs. (d) and (e). 2008—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4002(b)(1)(A), (B), (2)(Q), which directed amendment of the “Wagner-Peysner Act” by substituting “supplemental nutrition assistance program” for “food stamp program” wherever appearing and “Food and Nutrition Act of 2008” for “Food Stamp Act of 1977” wherever appearing, was executed by making the substitutions in subsec. (b) of this section, which is section 3 of the Wagner-Peyser Act, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. 1998—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–220, § 302(a)(1), substituted “Secretary” for “United States Employment Service”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–220, § 310, substituted “Secretary” for “Secretary of Labor”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–220, § 302(a)(2), added subsec. (c). 1996—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–193 substituted “State program funded under part A of title IV” for “State plan approved under part A of title IV”. 1985—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–198 inserted reference to a State agency charged with the administration of the food stamp program in a State under the Food Stamp Act. 1982—Pub. L. 97–300, amended section generally, substituting provisions which set out functions of the Service and duties of the Secretary of Labor for provisions which had stated the purposes of the Service, including services to veterans and supplying of data for the administration of programs in aid of families with dependent children, and defined “State”. 1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–566 provided that the bureau has a further duty to assure that the employment offices in each State, upon request of a public agency administering or supervising the administration of a State plan approved under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act or of a public agency charged with any duty or responsibility under any program or activity authorized or required under part D of title IV of such Act, furnish to such agency making the request, from any data contained in the files of any such employment office, information with respect to any individual specified in the request as to whether such individual is receiving, has received, or has made application for, unemployment compensation, and the amount of any such compensation being received by such individual, the current (or most recent) home address of such individual, and whether such individual has refused an offer of employment and, if so, a description of the employment so offered and terms, conditions, and rate of pay therefor. 1973—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 93–198, § 204(c)(1), struck out function of maintaining a public employment service for the District of Columbia from the functions of the bureau. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 93–198, § 204(c)(2), included District of Columbia in definition of “State” or “States”. 1960—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 86–624 struck out “Hawaii, Alaska,” before “Puerto Rico”. 1956—Subsec. (b). Act Aug. 1, 1956, inserted “Guam” after “Puerto Rico”. 1954—Subsec. (a). Act Aug. 3, 1954, inserted provisions relating to employment counseling and placement services for handicapped persons. 1950—Subsec. (b). Act Sept. 8, 1950, included Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands in definition of “State” or “States”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2014 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 113–128 effective on the first day of the first full program year after
July 22, 2014 (
July 1, 2015), see section 506 of Pub. L. 113–128, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 3101 of this title.
Effective Date
of 2008 AmendmentAmendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, except as otherwise provided, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 8701 of Title 7, Agriculture. Amendment by section 4002(b)(1)(A), (B), (2)(Q) of Pub. L. 110–246 effective Oct. 1, 2008, see section 4407 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 1161 of Title 2, The Congress.
Effective Date
of 1998 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 105–220 effective July 1, 1999, see section 311 of Pub. L. 105–220, formerly set out as a note under section 49a of this title.
Effective Date
of 1996 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–193 effective July 1, 1997, with transition rules relating to State options to accelerate such date, rules relating to claims, actions, and proceedings commenced before such date, rules relating to closing out of accounts for terminated or substantially modified programs and continuance in office of Assistant Secretary for Family Support, and provisions relating to termination of entitlement under AFDC program, see section 116 of Pub. L. 104–193, as amended, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 601 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.
Effective Date
of 1982 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 97–300 effective Oct. 1, 1983, but with Secretary authorized to use funds appropriated for fiscal 1983 to plan for orderly implementation of amendment, see section 181(i) of Pub. L. 97–300, which was formerly classified to section 1591(i) of this title.
Effective Date
of 1973 Amendment Pub. L. 93–198, title VII, § 771(b), Dec. 24, 1973, 87 Stat. 836, provided in part that title II of Pub. L. 93–198 [amending this section and section 50 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 49 of this title and section 8101 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees], shall take effect on July 1, 1974.
Effective Date
of 1954 AmendmentAct Aug. 3, 1954, ch. 655, § 8, 68 Stat. 665, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by this Act [enacting section 107e–1 of Title 20, Education, and amending this section, sections 31 to 41, 42, and 49g of this title, section 107, 107a, 107b, 107e, and 107f of Title 20, and section 155a of former Title 36, Patriotic Societies and Observances] shall become effective July 1, 1954.” Definitions of Terms in Pub. L. 113–128 Except as otherwise provided, definitions in section 3 of Pub. L. 113–128, which is classified to section 3102 of this title, apply to this section.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
29 U.S.C. § 49b
Title 29 — Labor
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73