Background: The Department of Health and Human Services published the updated Federal Poverty Income Guidelines on February 24, 1998. These guidelines are used to determine the income eligibility of SCSEP applicants and enrollees. These guidelines also apply to eligibility determinations made for joint Job Training Partnership Training Act-SCSEP projects and the Section 502(e) projects. Directive: The poverty income guidelines found in the attachment are effective from the date they were published in the Federal Register, February 24, 1998. Sponsors must use these income levels when making eligibility determinations and when preparing the SCSEP Quarterly Progress Report. Inquiries: Questions should be directed to your Federal Representative at (202) 219-5904.

Click on the link below to view, save, or print out the document.

References: The SCSEP regulations at 20 CFR Section 641.326; Older Americans Act, (OAA) Section 502(e); Older Worker Bulletins 94-12 and 97-7. Background: The Section 502(e) experimental projects were first authorized in the Older Americans Act of 1978. Experimental projects focus on increasing older worker participation in the private sector, especially in high technology and high growth fields, by combinations of work-sharing, flexitime and other means to increase employment opportunities. Section 502(e)(1) of the OAA directs the Secretary of Labor "...to conduct experimental programs that are designed to assure second career training and the placement of eligible individuals into employment opportunities with private business concerns." To comply with this section of the Act, the Department has undertaken experimental job training projects through SCSEP sponsors. The first year of implementation for the experimental projects was Program Year 1983. OAA Section 502(e) projects are effective tools in achieving one of the purposes of the SCSEP program; namely, the transition to unsubsidized employment pursuant to the regulations at 20 CFR Section 641.326. Further, OAA Section 502(e) projects may be the best vehicle for obtaining job placements in the private for-profit sector, where wages and fringe benefits are likely to be greater than in the public or non-profit sectors. Thus, such projects can facilitate the achievement of economic self-sufficiency for SCSEP enrollees. Innovative Experimental Aspect: Projects funded under Section 502(e) should be innovative and experimental. If it can be done within the normal Title V program, it would not be considered innovative. The objectives of the experimental projects are to develop the skills of older individuals and to develop work modes, such as flex-time, job sharing, and other arrangements to reduce physical exertion. The test for innovation must include consideration of the proposed project under the existing program guidelines. The emphasis of these projects should be on placements into the private sector. Action Required: SCSEP sponsors are encourage to review the attached TAG to consider implementation, or to facilitate improvement, of OAA Section 502(e) projects. Inquiries: Questions should be directed to your Federal Representative at (202) 219-5904.

Click on the link below to view, save, or print out the document.

To preserve the formatting of this document, it has been converted to PDF (Portable Document Format) to retain its original layout.

Click on the link below to view, save, or print out the document.

To preserve the formatting of this document, it has been converted to PDF (Portable Document Format) to retain its original layout.

References: a. The Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), as amended; b. JTPA Final Rules, as published in the Federal Register on September 2, 1994; c. Training and Employment Guidance Letter No. 2-97 (February 23, 1998), "Instructions for Submission of Consolidated State Plans Under Titles II and III of the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) for Program Years (PYs) 1998 and 1999; and PY 1998 Wagner-Peyser (W-P) Planning Guidance". d. Training and Employment Information Notice No. 33-92 (June 1, 1993), "Child Labor Restrictions Applicable to Youth Participants in Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) Funded Programs". e. Training and Employment Guidance Letter No. 7-95 (July 31, 1996), "Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) Intertitle Transfers of Funds". f. Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 203 (m)), as amended by the Minimum Wage Increase Act of 1996. Background: The Summer Youth Employment and Training Program, funded under Title II-B of the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) provides summer jobs and training for economically disadvantaged youth ages 14-21 during the summer months. These programs provide participants with academic enrichment, including basic and remedial education, work-experience with public and private agencies and support services such as counseling and transportation. The Department of Labor is obligating $871 million to the States, Territories and Insular areas for the CY 1998 SYETP under Title II-B of the JTPA. Allocations are attached. As was the case with last year's funds, these funds are being obligated as fiscal year (FY), not program year (PY) funds. Notices of Obligation (NOOs) have been issued under the current PY 1997 JTPA grant agreement to obligate these funds to the States, and they will not be combined with Title II-A and Title II-C funds. As was done last summer, States will be required to submit a separate JTPA Title II-B Quarterly Status Report (JQSR) for these FY 1998 Title II-B funds. These funds will be reported separately from Title II-A and Title II-C PY 1997 data. Additionally, as States draw cash under the Payment Management System (PMS) for Title II-B FY 1998 funds, these II-B funds will be accounted for separately, similarly to how the FY 1997 II-B funds are being handled. Program Vision, Emphases and Goals/Objectives:

Click on the link below to view, save, or print out the document.