Implementation Team Weekly Report
to the Assistant Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary


Report of August 5th

  1. Noteworthy Accomplishments Since the Last Report

    1. Recent activities related to State Plans include the authorization of operations under the Pennsylvania State Plan on August 3rd. A table depicting the status of all submitted State Plans is attached to this report.
    2. Work continued on the analysis and classification of the comments on the Interim Final Rule. A preliminary sort of comments by major subject headings is expected by August 9th.
    3. Regional Town Hall meetings to gather input regarding preparation of the Final Regulations have been scheduled in each Region, as follows:

      4. (Additional information has been posted at http://usworkforce.org, and further details will be provided by the respective Regional Administrators.)

    4. A draft of Planning Guidance for Unified State Plans was completed on August 2nd and placed into initial clearance in DOL and in the partner Federal agencies for a 10-day review period. Under direction from the National Economic Council, the National Partnership for Reinventing Government, and the Office of Management and Budget, an interagency workgroup has drafted this guidance to enhance the quality of the unified planning process and to make it less burdensome for the States. Publication of the final document is projected for December 1999.
    5. Notice was published in the Federal Register of August 4th announcing that the comment period on the proposed extension of the current Planning Guidance, which expires on August 31st will run for 60 days (to September 20th), not the 30 days previously announced.
    6. On August 3rd ETA staff and contractors met to review and finalize the evaluation instrument that will support a tracking system and database for evaluating State and local WIA implementation activities. Tracking system design and logistical considerations are being developed, with Regional participation planned.
    7. The Workforce Investment Act web page ( http://usworkforce.org ) was updated on August 2nd to include: information on the Toll-Free telephone access (1-877-US-2-JOBS) for job training and worker assistance available to workers in Georgia, Iowa, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin; details on the upcoming August Regional Town Hall Meetings; and weekly reports of Workforce Investment Act implementation activities.


    State Plan Review and Approval Status through July 29th :
    (All dates 1999 unless indicated otherwise)
    State      Date Received       Unified or Stand-Alone      Transition Approval Letter      Expected Full Implementation      
    FL 3/31 Stand-Alone 6/30 9/30
    IN 4/1 Unified 6/30 4/1/2000
    KY 3/31 Stand-Alone 6/30 9/30
    LA 4/5 Unified 6/30 7/1/2000
    NV 4/2 Stand-Alone open open
    NJ 4/1 Unified 6/30 7/1/2000
    NC 7/27 Stand-Alone open open
    OK 5/17 Stand-Alone open open
    OR 7/1/ Stand-Alone open open
    PA 4/15 Unified 8/2 1/1/2000
    PR 7/7 Stand-Alone open open
    TN 4/30 Unified open open
    TX 4/1 Stand-Alone 6/30 12/31
    UT 4/1 Stand-Alone 6/30 9/30
    VT 3/29 Unified 6/30 (Full 5-year Approval) 7/1
    WI 4/6 Stand-Alone 6/30 7/1/2000