To announce the release and availability of Comparison of State Unemployment Insurance Laws 2006.

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is pleased to announce commencement of a SUTA study to examine state implementation of section 303(k) of the Social Security Act (SSA) in selected states. ETA has contracted with Coffey Communications, LLC (Coffey) of Bethesda, Maryland to conduct the study. The study will examine the status and effectiveness of state actions to meet the requirements of the law and operating guidance, and discuss whether the Secretary of Labor should recommend additional Congressional action to improve the effectiveness of section 303(k) of the SSA.

To announce additions to the schedule for FY 2006 BTQ Nonmonetary Determination Evaluation Training Seminars.

This notice announces and solicits nominees for a UI Benefit Financing Seminar to be held October 17-20, 2006, in Washington, D.C.

To provide organizations interested in the Program Year (PY) 2006 national Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) grantee competition with information related to funding for the grantee transition period from July 1-September 30, 2006.

To invite statements of interest and describe the goals of the second round of a national peer-to-peer technical assistance and training project, the National Business Learning Partnership.

This guidance letter and its attachments replace and supersede prior operating procedures and policy guidance within the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) for H-2B certifications in the entertainment industry, including attachments I - IV of ETA Training and Employment Guidance Letter No. 4-03 (TEGL 4-03). This letter describes the special procedures in ETA governing the H-2B nonimmigrant labor certification process for temporary positions in the entertainment industry. This TEGL, as revised, identifies the Chicago National Processing Center as the Center designated to issue ETA determinations on applications for certification to employ temporary workers in the entertainment industry which are initially filed by employers with designated Offices Specializing in Entertainment (OSEs) within the State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). This is the only substantive change from previous procedures, under which ETA’s New York City, Dallas, and San Francisco Regional Certifying Officers were designated to issue determinations on these applications.

To inform the state workforce agencies (SWAs) of a revised interpretation of the deadline for enrollment in approved training as a condition of Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA) eligibility for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) participants and its effect on Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) eligibility.

To provide state workforce agencies (SWAs) information about the training and career development opportunity for Unemployment Insurance (UI) appeals staff scheduled for June 19 - 22, 2006, in San Diego, California; and to encourage staff participation in the conference.

To provide a summary of selected ETA 581 data with associated charts and tables for the QE March 31, 2005.