[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 153 (Tuesday, August 10, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43398-43404]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-20246]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of Refuge Resettlement


Refugee Resettlement Program: Final Notice of Allocations to 
States of FY 1999 Funds for Refugee Social Services

AGENCY: Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), ACF, HHS.

ACTION: Final notice of allocations to States of FY 1999 funds for 
refugee \1\ social services.
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    \1\ In addition to persons who meet all requirements of 45 CFR 
400.43, ``Requirements for documentation of refugee status,'' 
eligibility for refugee social services also includes: (1) Cuban and 
Haitian entrants, under section 501 of the Refugee Education 
Assistance Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-422); (2) certain Amerasians from 
Vietnam who are admitted to the U.S. as immigrants under section 584 
of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs 
Appropriations Act, 1988, as included in the FY 1988 Continuing 
Resolution (Pub. L. 100-202); and (3) certain Amerasians from 
Vietnam, including U.S. citizens, under title II of the Foreign 
Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations 
Acts, 1989 (Pub. L. 100-461), 1990 (Pub. L. 101-167), and 1991 (Pub. 
L. 101-513). For convenience, the term ``refugee'' is used in this 
notice to encompass all such eligible persons unless the specific 
context indicates otherwise.
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SUMMARY: This notice establishes the allocations to States of FY 1999 
funds for social services under the Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP).
    This notice includes a $15.5 million set-aside to: (1) Provide 
outreach and referral to ensure that eligible refugees access the 
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and other programs for low 
income working populations; and (2) provide specialized interpreter 
training and the hiring of interpreters to enable refugees to have 
equal access to medical and legal services.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 10, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara R. Chesnik, Division of 
Refugee Self-Sufficiency, (202) 401-4558.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A notice of proposed allocations to States 
of FY 1999 funds for refugee social services was published in the 
Federal Register on April 27, 1999 (64 FR 22626).

I. Amounts for Allocation

    The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) has available $139,990,000 
in FY 1999 refugee social service funds as part of the FY 1999 
appropriation for the Department of Health and Human Services (Pub.L. 
105-277).
    The FY 1999 House Appropriations Committee Report (H.R. Rept. No. 
105-635) reads as follows with respect to social services funds:

    The bill provides $134,990,000 for social services, an increase 
of $5,000,000 over the comparable fiscal year 1998 appropriation and 
the budget request. Funds are distributed by formula as well as 
through the discretionary grant making process for special projects. 
The Committee agrees that $19,000,000 is available for assistance to 
serve communities affected by the Cuban and Haitian entrants and 
refugees whose arrivals in recent years have increased. The 
Committee has set-aside $16,000,000 for increased support to 
communities with large concentrations of refugees whose cultural 
differences make assimilation especially difficult justifying a more 
intense level and longer duration of Federal assistance. Finally, 
the Committee has set aside $14,000,000 to address the needs of 
refugees and communities impacted by recent changes in Federal 
assistance programs relating to welfare reform. The Committee urges 
ORR to assist refugees at risk of losing, or who have lost, benefits 
including SSI, TANF and Medicaid, in obtaining citizenship. In 
addition, ORR may initiate planning grants to create alternative 
cash and medical assistance programs for refugees. The Committee has 
included funding for health screening of new arrivals.
    The Committee encourages ORR to award grants for mental health 
and other health services for victims of torture if such activities 
are authorized in law.
    The Committee encourages ORR to consider supporting education 
and outreach activities related to female genital mutilation if such 
activities are authorized in law.

    The FY 1999 Senate Appropriations Committee Report (S. Rept. No. 
105-300) adds the following:

    The Committee provides $19,000,000 to serve communities affected 
by the Cuban and Haitian entrants and refugees, the same as the 
amount contained in last year's appropriation. In addition, the 
Committee recommends $14,000,000 to address the needs of refugees 
and communities affected by recent changes in Federal assistance 
programs, and $16,000,000 to assist communities with large 
concentrations of refugees whose cultural differences make 
assimilation difficult. These funds are included in the social 
services line item.

    The FY 1999 Conference Report on Appropriations (H.R. Conf. No. 
105-825) reads as follows concerning social services:

    The conference agreement provides $139,990,000 for social 
services, an increase of $5,000,000 over the House and $10,000,000 
over the Senate. The conference agreement includes $26,000,000 for 
increased support to communities with large concentrations of 
refugees whose cultural differences make assimilation especially 
difficult justifying a more intense level and longer duration of 
Federal assistance, and $14,000,000 to address the needs of refugees 
and communities impacted by the recent changes in Federal assistance 
programs relating to welfare reform. The agreement includes 
$19,000,000 for assistance to communities impacted by Cuban and 
Haitian entrants and refugees whose arrivals in recent years have 
increased.

    The Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) will use 
the $139,990,000 appropriated for FY 1999 social services as follows:
     $68,841,500 will be allocated under the 3-year population 
formula, as set forth in this notice for the purpose of providing 
employment services and other needed services to refugees.

[[Page 43399]]

     $12,148,500 will be awarded as social service 
discretionary grants through competitive grant announcements that will 
be issued separately from this notice.
     $19,000,000 will be awarded to serve communities most 
heavily affected by recent Cuban and Haitian entrant and refugee 
arrivals. These funds would be awarded through a discretionary grant 
announcement that will be issued separately from this notice.
     $26,000,000 will be awarded through discretionary grants 
for communities with large concentrations of refugees whose cultural 
differences make assimilation especially difficult justifying a more 
intense level and longer duration of Federal assistance. A grant 
announcement will be issued separately from this notice.
     $14,000,000 will be awarded to address the needs of 
refugees and communities impacted by recent changes in Federal 
assistance programs relating to welfare reform. Awards will be made 
through announcements issued separately from this notice.
    In addition, we have added $15,500,000 in unexpended FY 1997 CMA 
funds to the FY 1999 formula social services allocation as a set-aside 
for referral and interpreter services, and $20,000,000 in unexpended FY 
1997 CMA funds to the FY 1999 formula social services allocation as 
part of the standard formula allocation, increasing the total amount 
available for the formula social services program in FY 1999 to 
$104,341,500.
    Congress provided ORR with broad carry-over authority in the FY 
1999 HHS appropriations law to use FY 1997 CMA carry-over funds for 
assistance and other activities in the refugee program in fiscal years 
1998 and 1999. The appropriations law states: ``* * * That funds 
appropriated pursuant to section 414(a) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act under Pub.L. 104-208 for fiscal year 1997 shall be 
available for the costs of assistance provided and other activities 
conducted in such year and in fiscal years 1998 and 1999.''

Refugee Social Service Funds

    The population figures for the social services allocation include 
refugees, Cuban/Haitian entrants, Amerasians from Vietnam, and Kurdish 
asylees since these populations may be served through funds addressed 
in this notice. (A State must, however, have an approved State plan for 
the Cuban/Haitian Entrant Program or indicate in its refugee program 
State plan that Cuban/Haitian entrants will be served in order to use 
funds on behalf of entrants as well as refugees.)
    The Director is allocating $88,841,500, which includes $20,000,000 
in unexpended FY 1997 cash and medical assistance (CMA) funds, to 
States on the basis of each State's proportion of the national 
population of refugees who had been in the U.S. 3 years or less as of 
October 1, 1998 (including a floor amount for States which have small 
refugee populations).
    The use of the 3-year population base in the allocation formula is 
required by section 412(c)(1)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(INA) which states that the ``funds available for a fiscal year for 
grants and contracts [for social services] * * * shall be allocated 
among the States based on the total number of refugees (including 
children and adults) who arrived in the United States not more than 36 
months before the beginning of such fiscal year and who are actually 
residing in each State (taking into account secondary migration) as of 
the beginning of the fiscal year.''
    As established in the FY 1991 social services notice published in 
the Federal Register of August 29, 1991, section I, ``Allocation 
Amounts'' (56 FR 42745), a variable floor amount for States which have 
small refugee populations is calculated as follows: If the application 
of the regular allocation formula yields less than $100,000, then--
    (1) a base amount of $75,000 is provided for a State with a 
population of 50 or fewer refugees who have been in the U.S. 3 years or 
less; and
    (2) for a State with more than 50 refugees who have been in the 
U.S. 3 years or less: (a) a floor has been calculated consisting of 
$50,000 plus the regular per capita allocation for refugees above 50 up 
to a total of $100,000 (in other words, the maximum under the floor 
formula is $100,000); (b) if this calculation has yielded less than 
$75,000, a base amount of $75,000 is provided for the State.
    The Director is also allocating an additional $15.5 million from FY 
1997 carry-over funds as a set-aside to: (1) provide referral services, 
including outreach, to ensure that refugees are able to access the 
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and other programs for low 
income populations; and (2) provide for the hiring of interpreters and 
special interpreter training to enable refugees to have equal access to 
medical and certain legal services. Depending upon the existing 
capacity and need in the community, we encourage States to use the 
funds equally for both activities. Both types of services are not 
subject to the 5-year limitation and may be provided to refugees 
regardless of their length of time in the U.S. See 45 CFR 400.152(b).
    Eligible refugee families often are not aware of, or do not know 
how to access, other Federal support programs available to low income 
working families in the community. We believe that these programs, 
including CHIP, Food Stamps, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program 
(LIHEAP), Medicaid, Head Start, low-income housing, the Special 
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), 
child care assistance, adult day care for aged dependents, and other 
support programs for low-income families, are important for the well-
being of working refugees, particularly refugee families, and are 
necessary to help these refugees maintain employment and move toward 
full self-sufficiency.
    The organizations funded by the set-aside amount are expected to 
conduct outreach into the community to identify low-income refugees and 
to help these refugees enroll in and to be familiar with the services 
available and the participation requirements of these programs. We 
expect States to fund community-based organizations, to the maximum 
extent possible, to provide hands-on assistance, which means having the 
application forms available and helping refugees to fill out the 
application, accompanying the refugee to the eligibility office, 
assisting in the communication between the family and the eligibility 
worker, closely following the application process until the family has 
been found eligible, and then helping the family effectively use the 
service or support program in which they have been enrolled. For 
example, there may be different levels of medical coverage available to 
a family, depending on the ages of the children and the income level of 
the family, each with different requirements. It is important for the 
caseworkers/advocates funded through this initiative to understand the 
program requirements (such as a co-payment structure) in order to help 
the family make decisions and fully participate.
    The organizations funded under this set-aside should develop 
effective ways to provide an on-going link between these services, the 
population they serve, and the targeted low income programs. Methods 
might include: partnering with schools to identify refugee children who 
may be eligible for CHIP by virtue of their eligibility for the school 
lunch program; connecting with local Head Start programs to help 
identify refugee children who are

[[Page 43400]]

eligible for CHIP and other health care programs; arranging to have 
Medicaid eligibility workers visit the Mutual Assistance Association 
(MAA) or other participating organization on a scheduled basis; and 
working with other groups serving low income families, such as 
hospitals, WIC programs, low-income housing programs, and food 
assistance programs to make these services widely known to the refugee 
community being served.
    It is also important that States provide as high a standard as 
possible in interpretation to non-English speaking and to Limited-
English-Proficient (LEN) refugees, particularly in regard to medical 
and legal issues. As mentioned earlier, we are therefore including 
funding in the set-aside for States to improve the availability and 
quality of interpreter services for refugees in their communities. The 
set-aside funds are to be used by States: (1) to fund specialized 
interpreter training for medical and legal services; and (2) to pay for 
the hiring and employment of these trained interpreters by MAAs, 
voluntary agencies, and other community-based organizations serving 
refugees, to the maximum extent possible, in order to increase the 
number of skilled interpreters in the community.
    Interpretation requires a great deal of skill--interpreters need to 
be fluent in English and the language spoken by the refugee. They must 
have the ability to quickly understand the message and terminology, if 
technical, in one language and to express it as quickly and correctly 
in another language. In addition to fluency in two languages, 
interpreters must have the skills to handle confidential client 
information and to deal with a variety of professionals in the medical, 
legal, law enforcement, social services, and other fields.
    States should use qualified training programs or trainers to 
provide the interpreter training. Several strategies may be employed, 
e.g., the direct training of interpreters in a group setting, paying 
the course tuition and associated expenses for individuals at a 
community college or university, and the training of trainers in order 
to establish and maintain an efficient training capacity in the 
community. To the extent possible, we would expect States to use an 
established curriculum rather than incurring costs to develop a new 
one. Funding of interpreter services should be directed to areas of 
greatest need and to the most linguistically isolated communities.
    States must determine a community's capacity to ensure refugee 
access to medical and other services, and then examine how best to fund 
and maintain interpreter services for refugees based upon the need and 
size of the refugee population. For example, an interpreter bank with 
dedicated interpreters may be a preferred option if the needs of the 
community can justify full-time interpreters. However, because the 
provision of interpreter services may not fully occupy funded staff in 
some locations or in certain languages, States may choose to train 
bilingual caseworkers at voluntary resettlement agencies, MAAs and 
refugee service providers. States may also consider cross-training of 
interpreters so that they may also assist, for example, in enrolling 
clients in CHIP, Medicaid, or other services for low-income clients, 
and/or serve as case managers or in other staff positions. Staff with 
both bilingual interpreter skills and knowledge of the family services 
network, such as child protective services and the domestic violence 
system, are also highly desirable.
    We also encourage States to set up creative ways to maintain and 
expand the availability of interpreter services in the community, such 
as seeking reimbursement for services from the courts, hospitals, and 
agencies which may be able to pay for interpreter services but have 
been otherwise hindered in providing these services by the lack of 
available and appropriately trained individuals. Fees from low-income 
refugee clients, however, may not be sought.
    In light of the unique position that refugee MAAs have in the 
communities where refugees reside, we are asking that States give 
special consideration to MAAs in using the set-aside amount, where 
possible, to provide these services to refugee families. However, 
qualified community based organizations with refugee experience, 
voluntary resettlement agencies, or refugee service providers may be 
funded as well.

Population To Be Served

    Although the allocation formula is based on the 3-year refugee 
population, in accordance with the current requirements of 45 CFR Part 
400 Subpart I--Refugee Social Services, States are not required to 
limit social service programs to refugees who have been in the U.S. 
only 3 years. However, under 45 CFR 400.152, States may not provide 
services funded by this notice, except for referral and interpreter 
services, to refugees who have been in the United States for more than 
60 months (5 years).
    In accordance with 45 CFR 400.147, States are required to provide 
services to refugees in the following order of priority, except in 
certain individual extreme circumstances: (a) all newly arriving 
refugees during their first year in the U.S., who apply for services; 
(b) refugees who are receiving cash assistance; (c) unemployed refugees 
who are not receiving cash assistance; and (d) employed refugees in 
need of services to retain employment or to attain economic 
independence.
    ORR funds may not be used to provide services to United States 
citizens, since they are not covered under the authorizing legislation, 
with the following exceptions: (1) Under current regulations at 45 CFR 
400.208, services may be provided to a U.S.-born minor child in a 
family in which both parents are refugees or, if only one parent is 
present, in which that parent is a refugee; and (2) under the FY 1989 
Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs 
Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 100-461), services may be provided to an 
Amerasian from Vietnam who is a U.S. citizen and who enters the U.S. 
after October 1, 1988.

Service Priorities

    In the past, a number of States have focused primarily on serving 
refugee cash assistance (RCA) recipients because of the need to help 
these refugees become employed and self-sufficient within the 8-month 
RCA eligibility period. Now, with the passage of welfare reform, 
refugee recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) 
also face a time limit for cash assistance and need appropriate 
services as quickly as possible to become employed and self-sufficient. 
In order for refugees to move quickly off TANF, we believe it is 
crucial for these refugees to receive refugee-specific services that 
are designed to address the employment barriers that refugees typically 
face. We are pleased with the efforts that State Refugee Coordinators 
have made to date to develop agreements with their State TANF program 
to utilize the existing refugee service system in a State for refugee 
TANF participants. We encourage States to continue their efforts in 
this regard.
    Refugee social service funding should be used to assist refugee 
families to achieve economic independence. To this end, States are 
required to ensure that a coherent family self-sufficiency plan is 
developed for each eligible family that addresses the family's needs 
from time of arrival until attainment of economic independence. (See 45 
CFR 400.79 and 400.156(g)). Each family self-sufficiency plan should 
address a

[[Page 43401]]

family's needs for both employment-related services and other needed 
social services. The family self-sufficiency plan must include: (1) a 
determination of the income level a family would have to earn to exceed 
its cash grant and move into self-support without suffering a monetary 
penalty; (2) a strategy and timetable for obtaining that level of 
family income through the placement in employment of sufficient numbers 
of employable family members at sufficient wage levels; and (3) 
employability plans for every employable member of the family.
    Some States are doing remarkably well in achieving refugee self-
sufficiencies. For this reason, this may be a good time for these 
States to re-examine the range of services they currently offer to 
refugees and expand the range of services beyond employment services to 
address the broader needs that refugees have in order to successfully 
integrate into the community.
    Reflecting section 412(a)(1)(A)(iv) of the INA, and in keeping with 
45 CFR 400.145(c), States must ensure that women have the same 
opportunities as men to participate in all services funded under this 
notice, including job placement services. In addition, services must be 
provided to the maximum extent feasible in a manner that includes the 
use of bilingual/bicultural women on service agency staffs to ensure 
adequate service access by refugee women. The Director also strongly 
encourages the inclusion of refugee women in management and board 
positions in agencies that serve refugees. In order to facilitate 
refugee self-support, the Director also expects States to implement 
strategies which address simultaneously the employment potential of 
both male and female wage earners in a family unit, particularly in the 
case of large families. States are expected to make every effort to 
assure the availability of day care services for children in order to 
allow women with children the opportunity to participate in employment 
services or to accept or retain employment. To accomplish this, day 
care may be treated as a priority employment-related service under the 
refugee social services program. Refugees who are participating in 
employment services or have accepted employment are eligible for day 
care services for children. For an employed refugee, day care funded by 
refugee social service dollars should be limited to one year after the 
refugee becomes employed. States are expected to use day care funding 
from other publicly funded mainstream programs to the maximum extent 
possible and are expected to work with service providers to assure 
maximum access to other publicly funded resources for day care.
    In accordance with 45 CFR 400.146, social service funds must be 
used primarily for employability services designed to enable refugees 
to obtain jobs within one year of becoming enrolled in services, in 
order to achieve economic self-sufficiency as soon as possible. Social 
services may continue to be provided after a refugee has entered a job 
to help the refugee retain employment or move to a better job. Social 
service funds may not be used for long-term training programs such as 
vocational training that last for more than a year or educational 
programs that are not intended to lead to employment within a year.
    In accordance with 45 CFR 400.156(e), refugee social services must 
be provided, to the maximum extent feasible, in a manner that is 
culturally and linguistically compatible with a refugee's language and 
cultural background. In light of the increasingly diverse population of 
refugees who are resettling in this country, refugee service agencies 
will need to develop practical ways of providing culturally and 
linguistically appropriate services to a changing ethnic population.
    Services funded under this notice must be refugee-specific services 
which are designed specifically to meet refugee needs and are in 
keeping with the rules and objectives of the refugee program. 
Vocational or job skills training, on-the-job training, or English 
language training, however, need not be refugee-specific (45 CFR 
400.156(d)).
    English language training must be provided in a concurrent, rather 
than sequential, time period with employment or with other employment-
related activities (45 CFR 400.156(c)).
    When planning State refugee services, States must take into account 
the reception and placement (R & P) services provided by local 
resettlement agencies in order to utilize these resources in the 
overall program design and to ensure the provision of seamless, 
coordinated services to refugees that are not duplicative (45 CFR 
400.156(b)).
    In order to provide culturally and linguistically compatible 
services in as cost-efficient a manner as possible, ORR encourages 
States and counties to promote and give special consideration to the 
provision of refugee social services through coalitions of refugee 
service organizations, such as coalitions of mutual assistance 
associations (MAAs), voluntary resettlement agencies, or a variety of 
service providers. ORR believes it is essential for refugee-serving 
organizations to form close partnerships in the provision of services 
to refugees in order to be able to respond adequately to a changing 
refugee picture. Coalition-building and consolidation of providers is 
particularly important in communities with multiple service providers 
in order to ensure better coordination of services and maximum use of 
funding for services by minimizing the funds used for multiple 
administrative overhead costs.
    States should also expect to use funds available under this notice 
to pay for social services which are provided to refugees who 
participate in Wilson/Fish projects. Section 412(e)(7)(A) of the INA 
provides that:

    The Secretary [of HHS] shall develop and implement alternative 
projects for refugees who have been in the United States less than 
thirty-six months, under which refugees are provided interim 
support, medical services, support [social] services, and case 
management, as needed, in a manner that encourages self-sufficiency, 
reduces welfare dependency, and fosters greater coordination among 
the resettlement agencies and service providers.

    This provision is generally known as the Wilson/Fish Amendment. The 
Department has already issued a separate notice in the Federal Register 
with respect to applications for such projects (64 FR 19793, April 22, 
1999).

The Use of MAAs

    ORR believes that the use of qualified refugee mutual assistance 
associations in the delivery of social services helps to ensure the 
provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate services as well 
as increasing the effectiveness of the overall service system. 
Therefore, we expect States to use MAAs as service providers to the 
maximum extent possible. We strongly encourage States when contracting 
for services, including employment services, to give consideration to 
the special strengths of MAAs, whenever contract bidders are otherwise 
equally qualified, provided that the MAA has the capability to deliver 
services in a manner that is culturally and linguistically compatible 
with the background of the target population to be served. ORR also 
strongly encourages MAAs to ensure that their management and board 
composition reflect the major target populations to be served. ORR 
expects States to continue to assist MAAs in seeking other public and/
or private funds for the provision of services to refugee clients.
    States may use a portion of their social service grant, either 
through contracts or through the use of State/county staff, to provide 
technical

[[Page 43402]]

assistance and organizational training to strengthen the capability of 
MAAs to provide employment services and other social services, 
particularly in States where MAA capability is weak or undeveloped.
    ORR defines MAAs as organizations with the following 
qualifications:
    a. The organization is legally incorporated as a nonprofit 
organization; and
    b. Not less than 51% of the composition of the Board of Directors 
or governing board of the mutual assistance association is comprised of 
refugees or former refugees, including both refugee men and women.

II. Discussion of Comments Received

    We received one letter of comment in response to the notice of 
proposed FY l999 allocations to States for refugee social services. 
This comment is summarized below and followed by the Department's 
response.
    Comment: The commenter expressed concern about the proposal to 
allocate $15.5 million as a set-aside to provide referral services to 
ensure that refugees are able to access the Children's Health Insurance 
Program (CHIP) and other programs for low income populations; and (2) 
provide for the hiring of interpreters and special interpreter training 
to enable refugees to have equal access to medical services and certain 
legal services. The commenter believes that refugees are able to 
adequately access public assistance and medical assistance programs. 
Instead, the commenter recommended that the set-aside funds be 
allocated to States based upon the estimated number of refugees who 
have been in the country for over seven years who are losing 
eligibility for Federal Food Stamps. The commenter recommended that 
States should be given the discretion on how to use the funds in 
providing food assistance, employment services, or naturalization 
services in order to mitigate the loss of Federal Food Stamp 
eligibility. The commenter also recommended that the funds should be 
used by states to translate notices and information relating to 
programs and services which refugees need because translation is more 
cost-effective and efficient than interpreter services. And lastly, the 
commenter indicated that the President's budget for Federal Fiscal Year 
(FFY) 2000 includes $40 million to increase and expand the use of TANF 
funds for the current Medicaid outreach program to include children 
newly eligible for CHIP and therefore the ORR set-aside would be 
duplicative of this initiative.
    Response: With the continuing increase in diversity among newly 
arriving refugee groups, and the increased ability of these groups to 
become employed soon after arrival, we believe that there is a strong 
need for refugees to receive specially directed assistance to help them 
access medical and other assistance programs for low-economic 
populations. We believe this assistance is critical to helping refugees 
make the transition from the entry and low level jobs which are 
obtained soon after arrival, when families are struggling to adjust to 
their new lives, jobs, and communities, to becoming self-sufficient 
members of the community.
    We also believe that it is vital to have appropriate interpreter 
services available so that the diverse newly arriving populations 
receive the services necessary for their well-being and integration 
into their new communities. While both interpreter and translation 
services are currently allowable social services for States to fund 
under ORR regulations, it is our understanding that newly arriving 
refugees would particularly benefit from having additional interpreter 
services available in the community. In many communities, it is no 
longer possible for each local resettlement provider to have on staff a 
bilingual worker for each arriving refugee group. New strategies and 
means of addressing the diverse population must be found. It is our 
intent that the set-aside funds will support that need. And finally, 
while funding to augment access to CHIP may be provided under the FFY 
2000 budget, and we would certainly encourage States to do whatever 
possible to ensure that refugee populations are served if these funds 
are included in the final appropriations legislation, we do not believe 
this to be a duplication because refugee program funds would have been 
available to serve refugees before next year's appropriation is made 
available to States.

III. Allocation Formulas

    Of the funds available for FY 1999 for social services, $88,841,815 
is allocated to States in accordance with the formula specified below. 
In addition, $15.5 million in set-aside funds are allocated in 
accordance with the formula specified below. A State's allowable 
allocation is calculated as follows:
    1. The total amount of funds determined by the Director to be 
available for this purpose; divided by--
    2. The total number of refugees, Cuban/Haitian entrants, Amerasians 
from Vietnam, and Kurdish asylees who arrived in the United States not 
more than 3 years prior to the beginning of the fiscal year for which 
the funds are appropriated, as shown by the ORR Refugee Data System. 
The resulting per capita amount is multiplied by--
    3. The number of persons in item 2, above, in the State as of 
October 1, 1998, adjusted for estimated secondary migration.
    The calculation above yields the formula allocation for each State. 
Minimum allocations for small States are taken into account.

IV. Basis of Population Estimates

    The population estimates for the allocation of funds in FY 1999 are 
based on data on refugee arrivals from the ORR Refugee Data System, 
adjusted as of October 1, 1998, for estimated secondary migration. The 
data base includes refugees of all nationalities, Amerasians from 
Vietnam, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and Kurdish asylees.
    For fiscal year 1999, ORR's formula allocations for the States for 
social services are based on the numbers of refugees, Amerasians, 
Kurdish asylees, and entrants who arrived during the preceding three 
fiscal years: 1996, 1997, and 1998, based on arrival data by State. 
Therefore, estimates have been developed of the numbers of refugees and 
entrants with arrival or resettlement dates between October 1, 1995, 
and September 30, 1998, who are thought to be living in each State as 
of October 1, 1998.
    The estimates of secondary migration were based on data submitted 
by all participating States on Form ORR-11 on secondary migrants who 
have resided in the U.S. for 36 months or less, as of September 30, 
1998. The total migration reported by each State was summed, yielding 
in- and out-migration figures and a net migration figure for each 
State. The net migration figure was applied to the State's total 
arrival figure, resulting in a revised population estimate.
    Estimates were developed separately for refugees and entrants and 
then combined into a total estimated 3-year refugee/entrant population 
for each State. Eligible Amerasians and Kurdish asylees are included in 
the refugee figures.
    With regard to Havana parolees, in the absence of reliable data on 
the State-by-State resettlement of this population, we are crediting 
each State that received entrant arrivals during the 3-year period from 
FY 1996 through FY 1998 with a prorated share of the 13,442 parolees 
reported by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to have 
come to the U.S. directly from Havana in FY 1998. In addition, we have 
credited each State with the same share

[[Page 43403]]

of FY 1996 and FY 1997 Havana parolees that they were credited with in 
the final FY 1997 and FY 1998 social service notices. The allocations 
in this notice reflect these additional parolee numbers.
    Table 1, below, shows the estimated 3-year populations, as of 
October 1, 1998, of refugees (col. 1), entrants (col. 2), Havana 
parolees (col. 3); total refugee/entrant population, (col. 4); the 
formula amounts which the population estimates yield (col. 5); the 
allocation amounts after allowing for the minimum amounts (col. 6); the 
set-aside amount (col. 7); and the total final allocation (col. 8).

V. Allocation Amounts

    Funding subsequent to the publication of this notice will be 
contingent upon the submittal and approval of a State annual services 
plan that is developed on the basis of a local consultative process, as 
required by 45 CFR 400.11(b)(2) in the ORR regulations. The following 
amounts are for allocation for refugee social services in FY 1999:

    Table 1.--Estimated 3-Year Refugee/Entrant Populations of States Participating in the Refugee Program and Final Social Service Formula Amount and
                                                                 Allocation for FY 1999.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Havana       Total       Proposed     Proposed
                     State                         Refugees     Entrants     parolees    population    formula     allocation   Set-aside       Final
                                                   \1\ (1)        (2)        \2\ (3)        (4)       amount (5)      (6)                    allocation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama........................................          484           55           75          614     $198,965     $198,965      $34,829      $233,794
Alaska \3\.....................................            0            0            0            0  ...........  ...........  ...........  ............
Arizona........................................        6,105          387          421        6,913    2,240,139    2,240,139      392,139     2,632,278
Arkansas.......................................          141            9            9          159       51,524       85,321        9,019        94,340
California.....................................       34,833          342          575       35,750   11,584,691   11,584,691    2,027,912    13,612,603
Colorado.......................................        3,284            2            6        3,292    1,066,764    1,066,764      186,738     1,253,502
Connecticut....................................        2,362          150          201        2,713      879,140      879,140      153,894     1,033,034
Delaware.......................................           58            2            3           63       20,415       75,000        3,574        78,574
Dist. of Columbia..............................        1,498            4            9        1,511      489,635      489,635       85,711       575,346
Florida........................................       12,594        8,201       21,455       42,250   13,690,998   13,690,998    2,396,624    16,087,622
Georgia........................................        8,307           98          155        8,560    2,773,845    2,773,845      485,564     3,259,409
Hawaii.........................................          120            1            0          121       39,210       75,000        6,864        81,864
Idaho \4\......................................        1,622            0            0        1,622      525,605      525,605       92,008       617,613
Illinois.......................................       11,262          231          304       11,797    3,822,786    3,822,786      669,183     4,491,969
Indiana........................................        1,451            5            7        1,463      474,081      474,081       82,988       557,069
Iowa...........................................        5,288            2            3        5,293    1,715,182    1,715,182      300,244     2,015,426
Kansas.........................................        1,025            9           11        1,045      338,629      338,629       59,277       397,906
Kentucky \5\...................................        3,375          802          638        4,815    1,560,288    1,560,288      273,130     1,833,418
Louisiana......................................        1,296           79          141        1,516      491,256      491,256       85,995       577,251
Maine..........................................          607            0            0          607      196,697      196,697       34,432       231,129
Maryland.......................................        3,000           46           95        3,141    1,017,833    1,017,833      178,173     1,196,006
Massachusetts..................................        6,727           85          105        6,917    2,241,435    2,241,435      392,366     2,633,801
Michigan.......................................        7,078          347          340        7,765    2,516,227    2,516,227      440,468     2,956,695
Minnesota......................................        8,245            7           15        8,267    2,678,899    2,678,899      468,944     3,147,843
Mississippi....................................           71           10           19          100       32,405       75,000        5,672        80,672
Missouri.......................................        6,514            8           13        6,535    2,117,649    2,117,649      370,697     2,488,346
Montana........................................          126            0            0          126       40,830       75,000        7,147        82,147
Nebraska.......................................        2,064           36           36        2,136      692,165      692,165      121,164       813,329
Nevada \5\.....................................        1,233          609          640        2,482      804,285      804,285      140,791       945,076
New Hampshire..................................        1,095            0            0        1,095      354,832      354,832       62,114       416,946
New Jersey.....................................        3,371          365          654        4,390    1,422,568    1,422,568      249,022     1,671,590
New Mexico.....................................          346          467          565        1,378      446,537      446,537       78,167       524,704
New York.......................................       29,693          756          876       31,325   10,150,782   10,150,782    1,776,905    11,927,687
North Carolina.................................        3,639           29           32        3,700    1,198,975    1,198,975      209,882     1,408,857
North Dakota...................................        1,304            0            2        1,306      423,206      423,206       74,083       497,289
Ohio...........................................        4,134           44           44        4,222    1,368,128    1,368,128      239,492     1,607,620
Oklahoma.......................................          471            7           10          488      158,135      158,135       27,682       185,817
Oregon.........................................        4,616          344          388        5,348    1,733,005    1,733,005      303,364     2,036,369
Pennsylvania...................................        6,893          245          261        7,399    2,397,626    2,397,626      419,707     2,817,333
Rhode Island...................................          331            5            5          341      110,500      110,500       19,343       129,843
South Carolina.................................          226            6            7          239       77,447      100,000       13,557       113,557
South Dakota \4\...............................          750            0            0          750      243,035      243,035       42,544       285,579
Tennessee......................................        3,636          171          179        3,986    1,291,653    1,291,653      226,105     1,517,758
Texas..........................................       11,165          778          837       12,780    4,141,325    4,141,325      724,943     4,866,268
Utah...........................................        3,163            1            0        3,164    1,025,286    1,025,286      179,477     1,204,763
Vermont........................................          885            0            0          885      286,782      286,782       50,201       336,983
Virginia.......................................        4,484          114          163        4,761    1,542,789    1,542,789      270,067     1,812,856
Washington.....................................       16,391           45           49       16,485    5,341,920    5,341,920      935,109     6,277,029
West Virginia..................................            8            0            0            8        2,592       75,000          454        75,454
Wisconsin......................................        1,606            9           11        1,626      526,901      526,901       92,235       619,136
Wyoming \3\....................................            0            0            0            0  ...........  ...........  ...........  ............
                                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total......................................      228,977       14,913       29,359      273,249   88,545,602   88,841,500   15,500,000  104,341,500
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Includes: refugees, Kurdish asylees, and Amerasian immigrants from Vietnam adjusted for secondary migration.
\2\ For FY 1998, Florida's Havana Parolees (10,183) were based on actual data, while HP's in other States (3,258) were prorated according to their
  proportions of the three-year (FY 1996-1998) entrant population. For FY 1997, Florida's HP's (3,957) were based on actual data, while HP's in other
  States (2,035) were prorated according to their proportions of the three-year population. For FY 1996, Florida's HP's (7,315) were based on actual
  data, while HP's in other States (2,611) were prorated according to their proportions of the three-year entrant population.
\3\ Alaska and Wyoming no longer participate in the Refugee Program.
\4\ The allocations for Idaho and South Dakota are expected to be awarded to the State designee.
\5\ The allocations for Kentucky and Nevada are expected to be awarded to Wilson/Fish projects.


[[Page 43404]]

VI. Paperwork Reduction Act

    This notice does not create any reporting or recordkeeping 
requirements requiring OMB clearance.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.566 Refugee 
Assistance--State Administered Programs)

    Dated: August 2, 1999.
Lavinia Limon,
Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement.
[FR Doc. 99-20246 Filed 8-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P