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Reference: 20 CFR Part 656, Technical Assistance Guide (TAG) No. 656 Labor Certifications, and GAL No. 15-95. Background: Over the past 18 months, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has been considering proposals for reengineering the permanent labor certification process in order to increase efficiency in processing, reduce costs, increase protections for U. S. workers, and provide better customer service. To fully achieve all of these reengineering objectives, legislative and/or regulatory changes to the current labor certification process are required. The prospect for legislative changes is speculative, at best, and modification of the regulations could take many months to effectuate. Currently, ETA and SESAs are experiencing increasing workloads and declining staff resources to process labor certification applications. Therefore, to the extent feasible, ETA must institute measures to increase efficiency which are achievable under current regulations in order to reduce large backlogs and make decisions in a timely manner. Action Required: Administrators are requested to: A. Provide the attached policy and procedural guidance to appropriate staff. B. Insure that appropriate staff attend training conducted by the appropriate regional office prior to implementation of these measures. C. Instruct alien labor certification staff to implement the measures for increasing efficiency and follow the procedures in processing permanent labor certification applications. D. Apply these procedures to applications when processing begins on or after the effective date of this GAL. Effective Date: October 1, 1996

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References: TEIN No. 49-93, Capacity Building Strategy Paper, TEIN No. 15-94, Status of Capacity Building Pilot Projects. Background: As part of the capacity building initiatives, grants were awarded to the Massachusetts Department of Employment and Training in Region I, and to the State of North Carolina and MDC, Inc., of Chapel Hill, North Carolina in Region IV, to develop and replicate peer-to-peer technical assistance (TA) strategies. MDC developed the "Learning and Teaching Manual" which offers Job Training Partnership Act Administrators and operators a resource for brokering peer-to-peer technical assistance. Subsequent to the development of the MDC product, Region IV staff along with the Region IV peer-to-peer workgroup (consisting of technical assistance team representatives from all Region IV States) developed a peer-to-peer automated system. Recently a training conference was held in Orlando, Florida, focusing on the peer-to-peer TA strategies developed by Regions I and IV. Participants were trained on Region IV's automated peer resource system with hands-on instruction for installing and managing the system and were briefed on State and regional peer capacity building activities. Advance copies of the Region IV peer-to-peer manual were distributed to participants at the conference. Manuals: Region IV's Peer-to-Peer System offers an automated approach for gathering and storing information on peer resources at the State and regional levels. It was designed to provide a process which may be used by other regions/States to develop their own peer-to- peer capacity building systems. Staff from the Florida Department of Labor and Employment Security developed the software for the automated system. The manual pro-vides information on a structure through which States, Service Delivery Areas, and other service providers could obtain information and technical assistance critical to front-line staff. A part of the peer system includes identifying potential peer trainers to deliver TA to workforce development staff. These peer trainers have been identified as resource professionals who can provide subject specific technical assistance, training or other assistance. They are listed in a resource directory along with program and operational models. A sample letter, which was inadvertently omitted from the manual, was designed to inform them that their names had been provided as a potential peer resource. See attached SAMPLE TRANSMITTAL LETTER for more details. In addition to the sample letter, data collection forms, which were also inadvertently omitted from the manual are attached to this TEIN. Data collection is discussed in Part III of the manual under "Approach to State/Regionwide System." The forms are used to survey the employment and training community for resources to become a part of the system. The data collection forms are attached. The "Learning and Teaching Manual" provides (1) materials necessary for undertaking four essential peer-to-peer capacity building activities; (2) step-by-step plans; and (3) a process for initiating those activities on a Statewide or Regionwide basis. While these manuals were developed separately, they can be used as complementary guides in initiating peer-to-peer capacity building activities. Automated Peer System format. The peer-to-peer system is a DOS-based application using Paradox run-time software to provide users with information concerning Regional resources for technical assistance and capacity building. The database contains information on program and system models as well as information on peer trainers. Users can query the database to produce customized reports according to their needs. Currently, the peer-to-peer automated system is being revised to run in a Windows environment. The hardware required to access and implement the peer system are dedicated 386 or 486 computers, a modem and data line. Distribution: Copies of the manuals are being provided under separate cover by MDC, Inc., to State JTPA Liaisons, State Wagner-Peyser Administering Agencies, State Worker Adjustment Liaisons, One-Stop Contacts, Public Interest Groups, and Community-Based Organizations. Members of the Technical Assistance and Training Professional Develop- ment and Training Panel will also receive a copy. Action: Please share manuals with your staff. If manuals are not received, please contact the individuals listed below. Separate cover: "U.S. DOL Region IV Peer-to-Peer System" and "Learning and Teaching: How To Get Started on Building State and Regional Peer-to-Peer Technical Assistance Systems."

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References: Farmworker Bulletin 91-26, "Carryover Reporting," July 26, 1991; and Farmworker Bulletin 89-11, "Federal Representatives' Responsibilities," May 18, 1989. Background: The assignment of Federal Representatives was revised in September. The Federal Representatives and the current grantee assignments are presented below: Responsibilities of Federal Representatives: The responsibilities of Federal Representatives were last sent out in Farmworker Bulletin 89-11, dated May 18, 1989. Since that time, ETA has undergone a steady downsizing that is expected to continue. As ETA's approach to its roles is gradually "reinvented," the evolving character of Federal level employment and training is slowly emerging to reveal an increasing emphasis on technical assistance as the tool for improving grantees' performance. The Federal Representative is the principal contact person with ETA's grantees. Consistent with the trend in ETA's role, grantees may expect the Federal Representative to either directly provide or arrange for assistance on a range of issues, including such matters as answers to daily technical questions, assistance with arrangements for specialized technical assistance from third parties, and informal (i.e., unofficial) interpretations of SS402 regulations and Bulletins. When specific assistance is requested by a grantee, this may include on-site technical assistance by a Division of Seasonal Farmworker Programs (DSFP) representative or other Federal staff as arranged by agreement with the grantee, and to the extent available travel funds permit. The assigned Federal Representative also serves as the principal member of ETA staff for fulfilling ETA's oversight obligations by: -- conducting compliance monitoring, -- evaluating performance, -- communicating and consulting with grantee staff on findings, -- following up on open audit findings, and -- responding to confidential complaints received from various sources, including grantee staff. Limits of Authority: Neither Federal Representatives, nor any other DSFP staff, are appointed Grant Officers. Consequently, Federal Representatives are not authorized to commit funds or provide official authorizations or determinations on the use of or allowability of funds. When a grantee seeks official opinions or authorizations to change the scope of work, cost, period of performance, terms or conditions of its grant, the DSFP staff will present the request or modification for these changes or actions to the Grant Officer. Federal Representatives or other SS402 staff will advise on such questions, and assist with communications with the Grant Officer. Each may be reached at (202) 219-8216. Federal Representative Assignments: BARBARA CALDWELL: Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs C-5435-5-00-81-55 Arkansas Human Development Corp. C-5436-5-00-81-55 Central Vermont Community Action Council, Inc. C-5466-5-00-81-55 County of Kern, CA C-5438-5-00-81-55 Florida Dept of Education C-5445-5-00-81-55 Illinois Migrant Council, Inc. C-5448-5-00-81-55 Maui Economic Opportunities, Inc. C-5446-5-00-81-55 Mississippi Delta Council, Inc. C-5455-5-00-81-55 Midwest Farmworker Employment and Training, Inc.(Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota) C-5454-5-00-81-55 Motivation Education and Training (MET), Inc. (Texas and Louisiana) C-5452-5-00-81-55 New England Farm Workers' Council (Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire) C-5443-5-00-81-55 Portable Practical Educational Preparation, Inc. (Arizona) C-5437-5-00-81-55 Training and Development Corporation (Maine) C-5453-5-00-81-55 Weber-Morgan PIC (PIC, Inc.) (Futures Through Training, Inc.) -- Housing Grants: MET, Inc. C-4716-4-00-81-55 Southeast Regional Housing (Florida Non-profit Housing, Inc.) Arkansas Employment Security Department (Hope Arkansas Migrant Rest Center) C-4718-4-00-81-55 ES Grant BEA FOWLER: Rural Opportunities, Inc. (Ohio, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania) C-5459-5-00-81-55 Telamon Corporation (Delaware, Georgia, Indiana,Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia) C-5444-5-00-81-55 Housing Grants: Telamon Corporation C-4715-4-00-81-55 Rural Opportunities, Inc. C-4713-4-00-81-55 DAN TREMENTOZZI: Central Valley Opportunity Center, Inc. -- California C-5441-5-00-81-55 Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources C-5463-5-00-81-55 NAF Multicultural Human Development Corporation -- Nebraska C-5458-5-00-81-55 Northwestern Community Action Programs of Wyoming (NOWCAP), Inc. C-5469-5-00-81-55 Proteus, Inc. -- Iowa C-5449-5-00-81-55 Proteus, Inc. -- Californian C-5440-5-00-81-55 Rural Employment Opportunities, Inc. -- Montana C-5457-5-00-81-55 SER Corporation of Kansas C-5450-5-00-81-55 Center for Employment and Training, Inc. (California and Nevada C-5439-5-00-81-55 Home Education Livelihood Program (HELP) Inc. -- New Mexico C-5460-5-00-81-55 Idaho Migrant Council, Inc C-5447-5-00-81-55 Kentucky Farmworker Programs, Inc. C-5451-5-00-81-55 Oregon Human Development Corporation C-5462-5-00-81-55 ORO Development Corp. -- Oklahoma C-5461-5-00-81-55 Rocky Mountain SER/Jobs for Progress, Inc. -- Colorado C-5442-5-00-81-55 Rural Missouri, Inc. C-5456-5-00-81-55 Washington State Migrant Council, Inc. C-5467-5-00-81-55 Tennessee Opportunity Program for Seasonal Farmworkers, Inc. C-5464-5-00-81-55 United Migrant Opportunity -- Wisconsin C-5468-5-00-81-55 Housing Grants: Pacific Mountain Farmworkers Housing Partnership C-4717-4-00-81-55 Rocky Mountain Hi Coalition (PPEP) C-4714-4-00-81-55 Policy on Carryover Limitation: Carryover dollar levels are subject to the ceiling established by ETA. The ceiling remains at its historical level of 20 percent of total funds available for the terminating Program Year (PY). The ceiling will continue at the 20 percent level for carryover of PY'96 funds into PY'97. Action: Grantees should have submitted a modification adjusting for final carryover dollars (and participants) from PY 1995 to PY 1996. Of course, the actual amount of carryover and the number of carryover participants should reconcile with the reported costs and activity for the accumulated 1995 program year, including the SPIR data sent to Social Policy Research. Grantees that have not done so should submit a grant modification which finalizes PY'95 carryover dollars and participant levels.

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