To announce the release and availability of the Significant Provisions of State Unemployment Insurance Laws, effective July 2018.

To announce the publication of the UI Call Center Best Practices Compilation.

To provide guidance to state workforce agencies responsible for administration of the federal-state Unemployment Insurance (UI) programs on provisions of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) related to UI, and to: 1) recommend that state UI agencies continue to work with other workforce partners in the development and implementation of strategies that support the WIOA vision, as described in Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 19-14; 2) encourage State and Local Workforce Development Boards to consider how to most effectively leverage federal-state UI programs, including the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment Program (RESEA), as they implement integrated service delivery strategies through American Job Centers under WIOA; and 3) clarify the requirements and methods for UI to make financial contributions towards WIOA infrastructure costs.

To provide information to states about FY 2018 UI State Administration base resource allocations, general guidelines for resource planning, above-base funding, and SBRs.

Building on lessons learned from previous state implementations of modernized UI IT systems, the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) facilitated the development of a UI IT Modernization Pre-Implementation Planning Checklist for states to use prior to "going live" with a new UI Benefits and/or Tax system. Prior to the production launch of a UI IT system, State UI agencies must use the ETA 9177 Checklist Report to verify that necessary system functions are available and/or that alternative solutions are developed to help avoid major disruption of services to UI customers and to prevent delays in paying UI benefits when due.

To provide further guidance for YouthBuild grantees implementing the Construction Plus component of the YouthBuild program, including a synopsis of what it entails, and to provide further clarity to workforce partners about the Construction Plus model.

To initiate the SQSP process, provide supplemental instructions, and define additional requirements for the FY 2019 SQSP.

To announce the new electronic Interstate Request for Reconsideration of the Monetary Determination (Form IB-14) application for use in requesting/responding to a reconsideration of monetary determination or wage credit transfers on a combined-wage claim (CWC).

To announce the availability of up to $100 million for Trade and Economic Transition National Dislocated Worker Grants (DWGs), with funding amounts of up to $8 million for each award. This grant will enable successful applicants to address ongoing or emerging workforce and economic challenges by providing training and career services to dislocated workers seeking reentry into the workforce, and increasing their skill levels to become competitive for growing or high-demand employment opportunities. Available funds for this grant could be reduced by other, unforeseen DWG funding needs, such as natural disasters and national emergencies, including national health emergencies such as the opioid crisis.

To provide State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) guidelines and key dates for the completion of the 2018 UI BAM paid and denied claims sample cases and the publication of 2018 BAM data. This annual instruction is issued under Employment and Training (ET) Handbook No. 395, 5th Edition’s OMB approval 1205-0245.