Application of State-Wide Personnel Actions to Unemployment Insurance Program, 41165 [E9-19523]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 156 / Friday, August 14, 2009 / Notices Status: Open. All meetings are held at the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission, 600 E Street, NW., Washington, DC. Requests for information, or advance notices of intention to observe an open meeting, may be directed to: Administrative Officer, Foreign Claims Settlement Commission, 600 E Street, NW., Room 6002, Washington, DC 20579. Telephone: (202) 616–6975. Mauricio J. Tamargo, Chairman. [FR Doc. E9–19552 Filed 8–13–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4410–01–P DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Employment and Training Administration Application of State-Wide Personnel Actions to Unemployment Insurance Program AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor. ACTION: Notice. mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: The Employment and Training Administration provided guidance to States explaining the Department’s position concerning the application of State-wide personnel actions to the unemployment compensation program. The original guidance, UIPL No. 09–98, was published in the Federal Register on February 10, 1998, as continuing guidance. This guidance had not been rescinded. However, to remind States of the Department’s position, on March 11, 2009, the Department issued UIPL No. 18–09, with UIPL No. 09–98 as an attachment. UIPL No. 18–09 is published below to inform the public and is available at: https://wdr.doleta.gov /directives/attach/UIPL/UIPL18–09.pdf. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: UIPL 18–09—Application of State-Wide Personnel Actions, including Hiring Freezes, to the Unemployment Insurance Program 1. Purpose. To advise states that Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL) 09–98 expresses the Department’s position concerning the application of state-wide personnel actions such as hiring freezes, shutdowns, and furloughs to the unemployment insurance (UI) program. 2. References. Section 303(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (SSA) and UIPL 09– 98, issued on January 12, 1998 (63 FR 6774, 6779 (February 10, 1998)). 3. Background. During economic downturns, State revenues decline VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:27 Aug 13, 2009 Jkt 217001 while demands for UI services increase. As a result of declines in State revenues, States face budget constraints and some may impose hiring freezes or other personnel actions such as furloughs on a state-wide basis. When applied to the UI program, these actions will likely have a detrimental effect on unemployed workers and businesses and result in decreased performance against Federal standards. UIPL 09–98 expresses the Department’s interpretation of the Federal UI law requirements as applied to these state-wide personnel actions. In brief, UIPL 09–98 provides that any state-wide personnel action that does not take into account the needs of the UI program is not a ‘‘method of administration’’ for assuring the proper and prompt delivery of UI services consistent with Section 303(a)(1), SSA. If the UI program is not exempted from such state-wide actions, the UIPL requires States to demonstrate to the Department that it has adequately addressed the UI program’s needs. A copy of UIPL 09–98 is attached. 4. Action. States are to address statewide personnel actions applied to the UI program consistent with UIPL 09–98. 5. Inquiries. Inquiries should be directed to your Regional Office. 6. Attachment. UIPL 09–98. Attachment I UIPL 09–98 UIPL 09–98 was published in the Federal Register, Volume 63, No. 27 on February 10, 1998 and may be found at: https://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/ getdoc.cgi?IPaddress=frwais. access.gpo.gov&dbname=1998_ register&docid=98–3341-filed.pdf. Dated: This 11th day of August, 2009. Jane Oates, Assistant Secretary of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. [FR Doc. E9–19523 Filed 8–13–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510–FW–P DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Employment and Training Administration Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970— Temporary Changes in Extended Benefits AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has provided guidance to State workforce PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 41165 agencies in response to the enactment of temporary changes to the extended benefits (EB) program as a result of recent Congressional enactments. The first guidance, issued on January 2, 2009, as Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL) No. 7–09, advised State workforce agencies of the temporary change, enacted by Public Law 110–449, in Federal sharing for the first week of extended benefits (EB) under the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 (FSEUCA) and is available at https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/ UIPL/UIPL7-09.pdf. UIPL No. 12–09, issued on February 23, 2009, provided guidance related to temporary changes in the EB program as a result of Public Law 111–5. The UIPL (available at: https://wdr.doleta.gov/ directives/attach/UIPL/UIPL12-09.pdf) addressed questions related to Federal sharing for cost benefits, benefit eligibility provisions, amendments to State law and reporting requirements. On May 4, 2009, ETA issued additional guidance with UIPL No. 12– 09, Change 1 (available at: https:// wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/UIPL/ UIPL12-09_ch1.pdf) to address general questions about the EB program, work search requirements, submission of tangible evidence, suspension of work search requirements, interstate claims, terminating disqualifications using work, entitlement during high unemployment periods, beginning and ending dates of EB periods, and draft language for the Total Unemployment Rate (TUR) trigger. These three guidance documents are published below to inform the public. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: UIPL No. 7–09: Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970—Temporary Change in Federal Sharing for First Week of Extended Benefits 1. Purpose. To advise States of the temporary change in Federal sharing for the first week of extended benefits (EB) under the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 (FSEUCA). 2. References. The Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008, Public Law (Pub. L.) 110–449 enacted on November 21, 2008; FSEUCA (26 U.S.C. 3304 note); 20 CFR 615.14; and Unemployment Insurance Program Letter No. 14–81. 3. Background. In general, the benefit costs of EB, as well as certain weeks of ‘‘regular’’ State unemployment compensation (known as ‘‘sharable regular compensation’’), are shared equally by the States and the Federal E:\FR\FM\14AUN1.SGM 14AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 156 (Friday, August 14, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 41165]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-19523]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Application of State-Wide Personnel Actions to Unemployment 
Insurance Program

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Employment and Training Administration provided guidance 
to States explaining the Department's position concerning the 
application of State-wide personnel actions to the unemployment 
compensation program. The original guidance, UIPL No. 09-98, was 
published in the Federal Register on February 10, 1998, as continuing 
guidance. This guidance had not been rescinded. However, to remind 
States of the Department's position, on March 11, 2009, the Department 
issued UIPL No. 18-09, with UIPL No. 09-98 as an attachment. UIPL No. 
18-09 is published below to inform the public and is available at: 
https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/UIPL/UIPL18-09.pdf.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

UIPL 18-09--Application of State-Wide Personnel Actions, including 
Hiring Freezes, to the Unemployment Insurance Program

    1. Purpose. To advise states that Unemployment Insurance Program 
Letter (UIPL) 09-98 expresses the Department's position concerning the 
application of state-wide personnel actions such as hiring freezes, 
shutdowns, and furloughs to the unemployment insurance (UI) program.
    2. References. Section 303(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (SSA) 
and UIPL 09-98, issued on January 12, 1998 (63 FR 6774, 6779 (February 
10, 1998)).
    3. Background. During economic downturns, State revenues decline 
while demands for UI services increase. As a result of declines in 
State revenues, States face budget constraints and some may impose 
hiring freezes or other personnel actions such as furloughs on a state-
wide basis. When applied to the UI program, these actions will likely 
have a detrimental effect on unemployed workers and businesses and 
result in decreased performance against Federal standards.
    UIPL 09-98 expresses the Department's interpretation of the Federal 
UI law requirements as applied to these state-wide personnel actions. 
In brief, UIPL 09-98 provides that any state-wide personnel action that 
does not take into account the needs of the UI program is not a 
``method of administration'' for assuring the proper and prompt 
delivery of UI services consistent with Section 303(a)(1), SSA. If the 
UI program is not exempted from such state-wide actions, the UIPL 
requires States to demonstrate to the Department that it has adequately 
addressed the UI program's needs.
    A copy of UIPL 09-98 is attached.
    4. Action. States are to address state-wide personnel actions 
applied to the UI program consistent with UIPL 09-98.
    5. Inquiries. Inquiries should be directed to your Regional Office.
    6. Attachment. UIPL 09-98.

Attachment I

UIPL 09-98

    UIPL 09-98 was published in the Federal Register, Volume 63, No. 27 
on February 10, 1998 and may be found at: https://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?IPaddress=frwais.access.gpo.gov&dbname=1998_register&docid=98-3341-filed.pdf.

    Dated: This 11th day of August, 2009.
Jane Oates,
Assistant Secretary of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-19523 Filed 8-13-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-FW-P

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