[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 17 (Monday, January 27, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3916-3921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-1796]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Submission for OMB Emergency Review; Comment Request

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Supplemental information.

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SUMMARY: In notice document 97-1226 beginning on page 2689 in the issue 
of Friday, January 17, 1997, and in notice document 97-1228 beginning 
on page 2689, the supplemental information is being provided.
    On January 14, 1997, the Department of Labor submitted an emergency 
processing public information collection request (ICR) to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). 
As indicated, a copy of the applicable supporting documentation, may be 
obtained by calling the Department of Labor Acting Departmental 
Clearance Officer, Theresa M. O'Malley ((202) 219-5096, x. 143). 
However, to assist persons interested in reviewing the documents 
contained in these emergency processing public information collection 
requests, the Department of Labor is publishing the text of the two 
draft Training and Employment Guidance Letters.

    Dated: January 21, 1997.
Theresa M. O'Malley,
Departmental Clearance Officer.

Directive: Training and Employment Guidance Letter No.
To: All State JTPA Liaisons, All State Worker Adjustment Liaisons, All 
State Employment Security Agencies, All One-stop Career Center System 
Leads
From: Barbara Ann Farmer, Administrator for Regional Management
Subject: Workforce Flexibility (Work-Flex) Partnership Demonstration 
Program

    1. Purpose. To announce the request for applications from States 
for the Workforce Flexibility (Work-Flex) Partnership Demonstration 
Program.
    2. Background. The 1997 Department of Labor's Appropriations Act 
(Public Law 104-208) authorizes the Workforce Flexibility (Work-Flex) 
Partnership Demonstration Program. This directive transmits the 
excerpts from the draft Federal Register Notice describing the process 
for submittal of applications.
    The appropriations legislation provides that the Secretary of Labor 
may authorize Work-Flex demonstration program for provision of 
workforce employment and training activities in ``* * * not more than 
six States, of which at least three States shall each have populations 
not in excess of 3,500,000 * * *''. The Work-Flex waiver may be for a 
period of up to five years. Under this provision, the Secretary would 
authorize a State ``to waive any statutory or regulatory requirement 
applicable to service delivery areas or substate areas within the State 
under titles I-III of the Job Training Partnership Act, with certain 
exceptions and ``any of the statutory or regulatory requirements of 
sections 8-10 of the Wagner-Peyser Act''.
    The legislation authorizes the granting of the Work-flex waiver to 
a state pursuant to a plan submitted by the State and approved by the 
Secretary. Preference is to be given to States that have been 
designated as Ed-Flex partnership States under section 311(e) of Public 
Law 103-227. Excerpts from the draft Federal Register Notice which 
announces this application process is attached.
    Unlike the legislative provisions for Ed-Flex, the legislative 
report language for Work-flex does not permit the Secretary of Labor to 
consider State waiver requests. Instead, such authority is restricted 
to the general waivers provisions. To address this deficiency, States 
may submit both a Work-flex application and a general waiver request at 
the same time. While there are differences in time coverage and 
exceptions for the two sets of waiver authorities, a combined request 
would permit a State to obtain waivers for both the State level and the 
service delivery area/substate level for a minimum of one year. We are 
entertaining joint submissions to permit streamlined submission and to 
facilitate the objectives of the overall waiver authority. If the 
general waiver authority is continued, then subsequent approvals of 
State waiver requests could be continued.
    3. Process for Submitting Applications. Applications will be 
accepted by the Department until March 28, 1997. After that date, 
proposals will

[[Page 3917]]

be accepted only if fewer than six States apply or fewer than three 
with a population under 3,500,000 or fewer than six applications 
received by that date are approved by the Secretary.
    4. Action Required. States which are interested in obtaining 
authority to grant waivers under the legislative authority provided 
must follow the requirements contained in the attached excerpts from 
the draft Federal Register Notice.
    5. Inquiries. Questions regarding this directive should be referred 
to your Employment and Training Administration regional office.
    6. Attachment. Excerpts from the draft Federal Register Notice.

Background

    The Work-Flex program is a demonstration program under which the 
Secretary may grant six States the authority to waive certain statutory 
may grant six States the authority to waive certain statutory or 
regulatory requirements applicable to service delivery areas or 
substate areas within the State under titles I-III of the Job Training 
Partnership Act (JTPA) or sections 8-10 of the Wagner-Peyser Act (W-P 
Act). The legislation also contains certain provisions that may not be 
waived under the JTPA and the W-P Act. The types of these non-waivable 
provisions and the specific provisions are discussed below.
    The granting of authority to issue waivers is intended to provide 
flexibility to States to enhance the development of a comprehensive 
work force development system and to improve the quality and quantity 
of outcomes for persons served. The legislation provides that at least 
three of the six States shall have a population not in excess of 
3,500,000 and that preference be given to States designated under Ed-
Flex. The proposal must provide a description of the process by which 
service delivery areas and substate areas may apply for and have 
waivers approved, the requirements of JTPA and the W-P Act to be 
waived, the outcomes to be achieved, and the measures to be taken to 
ensure appropriate accountability for Federal funds.
    The Department is very interested in working with States within the 
statutory authority to make improvements in the work force delivery 
system. To this end, the Department wants the States to know it will 
actively consider applications which will assist the State and its 
local service delivery structure in implementing structure work force 
delivery system improvements. The Department of Labor's guiding 
principles for reform of the job training systems include:
     Individual Opportunity and Customer Choice. Empowering 
participants who need employment and training services with the 
resources and information needed to make good choices.
     Leaner Government. Replacing separate programs with 
streamlined systems for youth and adults, organized around the 
principles espoused by the School-to-Work and One-Stop concepts.
     Greater Accountability. Ensuring a clear focus on results, 
not process, through mutually agreed upon improved performance 
outcomes.
     State and Local Flexibility. Providing States, local 
communities and training systems with the freedom to tailor programs to 
meet real, locally determined needs.
     Strong Private Sector Roles. Ensuring that business, labor 
and community organizations are full partners in systems design and 
quality assurance.
    Finally, the Department wishes to remind the States of the 
importance, especially within the School-to-Work framework, of 
providing work opportunities, especially during the summer months to 
disadvantaged youth.

Application Requirements and Criteria

    1. Who may apply and when may applications be submitted? Any State 
may apply for designation as a Work-Flex State. As required under the 
legislation and as discussed below, preference will be given to States 
designated as Ed-Flex States. Initially, applications will be received 
until March 28, 1997. Since the Secretary may delegate waiver authority 
to only six States, applications will be accepted after that date only 
if fewer than six States apply, or if fewer than three States apply 
with a population under 3,500,000 or if fewer than six States are 
approved for designation as Work-Flex States.
    2. What Information should be included in a State's Work-Flex 
proposal? To be considered for designation as a Work-Flex State, the 
Governor, or agency administrator with jurisdiction over both the JTPA, 
titles I-III, and the WPA agency must submit an application to the 
Secretary. This application must include the following:
    a. Plan. A plan for the provision of workforce employment and 
training activities for the State.
    b. JTPA Requirements. A description of the process by which service 
delivery areas and substate areas may apply for and have waivers 
approved, including the criteria for approval and examples of the 
waivers which will be considered for approval; and
    c. W-P Act Requirements. A description of the specific requirements 
in Sections 8, 9 and 10 of the W-P Act and applicable regulations to be 
waived.
    d. Specific Elements to be Addressed. To be responsive to the 
above, the application must contain a specific description of the 
process and requirements for JTPA and W-P Act waivers (as appropriate), 
including:
    (1) Identification of the State official who would have authority 
to grant requested waivers, including documentation that the State has 
granted the official such authority;
    (2) Requirements for application for a waiver by service delivery 
areas and substate areas;
    (3) Identification of the JTPA provision(s) for which the waiver(s) 
will likely be requested (either specific, if known, or examples);
    (4) Description of the criteria for approval of waivers;
    (5) Process for providing an opportunity for public review and 
comment;
    (6) Requirement(s) for identification of improvement in outcomes to 
be expected as the result of granting a waiver;
    (7) Measures to be taken to ensure the appropriate accountability 
for federal funds;
    (8) Procedures that the State will use to monitor and evaluate the 
implementation of waivers by local areas, including the outcomes to be 
achieved;
    (9) A statement that there are no state legislative, regulatory or 
other impediments to administration of the waiver authority sought; and
    (10) Assurance that the state has the capacity to administer the 
waiver system.
    As provided in the legislation, certain provisions are not subject 
to waiver under Work-flex. For the JTPA, these include requirements 
relating to wage and labor standards, grievances procedures, judicial 
review, nondiscrimination, allotment of funds and eligibility. Also, 
since waiver authority must be requested by and granted to service 
delivery areas or substate areas, state responsibilities or programs 
operated under statewide authority are not subject to waiver. For 
example, this includes designation of service delivery areas or 
substate areas, the state planning process, the State Education 
Coordination and grants under section 123, the Services to Older 
Individuals under section 204(d), the Title III funds reserved for 
state

[[Page 3918]]

activities (Governors' Reserve) under section 302(c) and grants awarded 
to States with Title III National Reserve Account (NRA) funds. Note: 
Some provisions (such as certain States responsibilities) not subject 
to waiver under the Work-flex authority may be eligible for waiver 
under the other new statutory or regulatory waiver authority included 
in the Appropriations Act. For example, a State may apply for waivers 
for State based programs. States must apply separately for such 
waivers.
    For the W-P Act, only the requirements of sections 8-10, which 
relate to the development, review and approval of State plans, 
recordkeeping and reporting are waiverable. The law also specifically 
excludes from waivers any such requirements relating to provision of 
services to unemployment insurance claimants and veterans and to 
universal access to basic labor exchange services without cost to job 
seekers.
    c. Public Consultation and Comment Process. The Department expects 
the State to involve the local elected officials, the private industry 
councils, and community-based organizations and other stakeholders in 
the process when developing the application. Consistent with the 
general waiver request, the State must provide interested parties an 
opportunity to review and comment on the proposed application. At a 
minimum, the following groups must be afforded the opportunity to 
review and comment on the proposed application; (1) The State Job 
Training Coordinating Council; (2) each house of the State legislature; 
(3) local elected officials and Private Industry Councils; (4) 
appropriate local education and other public and non-profit agencies in 
the service delivery areas; and (5) labor organizations in the area 
which represent employees having the skills in which training is 
proposed. Also, the proposed application must be made reasonably 
available to the general public through such means as public hearings 
and local news facilities.
    The Work-Flex authority is intended to provide States with the 
ability to enhance the development of a comprehensive workforce 
development system, including implementation of the one-stop Career 
system and the School-to-Work system. Another area of importance is the 
area of improving both the quality and quantity of outcomes of 
individuals served. Both of these will be of substantial importance in 
reviewing of proposals requesting the granting of the Secretary's 
authority for issuing waivers under Work-flex.

Criteria for Evaluation of Work-Flex Applications

    Criteria for evaluation of Work-Flex proposals include:
    1. Plan and Outcomes. The extent to which the authority sought will 
result in:
    a. Improving the outcomes to persons served, and
    b. The enhancing implementation of a comprehensive workforce 
development system in one or more areas.
    The extent to which the authority sought will enhance the 
implementation of the One-Stop Career Center system and/or the School-
to-Work System will be major factors in the evaluation of proposals.
    2. Responsiveness. The extent to which the application meets the 
requirements of the legislation and this Notice for submission of an 
application. This includes the quality of the process for reviewing and 
approving local applications for waivers and for documenting and 
monitoring the results of waivers.
    3. Accountability of Funds. Measures to be taken to ensure the 
accountability of federal funds, including monitoring, evaluation and 
reports.
    4. Preference for Ed-Flex States--Tie-Breaking Procedures. 
Proposals will be evaluated based on the quality and specificity of the 
proposal. In the event that proposals submitted are judged to be 
substantially equal, preference will be given to States previously 
designated as Ed-Flex States.
    5. Public Comments. All comments received on the application should 
be forwarded with the application to the Department of Labor.

Conditions

    1. Federal Review of Work-Flex Waivers Granted. In applying for 
waivers, States must recognize that the impact of the use of Work-Flex 
authority to achieve goals and outcomes specified in the State proposal 
will be reviewed annually against stated goals. The Department reserves 
the right to withdraw the authority to issue waivers if: Goals 
specified are not met for two consecutive years; use of the waiver 
authority is abused; or the state grants waivers for non-waivable 
provisions.
    2. Duration and Coverage. Work-flex authority may be granted for up 
to five years. States granted such authority may approve waivers 
requested from all service delivery areas or substate areas or selected 
areas.
    3. Notification of the Granting of Waivers. States will be required 
to submit reports on a quarterly basis concerning the administration of 
the waiver authority and on the accomplishments under this authority. 
States shall notify the appropriate ETA Regional Administrator of the 
granting of a waiver(s) each quarter. This notification shall include 
the area for which the waiver is granted, the provision of legislation 
and/or regulations waived and the duration of the waiver.
    4. Federal Assistance. States are encouraged to regularly consult 
with the ETA Regional office regarding any matters in which the 
discussion and assistance in the Work-Flex administration would be 
useful. Because Work-Flex is an important demonstration program with 
implications for future job training and employment service delivery, 
it is important that Work-flex be tested to ensure that appropriate 
accountability can be maintained. ETA regional staff will be 
responsible for providing information on Work-flex administration and 
implementation. States granted Work-flex authority will be required to 
work closely--on an ongoing basis--with Regional Office staff so that 
both the federal and State partners are fully informed on the status 
and issues under Work-flex. States may be asked to participate with ETA 
staff in designing and conducting an evaluation of the effectiveness of 
Work-flex.
Directive: Training and Employment Guidance Letter No.
To:
    All JTPA State Liaisons
    All Wagner-Peyser Administering Agencies
    All State Worker, Readjustment Liaisons
    All One-Stop Career Center System Leads
From: Barbara Ann Farmer, Administrator for Regional Management
Subject: Guidelines for Implementing Job Training System Improvements 
through Waivers of the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) and the 
Wagner-Peyser Act

    1. Purpose. To transmit guidance for the development and submission 
of a request for waiver of JTPA and Wagner-Peyser Act general 
statutory/regulatory provisions.
    2. Reference. The Department of Labor Appropriations Act of 1997 
(Pub. L. 104-208 sections 101(e) and 105); Training Employment and 
Information Notice No. 11-96, Statutory and Regulatory Waiver Authority 
of the JTPA and the Wagner-Peyser Act.
    3. Background. The Department of labor Appropriations Act for 1997, 
(Pub. L. 104-208) contains three provisions relating to waivers:

[[Page 3919]]

    a. General Statutory/Regulatory Waiver Authority for JTPA & Wagner-
Peyser;
    b. The Work-Flex Partnership Demonstration Program; and
    c. Continuation of the existing waiver authority for the State of 
Oregon.
    These guidelines do not address the continuation of the Oregon 
waiver provision or the Work-Flex Partnership Demonstration Program. A 
separate TEGL will be issued on Work-Flex.
    The Statutory/Regulatory Waiver provision gives the Secretary 
authority to grant both statutory and regulatory waivers of JTPA 
(titles I-III) and Wagner-Peyser Act (Sections 8-10) and contains 
``exclusions,'' i.e., provisions that may not be waived. The general 
waiver authority is for a period of one program year beginning July 1, 
1997 and provides:
     Increased flexibility to States and local areas in 
implementing reforms to the workforce development system in exchange 
for accountability for results including improved performance.
     An important opportunity for States and localities to 
begin or continue to organize services into a workforce development 
system through the concepts of One-Stop Career Centers and School-to-
Work systems which enhance the training and employment opportunities 
available to adults and youths.
    4. Principles for Further Reforms of the Job Training System. The 
Department of Labor's (DOL) guiding principles for providing 
flexibility to the job training systems include:
     Individual Opportunity and Customer Choice. Empowering 
participants who need employment and training services with the 
resources and information needed to make good choices.
     Leaner Government. Replacing separate programs with 
streamlined systems for youth and adults, organized around the School-
to-Work and One-Stop concepts.
     Greater Accountability. Ensuring a clear focus on results, 
not process, through mutually agreed upon improved performance 
outcomes.
     State and Local Flexibility. Providing States, local 
communities and training systems with the freedom to tailor programs to 
meet real, locally determined needs.
     Strong Private Sector Roles. Ensuring that business, labor 
and community organizations are full partners in systems design and 
quality assurance.
    The employment and training community has been provided with new 
authority to build a Workforce Development System. The Department 
believes that effective use of the authority will demonstrate Federal, 
State and local commitment to meeting the needs of our joint customers.
    5. Statutory and/or Regulatory Requirements Covered by the Waiver 
Authority. The statutory and regulatory waiver authority apply to 
titles I-III of the Job Training Partnership Act and to sections 8-10 
of the Wagner-Peyser Act.
    Exclusions. Under the waiver provisions in the 1997 Appropriations 
Act the following JTPA provisions may not be waived.
    a. Wage and labor standards;
    b. Worker rights, participation and protection;
    c. Grievance procedures and judicial review;
    d. Nondiscrimination;
    e. Allocation of funds to local areas;
    f. Eligibility;
    g. Review and approval of plans;
    h. Establishment and functions of service delivery areas and 
private industry councils; and
    i. The basic purposes of the act.
Requirements under the Wagner-Peyser Act relating to the following may 
not be waived:
    a. Services to unemployed insurance claimants and veterans;
    b. Universal access to basic labor exchange services without cost 
to job seekers.
    The Department is very interested in working with States within the 
statutory authority to make improvements in the workforce delivery 
system. To this end, the Department wants the States to know that it 
will actively consider specific requests for waivers to remove 
programmatic and administrative barriers that will result in improved 
services to individuals, that will assist the State and its local 
service delivery structure in implementing workforce delivery system 
improvements, or that will remove requirements, either program or 
administrative, that do not appear to add value to the organization or 
delivery of quality services. Regional offices will work with States 
regarding specific provisions of the JTPA that can or cannot be waived.
    The Department cannot waive other legislation which extends the 
authority provided in Public Law 104-208, other regulations, or Office 
of Management and Budget Circulars which apply to the State employment 
security agencies. Therefore, should a request be received for waivers 
which extend beyond the existing authority, it will not be granted. In 
a similar manner, the Department cannot entertain requests for 
retroactive changes.
    6. Policy. In developing waiver requests, States should take into 
consideration that the Department will not entertain the granting of 
waivers which result in the commingling of funds or which undermine 
accountability, as discussed below. While, in addition to the 
exclusions set forth in section 5 of this TEGL, there will be other 
policy considerations that will impact the Department's decision on 
granting waivers, the Department believes the areas identified in this 
section to be significant enough to cite in this guidance.
    a. Prohibition on Commingling of Funds. One of the purposes that 
could be served with the waiver authority is to make programs almost 
identical (or seamless) from the participant's perspective. For 
example, a State or SDA could request that the program design 
requirements for titles II-A and III be uniform. However, it also 
should be noted that the waiver provisions do not authorize the 
commingling of funds from separate appropriations. General 
appropriations law (31 U.S.C. 1301(a)) requires that appropriations be 
applied only to the objects for which the appropriations were made 
unless the law otherwise provides. In this case, the waiver provisions 
do not provide specific authority to merge (as opposed to transfer) 
program funds. In fact, since eligibility is not waivable, it is clear 
that, for example, funds appropriated to provide assistance to 
dislocated workers under title III would have to be expended for that 
purpose, even though the particular requirements relating to the form 
of such assistance could be waived. Therefore, while the Department is 
committed to assisting States and SDAs in minimizing accounting and 
reporting burdens, the waiver authority does not permit the Department 
to relieve these entities from the responsibility of assuring that each 
appropriation is only expended for its intended purpose. Thus, while as 
noted above, the waiver authority could be used to make the program 
design requirements identical for titles II-A and III, the funds for 
the two programs would still have to be accounted for separately.
    b. Disadvantaged Youth. The Department wishes to remind the States 
of the importance of serving economically disadvantaged youth during 
the summer months. Given the transfer provisions, commingling of funds 
does not present an issue between the title II-B and title II-C 
programs. However, the Department emphasizes the importance maintaining 
a summer component to serve economically disadvantaged youth during the 
summer months.

[[Page 3920]]

    c. Accountability. To ensure programmatic and fiscal integrity, it 
is extremely important that there be both adequate oversight and 
complete reporting. Reporting must be sufficient to provide a record of 
individual need, the programmatic and financial outcomes achieved and 
the resultant indication of success and improvement. Monitoring is key 
to ensuring that the goals and objectives of both the program and any 
waivers granted will be achieved. While the Department may entertain 
waiver requests that pertain to reporting, it will not approve any such 
request that undermines the ability to account to the Congress for 
fundamental programmatic and financial outcomes or the ability to make 
basic comparisons in the performance among States. Also, the Department 
expects that State waiver requests will include plans to monitor 
performance under the waiver(s) to assure that the anticipated goals 
and objectives of the request(s) will be achieved.
    7. Waiver Elements. Submission of waiver requests are voluntary. In 
the event that a State desires to seek a waiver the appropriations 
language requires that any such waiver request include:
    a. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU is between the 
Secretary and the State (Governor) and among other things, requires the 
State to ``meet agreed upon outcomes and implement other appropriate 
measures to ensure accountability.'' The MOU will represent the 
agreement between the Secretary and the State vis a vis the waiver and 
constitute a modification to the Governor/Secretary Agreement or the ES 
Master Agreement as appropriate; and
    b. Waiver Plan. The Appropriations Act requires the State to 
provide a minimum amount of information regarding the waiver requested 
(see Item 9.b. below). The ``waiver plan'' is the State's request to 
waive certain statutory or regulatory requirements. The ``waiver plan'' 
will be treated as a modification to the State's approved Governor's 
Coordination and Special Services Plan (GCSSP) required by section 121 
of JTPA, or the State's Employment and Training Assistance for 
Dislocated Workers Biennial Plan, or the Wagner-Peyser Plans, whichever 
is applicable.
    8. Duration and Applicability of Waiver. The waivers are for one 
year, starting on July 1, 1997, through June 30, 1998 and will apply to 
funds available for expenditure in program year 1997. This includes 
available funds from PY 1995, 1996 and 1997. While the ETA's statutory/
regulatory waiver authority is limited to one year, it is anticipated 
that if the authority is extended by the Congress and the State has 
used its authority prudently, then the waivers would be continued as 
has been the case in other similar instances.
    9. Waiver Plan Submission.
    a. Development of Waiver Request. The Employment and Training 
Administration (ETA) Regional Offices will be responsible for providing 
guidance and assistance to the States as they are developing their 
waiver requests, answering questions about the ETA waiver policy and 
advising the Assistant Secretary regarding approval of the waiver 
request(s). It is expected that the Regional Offices will have a 
continuing dialogue with their States during the developmental stages 
of waiver requests. The Regional Offices are available to review and 
provide comments on draft proposals and provide assistance in 
preparation of the waiver plan submission.
    The Department intends that the process for development of waivers 
will be in a partnership with the State. To this end, States are 
invited to engage Regional Offices in the development of their waivers. 
The ETA Regional Administrators will make themselves and their 
appropriate staff available to consult with States and provide 
technical assistance as necessary. Upon completion of the waiver 
request, the States will submit two copies of their waiver request to 
the appropriate Regional Administrator.
    b. Minimum Requirements. The statute requires the Secretary to make 
a determination of how a State's request to waive certain statutory and 
regulatory requirements would remove impediments and improve the 
State's or local service delivery areas's ability to achieve its goals. 
It also requires the State to include a summary description of the 
programmatic or administrative goals to be achieved in order to 
overcome the barrier.
    The Governor must provide at least the minimum information 
indicated below in order for ETA to make an informed decision on 
whether to approve the requested waiver. Where documentation (e.g. 
statistical information, reports, focus groups, customer surveys) is 
available, it should be provided to corroborate the statements made in 
the waiver request. In the absence of such data the State is expected 
to provide a substantive discussion and examples of barriers and 
proposed solutions which support the proposed removal of the 
requirements.
    (1) State and Local Goals. An introductory statement on the State's 
workforce development system that the State is attempting to build and 
how the waivers relate to that broader vision, including the 
accountability framework. The goals provided should take into 
consideration the principles articulated above.
    (2) Summary of Waiver Request(s). A matrix of the specific 
waiver(s) requested (including the legislative and/or regulatory 
citations); the barrier which the request addresses; and the outcome 
that will be achieved by the granting of the waiver. A description of 
how similar State requirements would be waived.
    (3) Barriers/Requirements to be Waived. A summary description of 
the programmatic or administrative goals to be achieved in order to 
overcome the barriers and the individual waivers requested. For each 
waiver requested, include a description of the specific barrier which 
is preventing the achievement of the goals and an illustration of the 
barrier; the specific statutory/regulatory requirement to be waived; 
and a description of the expected benefit of the waiver.
    (4) Impact of Waivers/Outcomes and Performance Targets. Description 
of performance outcomes and other improvements that are the goals of 
the waiver request. Describe the anticipated outcomes and/or 
performance improvements. Include qualitative and/or quantitative 
outcomes to be achieved. Specify how success and/or progress on 
outcomes will be determined.
    (5) State and Local Service Delivery Areas Actions Taken to Remove 
Barriers. Specific actions taken or to be taken by the State or local 
service delivery areas to remove state and local barriers (e.g., 
policies, guidelines, rules and regulations) should also be addressed.
    (6) Comments Process. Description of the consultation process 
within the State, as well as the process for review and comments on the 
State's waiver request.
    (7) Monitoring. Description of the process the State will use to 
monitor the implementation of the waiver. Specify how the State will 
evaluate progress and continuous improvement of the approved waiver and 
the corresponding programmatic and operating systems, i.e., reports and 
analysis. Specify how outcomes/progress will be reported to DOL and how 
the integrity of public funds will be ensured.
    c. Public Consultation and Comment Process. The Department expects 
the State to involve the local elected officials, PICs, community-based 
organizations and other stakeholders in the process when developing the 
plan which accompanies the waiver application. Consistent with the 
general

[[Page 3921]]

waiver request, the State must provide interested parties an 
opportunity to review and comment on the proposed waiver. At a minimum, 
the law requires that the following groups be afforded the opportunity 
to review and comment on the proposed waiver request: (1) The State Job 
Training Coordinating Council; (2) each house of the State legislature; 
(3) local elected officials and Private Industry Councils; (4) 
appropriate local educational and other public and private non-profit 
agencies in the service delivery areas; and (5) labor organizations in 
the area which represent employees having the skills in which training 
is proposed. (NOTE: In the case of a waiver request concerning Title 
III, the State is expected to consult with labor organizations 
representing workers to be trained.)
    Also, the proposed plan must be made reasonably available to the 
general public through such means as public hearings and local news 
media. All comments received on the waiver request should be forwarded 
with the waiver request to the Department of Labor.
    d. Timeframe for Response. The Department will make every effort to 
act upon proposals by July 1, 1997, if they are received by April 30. 
In general, the Department intends to respond to most waiver requests 
within 60 days from the date of receipt. Each wavier request will be 
evaluated on its own merits, where necessary, the Department may seek 
further discussions or negotiations on a waiver request either with 
regard to changing certain aspects of the request or with regard to the 
quality of the proposed improvements or outcomes. In order to provide a 
prompt response, the Department may respond with a partial approval in 
those instances where a request contains multiple parts and further 
information or clarification is required on one or more parts of the 
request. In the spirit of a continuing partnership to improve the 
workforce development system, the Department recognizes that the need 
for additional waivers may become apparent to the State during the 
implementation of its plan. Therefore, States may submit a request for 
an additional waiver as the need arises, following the process 
described in this TEGL.
    10. Impact of New Statutory/Regulatory Waiver Authority on Current 
Regulatory Waiver Authority Promulgated at 20 CFR 627.210:
    As indicated earlier in this TEGL, DOL's 1997 Appropriations Act 
provided authority for the Secretary to grant waivers, within limits, 
of statutory and regulatory requirements for titles I-III of the JTPA 
and for Sections 8-10 of the Wagner-Peyser Act. Until the enactment of 
the JTPA Amendments and the promulgation of the September 2, 1994, 
Final Rule implementing those amendments, the Secretary did not have 
the authority to waiver either the Act or regulations under either JTPA 
or Wagner-Peyser. The Final Rule included a provision for the Secretary 
of Labor to waiver certain administratively imposed requirements as set 
forth at 20 CFR 627.201. This limited waiver authority did not extent 
to statutory requirements or statutorily-based regulatory requirements, 
which could not be waived. This authority also did not cover Wagner-
Peyser provisions.
    Questions have been raised as to what impact the new JTPA statutory 
and regulatory authority will have, if any, on waivers which have been 
granted under the regulatory authority codified at 20 CFR 627.201. The 
answer is, ``none.'' Waivers previously granted under the old 
regulatory waiver authority will continue to remain in effect until 
such time as the Governor decides that the waiver is no longer 
necessary, or the duration of the granted waiver expires.
    It is conceivable that a State may still wish to request a waiver 
under the authority outlined at 20 CFR 627.201. States should clearly 
indicate under which authority (i.e., JTPA regulations or DOL 
Appropriations Act) they are requesting a waiver. Failure to do so can 
slow down the review and approval/disapproval process.
    11. Actions Required. States are expected to fully involve local 
areas in the development of the waivers. They are also requested to 
distribute the information on both the Federal process described in 
this TEGL and the State-established waiver process to their State staff 
(both JTPA and ES), the SESA local offices, the JTPA SDAs/SSAs, and 
other interested stakeholders throughout the State.
    12. Inquiries and Comments. Requests for technical assistance or 
other inquiries should be directed to the Regional Office (see 
Attachment for list of regional liaisons).

Attachment

              List of Regional Liaisons on Waiver Requests              
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    Region and individual  liaisons               Telephone Nos.        
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I  Raymond H. Poet.....................  617-565-2243                   
II  Thomas J. McKenna..................  212-337-2180                   
III  Barry Bridge......................  215-596-6353                   
IV  Ruby Campbell......................  404-347-3495                   
V  Donald Sutherland...................  312-353-2775                   
VI  Anna C. Hall/Robert Larrea.........  214-767-2154                   
VII  Roland Berg.......................  816-426-3796 x246              
VIII  Maxine Ugarte....................  303-844-1650                   
IX  Ann Marie Myers....................  415-975-4669                   
X  Smith Piper.........................  206-553-7798                   
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[FR Doc. 97-1796 Filed 1-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M