To advise the States of amendments made to Federal law by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 and the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 affecting the Federal-State Unemployment Compensation (UC) program.

To provide revised program guidance to State Employment Security Agencies (SESAs) on the payment of TRA and subsistence and transportation allowances when a worker also receives Federal student financial assistance.

To provide information to State Employment Security Agencies (SESAs) on the Risk Analysis Project Advanced Training.

To announce JETT*CON '97 - Change, Challenge, Opportunity! (Joint Employment and Training Technology Conference) December 16-18, 1997, at the Sheraton Chicago, Illinois.

To announce: a) the reauthorization of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) Program under the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (P. L. 105-34), the Act, and provide information on the major changes in the program as a result of the new law; and, b) the new Welfare-to-Work Tax Credit authorized under the Act, which is to be administered in the same manner as the WOTC program.

To advise States of the decision of the United States Supreme Court (Court) overturning, with respect to State and local laws, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) and to rescind Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL) No. 28-94.

To transmit a revised National Directory of SESA Internal Security (IS) Supervisors due to changes in personnel, addresses, telephone numbers, and other related changes.

To clarify the application of the between and within terms denial provisions of Section 3304(a)(6)(A) of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) to Head Start program personnel.

To provide SCSEP sponsors with information about an upcoming conference that may be of interest.

To initiate an effort to study the desirability of limiting the number of SCSEP sponsors that provide services in any given jurisdiction.