[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 23, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28550-28553]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-13019]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Section 167, the National 
Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP)

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Labor.

ACTION: Notice of formula allocations for the Program Year (PY) 2001 
National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP), request for comments and 
waiver of competition for the succeeding 2-year grant period.

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SUMMARY: Under section 182(d) of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 
1998, ETA is publishing the PY 2001 allocations for the NFJP authorized 
under section 167 of the WIA. The allocations are distributed to the 
States by a formula that estimates, by State, the relative demand for 
NFJP services. The allocations in this Notice apply to the PY beginning 
July 1, 2001. Under

[[Page 28551]]

section 167(c)(4)(B) of WIA, the ETA is waiving the requirement for 
competition for the 2-year grant period beginning July 1, 2001.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 31, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to Ms. Alicia Fernandez-Mott, Chief, 
Division of Seasonal Farmworker Programs, Room N-4641, Employment and 
Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210. Her e-mail address is 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Alicia Fernandez-Mott, Chief, 
Division of Seasonal Farmworker Programs, RoomN-4641, Employment and 
Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210. Her telephone number is (202) 693-
3729. (This is not a toll-free number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On May 19, 1999, we published a Notice of a new formula for 
allocating funds available for the NFJP (formerly referred to as the 
section 402 Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker (MSFW Program)) in the 
Federal Register at 64 FR 27390 (May 19, 1999). The Notice explains how 
the new formula achieves its purpose of distributing funds 
geographically by State service area on the basis of each area's 
relative share of farmworkers who are eligible for enrollment in the 
NFJP. The new formula consists of a rational combination of multiple 
data sets that were selected to yield the relative share distribution 
of eligible farmworkers. The combined-data formula is substantially 
more relevant to the purpose of aligning the allocations with the 
eligible population than the allotments determined by the prior 
formula.
    The realignments made by new formula gave rise to significant 
changes in relative funding levels. These changes are primarily 
attributable to the inherent weaknesses of the data sources used under 
the prior formula. The changes are also attributable to the fact that 
the data had gradually become significantly date-stale. The magnitude 
of the realignments is substantial for some of the States that are 
scheduled to experience decreases as a result of the transition from 
the original distributions to the distributions provided by the new 
formula. To provide a smooth transition to the realigned distributions, 
Part IV of the May 19, 1999 Notice stated a strategy for phased 
implementation of the new formula through four incremental ``hold 
harmless'' stages. The stages provide a graduated implementation of the 
formula allocations by limiting the rate of reduction in relative 
funding levels to the four annual increments of 95 percent of the 1998 
level in PY 1999, 90 percent in PY 2000, 85 percent in PY 2001, and 80 
percent in PY 2002. Full implementation of the new (combined-data) 
formula will be reached on the 5th year allocation in PY 2003. The May 
19, 1999, Notice provides that PY 2001 is the third stage hold-harmless 
year, under which each State service area will receive no less than 85 
percent of its PY 1998 allocation. (See 64 FR 27390, 27399 at section 
IV(3) (May 19, 1999)). PY 2001 is the operating year that begins on 
July 1, 2001.
    Because it is the best available allocation tool, we continue to 
implement the new formula by applying the third implementation step of 
the formula described in the May 19, 1999, Notice to allocate PY 2001 
WIA section 167 funds. The rationale for the new allocation formula and 
the underlying methodology on how the new formula realigns the 
distribution of NFJP allocations, is fully explained in the May 19, 
1999 Notice. Section III of this Notice describes how the PY 2001 
formula allocations are adjusted to account for the budget additions 
provided by Congress.
    The Department of Labor invites comments on our decision to 
continue the phased implementation of this formula in allocating PY 
2001 funds for the NFJP.

II. Limitation on Non-NFJP Uses of Section 167 Funds

    The Fiscal Year 2001 appropriation for all the MSFW programs under 
WIA section 167 is $76,770,000. Under 20 CFR 669.240(a), ``[a]t least 
94 percent of the funds appropriated each year for the WIA section 167 
farmworker activities must be allocated to State service areas, based 
on the distribution of the eligible MSFW population. * * *'' This means 
that $72,163,800 is the minimum amount that must be allocated under the 
formula for PY 2001, and it is the amount allocated for PY 2001 under 
this Notice.
    In appropriating the funds for PY 2001, Congress provided direction 
for the use of additional funds authorized above the amount requested 
in the budget. In the Senate Committee on Appropriations Report 106-
293, the Committee recommended the additional funding to offset the 
scheduled adjustment to those State service areas undergoing a 
reduction in funding, by financing the difference between their PY 1998 
level and the PY 2001 hold-harmless adjusted level. The additional 
funding was approved in the final appropriation legislation.

III. PY 2001 Allocations

    In PY 2001, the base amount selected for allocation under the 
formula using the third step's 85 percent hold harmless allotment, is 
the PY 1999 allocated amount of $67,596,408. The additional funding 
provided under congressional direction in PYs 1999, 2000, and 2001 is 
applied cumulatively to sustain at their 1998 levels those State 
service areas that receive a declining relative share of funding by the 
progressive application of the new formula.
    The details for the PY 2001 allocations are provided in the table 
provided at the end of this Notice. The third step (85 percent hold-
harmless) allocations are given in column ``E''. For comparison with 
the figures in Column ``E'', column ``F'' uses the table's software 
program to provide an arithmetic calculation of 85 percent of the PY 
1998 allotments. Column ``G'' provides the additional ``make whole'' 
amounts allotted under the congressional recommendation to bring to 
their PY 1998 levels those State service areas where the demographics 
reflected under the formula show there has been a decline in the 
relative share of eligible farmworkers. At this stage, the PY 2001 
amount allotted is the sum of the third step's formula allotment 
(column ``E'') of $67,606,916 and the ``make-whole'' amount of 
$4,242,312 which brings all States to their PY 1998 levels (column G). 
However, the total amount allocated at this stage is $314,572 short of 
the minimum 94 percent amount ($72,163,800) that must be allocated to 
the State areas for operating the NFJP. To allocate this amount, column 
H carries over from column D the unadjusted formula relative shares for 
the States experiencing a rising relative share. Column I shows the 
percentage calculation of the relative distribution among those States. 
Column J distributes the $314,572 using the percentages determined 
under column I. Column K which is the sum of columns E, G and J, 
provides the final NFJP allotments for PY 2001.

IV. Rhode Island and the Minimum Funding Provisions

    Part V of the May 19, 1999, Federal Register Notice provides that a 
State service area allocated less than $60,000 could be combined with 
an adjoining State service area. As in PY 2000, the PY 2001 Rhode 
Island area allocation is

[[Page 28552]]

combined with the Connecticut area allocation.
    In PY 2003, which is the next scheduled NFJP competition cycle, we 
intend to compete the combined two-State geographic area of Connecticut 
and Rhode Island as a single service area.

V. PY 2001 Allotments

    The final (far right-hand) column K of the ``Allocation Table'' 
provides the allotments for the NFJP in PY 2001. Grantees will use 
these figures in preparing the PY 2001 NFJP grant plans.

VI. PY 1999 and 2000 Competition

    The competition for the current 2-year period, comprising the 1999 
and 2000 Program Years, was held in 1999. Under the authority of 
section 167(c)(4)(B), the Department of Labor is waiving the 
requirement for competition of the succeeding 2-year period (PYs 2001 
and 2002) for each recipient grantee.
    Under WIA section 167(c)(4)(B) grantees are required to submit a 2-
year plan for the second biennial period that is satisfactory to the 
Grant Officer. The requirement for competition for the recipient will 
be considered to be waived upon the Grant Officer's receipt of a 
satisfactory 2-year plan.

    Signed at Washington, D.C., this 11th day of May, 2001.
Shirley M. Smith,
Administrator, Office of Adult Services.

                                                     National Farmworker Jobs Program State Allocations for Program Year 2001 ($72,163,800)
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                                                                             PY 2001
                                                                             formula       PY 2001      PY 2001                  Adjust. to  States with    Relative
                                                                PY 1998     allocation    formula %    allocation  85% of PY98     bring     an increase   share among  Alloctn. to    PY 2001
                            State                              allotments   w/o hold-    share  w/o    with hold-   allotments   states to     relative      Col. H     achieve 94%    allots.
                                                                             harmless       hold-       harmless    (compare)     PY 1998       share        states         min.
                                                                            adjustment    harmless     adjustment                  levels     (percent)     (percent)
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A                                                                       B            C       D                  E            F            G            H       I                  J            K
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Alabama.....................................................     $791,835     $437,632       0.67766     $673,060     $673,060     $118,775  ...........  ............  ...........     $791,835
Arizona.....................................................    1,519,645    1,719,287       2.66226    1,697,659    1,291,698            0        2.662       3.62         $11,403    1,709,062
Arkansas....................................................    1,167,409      724,893       1.12247      992,298      992,298      175,111  ...........  ............            0    1,167,409
California..................................................   14,591,138   20,067,526      31.07392   16,668,927   12,402,467            0       31.074      42.31         133,107   16,802,034
Colorado....................................................      805,523      992,449       1.53678      908,281      684,695            0        1.537       2.09           6,583      914,864
Connecticut.................................................      206,024      303,689       0.47025      237,468      175,120            0        0.470       0.64           2,014      239,482
Delaware....................................................      118,334      125,899       0.19495      125,899      100,584            0        0.195       0.27             835      126,734
Florida.....................................................    4,631,415    2,465,700       3.81806    3,936,703    3,936,703      694,712  ...........  ............            0    4,631,415
Georgia.....................................................    1,711,615      876,499       1.35723    1,454,873    1,454,873      256,742  ...........  ............            0    1,711,615
Idaho.......................................................      877,438    1,079,184       1.67108      989,177      745,822            0        1.671       2.28           7,158      996,335
Illinois....................................................    1,425,808    1,424,912       2.20643    1,425,808    1,211,937            0        2.206       3.00           9,451    1,435,259
Indiana.....................................................      781,615      927,202       1.43574      877,617      664,373            0        1.436       1.96           6,150      883,767
Iowa........................................................    1,314,394    1,078,955       1.67073    1,117,235    1,117,235      197,159  ...........  ............            0    1,314,394
Kansas......................................................      697,839    1,078,783       1.67046      809,536      593,163            0        1.670       2.27           7,156      816,692
Kentucky....................................................    1,352,613    1,043,179       1.61533    1,149,721    1,149,721      202,892  ...........  ............            0    1,352,613
Louisiana...................................................      796,032      484,907       0.75086      676,627      676,627      119,405  ...........  ............            0      796,032
Maine.......................................................      327,397      174,702       0.27052      278,287      278,287       49,110  ...........  ............            0      327,397
Maryland....................................................      306,291      363,789       0.56332      343,957      260,347            0        0.563       0.77           2,413      346,370
Massachusetts...............................................      351,027      298,012       0.46146      298,373      298,373       52,654  ...........  ............            0      351,027
Michigan....................................................      878,641      944,430       1.46242      944,430      746,845            0        1.462       1.99           6,264      950,694
Minnesota...................................................    1,274,775      879,095       1.36125    1,083,559    1,083,559      191,216  ...........  ............            0    1,274,775
Mississippi.................................................    1,449,044      571,321       0.88467    1,231,687    1,231,687      217,357  ...........  ............            0    1,449,044
Missouri....................................................    1,094,524      976,379       1.51189      976,379      930,345      118,145  ...........  ............            0    1,094,524
Montana.....................................................      667,189      461,861       0.71518      567,111      567,111      100,078  ...........  ............            0      667,189
Nebraska....................................................      774,884    1,092,397       1.69154      887,991      658,651            0        1.692       2.30           7,246      895,237
Nevada......................................................      200,795      159,091       0.24635      170,676      170,676       30,119  ...........  ............            0      200,795
New Hampshire...............................................      112,600      100,958       0.15633      100,958       95,710       11,642  ...........  ............            0      112,600
New Jersey..................................................      400,038      698,545       1.08168      472,365      340,032            0        1.082       1.47           4,633      476,998
New Mexico..................................................      598,720      934,978       1.44778      695,528      508,912            0        1.448       1.97           6,202      701,730
New York....................................................    1,850,667    1,088,774       1.68593    1,573,067    1,573,067      277,600  ...........  ............            0    1,850,667
North Carolina..............................................    3,006,003    1,897,104       2.93760    2,555,103    2,555,103      450,900  ...........  ............            0    3,006,003
North Dakota................................................      468,362      609,496       0.94379      531,469      398,108            0        0.944       1.29           4,043      535,512
Ohio........................................................      904,951    1,264,492       1.95803    1,035,876      769,208            0        1.958       2.67           8,387    1,044,263
Oklahoma....................................................      608,145    1,276,891       1.97723      740,354      516,923            0        1.977       2.69           8,470      748,824
Oregon......................................................    1,087,697    1,452,311       2.24886    1,238,069      924,542            0        2.249       3.06           9,633    1,247,702
Pennsylvania................................................    1,221,441    1,549,985       2.40010    1,381,926    1,038,225            0        2.400       3.27          10,281    1,392,207
Rhode Island................................................            0       38,832       0.06013        4,021            0            0        0.060       0.08             258        4,279
South Carolina..............................................    1,080,106      391,046       0.60552      918,090      918,090      162,016  ...........  ............            0    1,080,106
South Dakota................................................      692,869      456,831       0.70739      588,939      588,939      103,930  ...........  ............            0      692,869
Tennessee...................................................      957,799      720,217       1.11523      814,129      814,129      143,670  ...........  ............            0      957,799
Texas.......................................................    5,979,800    6,697,752      10.37126    6,673,284    5,082,830            0       10.371      14.12          44,426    6,717,710
Utah........................................................      245,354      288,106       0.44612      275,185      208,551            0        0.446       0.61           1,911      277,096
Vermont.....................................................      213,134      105,217       0.16293      181,164      181,164       31,970  ...........  ............            0      213,134
Virginia....................................................    1,036,441      708,789       1.09754      880,975      880,975      155,466  ...........  ............            0    1,036,441
Washington..................................................    1,705,576    2,262,216       3.50297    1,939,806    1,449,740            0        3.503       4.77          15,005    1,954,811
West Virginia...............................................      219,325      100,275       0.15527      186,426      186,426       32,899  ...........  ............            0      219,325
Wisconsin...................................................    1,229,201      953,157       1.47593    1,044,821    1,044,821      184,380  ...........  ............            0    1,229,201
Wyoming.....................................................      201,911      232,207       0.35956      225,954      171,624            0        0.360       0.49           1,540      227,494
                                                             -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total Cntr. U.S.......................................   63,933,384   64,579,952     100.00      64,580,848          N/A    4,077,948       73.436       1.00000      314,570   68,973,366
                                                             ===================================================================================================================================
Conterminous U.S............................................   63,933,384   64,579,952      95.53755  ...........  ...........  ...........  ...........  ............  ...........  ...........
                                                             ===================================================================================================================================
Hawaii......................................................      251,607      204,254       0.30217      213,868      213,866       37,739  ...........  ............            0      251,607
Puerto Rico.................................................    2,938,827    2,812,202       4.16028    2,812,200    2,498,003      126,627  ...........  ............            0    2,938,827
                                                             -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Subtot. (HI+PR).......................................    3,190,434    3,016,456       4.46       3,026,068          N/A      164,366  ...........  ............            0    3,190,434
                                                             ===================================================================================================================================
      Total U.S.............................................   67,123,818   67,596,408     100.00      67,606,916  ...........    4,242,314  ...........  ............      314,570   72,163,800

[[Page 28553]]

 
                                                                                                                                                                                      72,163,800
                                                                                                                                                                            314,570   72,163,800

[FR Doc. 01-13019 Filed 5-22-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P