References: 20 CFR Section 641.305(d), 20 CFR Section 628.605, Older Worker Bulletins 94-1, 94-10 and 95-5.2 Background: The Division of Older Worker Programs (DOWP) considered a revision of income exclusion procedures in States that waive more than 25 percent of Social Security benefits (the current waiver level) when determining eligibility for JTPA activities. After considering comments from SCSEP sponsors and others, as well as reviewing the legislative intent, DOWP has decided to accept JTPA eligibility certifications for SCSEP purposes. Congressional Intent: Representative Matthew Martinez, author of the amendment to authorize joint SCSEP-JTPA enrollment, wrote to former Secretary Reich in April 1994, stating " . . . that our intention was to make interaction between Title V and JTPA as seamless as possible so that referrals from one program to another could take place on an as needed basis, without making participants go through the qualification process twice." By making JTPA certification acceptable for SCSEP enrollment there will be additional streamlining possibilities for the eligibility certification process and improved customer services. Policy: With the issuance of this bulletin, sponsors with joint SCSEP-JTPA agreements may accept for enrollment persons age 55 or better who have been certified eligible for participation under Title II of JTPA. This policy will enable joint JTPA-SCSEP projects to implement close coordination and provide equal access to services for everyone in a joint project. Moreover, we believe this policy is consistent with legislative intent. Action: Sponsors should utilize this policy when making enrollment eligibility determinations. When there is a joint SCSEP-JTPA agreement, a JTPA Title II-eligible participant age 55 or better may be enrolled in SCSEP with no further need for separate SCSEP eligibility determination and certification. When making selections of program participants, sponsors are reminded that enrollment preference must continue to be given to eligible persons with the greatest economic need. NOTE: Older Worker Bulletin 94-10 transmitted a copy of Training and Employment Guidance Letter No. 9-93 and enclosed a list of questions and answers about dual eligibility. The "answer" to question number 3 of the TEGL attachment should not be read to exclude eligibility certification by a JTPA Title II operator when there is a joint agreement.

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Background: The Unemployment Insurance Service (UIS) established the ITSC in September 1994 as a national resource to assist the State Employment Security Agencies (SESAs) in applying automation and information technology solutions to meet the needs of the UI program. The ITSC is a joint project between the Department of Labor and a consortium consisting of the State of Maryland, the Mitretek Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and the University of Maryland. The Maryland SESA administers the cooperative agreement, which is funded through a grant to the State via Region III, which acts as the grantor. The ITSC's goals are to help the SESAs: improve program performance and services to claimants and employers, lower operating costs, and improve coordination and interaction with other employment and training and related programs. The ITSC's projects focus on using information technology to facilitate automation advances for the largest number of SESAs at the lowest possible cost. The ITSC has directed its primary efforts toward using information technology to improve service in appeals, tax operations, and claims processing. The ITSC Steering Committee, consisting primarily of SESA ADP Chiefs and UI Directors, acts as a board of directors for the ITSC and establishes policies and guidelines for the ITSC's projects and activities. The ITSC Charter, which specifies that the ITSC's projects should benefit the entire UI system and not just specific SESAs, recognizes that SESAs may wish to use the unique technical assistance capabilities of the ITSC. Article VI of the ITSC Charter allows for the separate funding of State-specific projects by States provided that the Steering Committee review and approve such projects in advance to ensure consistency with the ITSC Charter and ITSC goals and objectives. ETA has been asked to provide guidelines on how States may obtain technical assistance regarding UI and UI-related activities directly from the ITSC. Direct State Use of ITSC Services: SESAs may use either of the two methods to obtain the ITSC's services directly: a. SESAs may contract directly for the ITSC's services with Mitretek Corporation, which is the lead entity in the ITSC consortium. After obtaining ITSC Steering Committee approval, these SESAs should contact Mitretek Corporation and directly negotiate a mutually agreeable contract agreement. SESAs interested in this method should contact Mr. Henry James at 301-982-1575. b. SESAs may request deobligation of UI administrative grant funds for transfer to the Maryland SESA for use by the ITSC. SESAs wishing to use this method should send to their Regional Office: (1) a request that specifies the amount of State Administration resources that it wishes to transfer to the Maryland SESA for use by the ITSC; (2) a statement of work along with a statement of rationale and supporting documentation; and (3) a revised SF 424 that reflects the adjusted base allocation. The Grant Officer must approve all proposed shifts in resources. For such approved requests, the UIS Director will coordinate the re-allocation of the obligational authority to Region III for further transfer to the Maryland SESA for use by the ITSC. The Region III Grant Officer will monitor the transferred grant in accordance with ETA regulations and policies. Caveats: It is the SESAs' responsibility to: (1) obtain the ITSC Steering Committee's approval of projects prior to the Grant Officer's approval; (2) determine that the selected procedure is in accordance with State procurement and other applicable regulations and policies; and (3) monitor progress and determine satisfactory performance. b. It is the Region III Grant Officer's responsibility to monitor the transferred grant in accordance with ETA regulations and policies. Action Required: SESAs are requested to share this information with appropriate staff.

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Reference. UI Reports Handbook No. 401, ETA 191 Statement of Expenditures and Financial Adjustments of Federal Funds for Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees and Ex-Servicemembers Action Required: State agencies are requested to provide the attached directory to appropriate staff.

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