SCSEP state plan transition for PY 2007

Accessible letter PDF: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ETA/advisories/TEGL/2007/TEGL25-06_Acc.pdf

CLASSIFICATION
      EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION           SCSEP
                  ADVISORY SYSTEM                      CORRESPONDENCE SYMBOL
             U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR                  OWI/DAS
                Washington, D.C. 20210                 DATE
                                                       May 31, 2007

ADVISORY: TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT GUIDANCE LETTER NO. 25-06

TO:           ALL SENIOR COMMUNITY SERVICE EMPLOYMENT
              PROGRAM GRANTEES

FROM:         EMILY STOVER DeROCCO /s/

SUBJECT:      Guidance on Program Year (PY) 2007 State Plan Requirements

1. Purpose. To inform grantees of policies regarding PY 2006 State Senior
   Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) Coordination Plan
   modifications and PY 2007 requirements.

2. References. Section 503 of the Older Americans Act (OAA), as amended by
   the OAA Amendments of 2006, Public L. 109-365; 20 CFR 641.300-641.365.

3. Background. Section 503 of OAA, as amended by the 2006 Amendments,
   effective July 1, 2007, requires the Governor of a State (or his/her designee) to
   submit a State Plan for consideration and approval in order to receive SCSEP
   funds. The State Plan must outline a four-year strategy for the statewide
   provision of community service employment and other authorized activities
   for eligible individuals under title V of OAA.

   In order to promote consistency among state programs and to ensure the
   proper implementation of the program changes required by the 2006
   Amendments, the U.S. Department of Labor (the Department) has
   determined that such plans must be drafted in accordance with departmental
   guidance on the requirements of the 2006 Amendments. However, because
   the Department has been focused on drafting new regulations for the 2006
   Amendments, such guidance will not be completed until the summer of 2007.
   This leaves insufficient time for grantees to draft such plans by July 1, 2007.
   The Department does not want to impede the PY 2007 funding process
   because of this new requirement, nor does it want grantees to submit four-
   year plans without having adequate guidance beforehand. Accordingly, the


 RESCISSIONS None                                     EXPIRATION DATE Continuing


   Department intends to resolve the problem by considering a State’s PY 2006
   Senior Community Service Employment Program Coordination Plan as
   meeting the statutory requirements for PY 2007 and will require the
   submission of four-year plans in accordance with subsequent guidance.

4. Guidance. Grantees may submit modifications to their PY 2006 State Plan
   prior to July 1, 2007, if they think such action is in the best interest of their
   State. Such modifications should be directed to the appropriate regional
   Federal Project Officer. However, the Department will not require grantees to
   develop a new single year Senior Community Service Employment Program
   Coordination Plan for 2007, nor are they required to submit modifications to
   their existing PY 2006 plan. Instead, the Department will consider the State’s
   current PY 2006 Coordination Plan to be extended as a satisfactory
   placeholder for PY 2007, until grantees can submit a four-year strategic State
   Plan after receiving administrative guidance and technical assistance in the
   summer of 2007.

   The Department anticipates that it will ask grantees to submit these four-year
   State Plans after October 1, 2007, so that information from the annual
   Equitable Distribution Report process can be incorporated in these plans.
   This timeline will also enable grantees to develop State Plans before the
   submission of PY 2008 grant funding applications. The Department views
   this as an opportunity to improve the quality of the planning process and to
   help grantees work together with all the key stakeholders in their State.

5. Inquiries. Questions should be directed to your regional Federal Project
   Officer.