To inform the State Workforce Agencies of the extension of the approval period for the AOPs, the designation of MSFW states, and the PY 2014 designation of Significant MSFW and Bilingual Local Offices through June 30, 2016. This means that current AOPs, designated MSFW states, and Significant MSFW and Bilingual Local Offices will remain the same through June 30, 2016. States do not need to submit updated AOPs.

To inform the State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) of the retroactive legislative reauthorization of the WOTC program for all WOTC current target groups and the Empowerment Zones (EZs) that had previously expired on December 31, 2013. Also, to provide guidance to SWAs, participating agencies and other Federal and State partners for processing WOTC certification applications filed by employers and their representatives during the authorization lapse of 2015 and beyond.

To announce the publication of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; Joint Rule for Unified and Combined State Plans, Performance Accountability, and the One-Stop System Joint Provisions; Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (joint NPRM with the Departments of Education and Labor) and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Labor only) in the Federal Register on April 16, 2015.

This guidance clarifies the governance-related activities that States must complete by July 1, 2015, which is the beginning of Program Year 2015, in order to ensure an orderly transition to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Additionally, this guidance summarizes other governance-related activities that the Department encourages States to complete as soon as possible, but are not required by July 1, 2015.

This guidance announces flexible uses of Rapid Response funds to ensure an orderly transition to Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA or the Opportunity Act) for Program Year (PY) 2012 through 2015.

To provide SCSEP grantees with application instructions, procedures, and allotments for PY 2015 funds, beginning July 1, 2015.

To provide instructions for National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) grantees for preparing and submitting program plans for Program Year (PY) 2015, establishing PY 2015 performance goals, and to convey the grant fund allocations for the program year.

To announce the release of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; Joint Rule for Unified and Combined State Plans, Performance Accountability, and the One-Stop System Joint Provisions; Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (joint NPRM with the Departments of Education and Labor) and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Labor only) on the Federal Register Public Inspection Web site at https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection. This Web site offers a preview of documents scheduled to publish in the Federal Register.

To transmit the subject computation for State Workforce Agency usage in computing minimum weekly DUA amounts for all major disasters declared during the third quarter of Fiscal Year (FY) 2015.

To announce the availability of a pre-implementation planning checklist to assist state UI agencies in preparing to launch modernized UI IT systems that support administration of UI benefits and/or tax operations.