Short-Time Compensation grant progress reports

CLASSIFICATION
   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION                    Unemployment Insurance
               ADVISORY SYSTEM                               CORRESPONDENCE SYMBOL
          U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR                           OUI/DUIO
             Washington, D.C. 20210                          DATE
                                                             September 22, 2017

ADVISORY:        UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM LETTER NO. 23-17

TO:              STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES

FROM:            BYRON ZUIDEMA /s/
                 Deputy Assistant Secretary

SUBJECT:         Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Approval of the Extension with Revision
                 of Approved Collection, OMB Control No. 1205-0499, for the Short-Time
                 Compensation (STC) Grants

1. Purpose. To announce OMB approval of the extension with revision of approved collection,
   OMB Control No. 1205-0499, for the quarterly progress reports (QPR) for the STC Grants.
   Approval of OMB Control No. 1205-0499 is extended through June 30, 2019.

2. References.
    Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.;
    Layoff Prevention Act of 2012, Sections 2161 - 2166 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job
      Creation Act of 2012 (Act), Pub. L. 112-96 (Feb. 22, 2012); and
    Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL) No. 27-12, Short-Time Compensation Grant
      Funding.

3. Background. The STC program helps employers with a state-approved STC plan avert layoffs
   through the reduction of work hours for an entire group of employees, rather than forcing
   employers to layoff some workers while others continue working full time. STC provides a
   portion of a weekly unemployment insurance benefit payment to those eligible individuals whose
   workweeks have been reduced. These employees benefit from the program because they do not
   suffer a complete loss of employment and the loss of wages is partially offset by STC paid during
   the period when their hours are reduced. Employers benefit from the program because they are
   able to reduce labor costs temporarily while still maintaining their skilled workforce, protecting
   the employer’s investments in recruitment and training.

4. STC Grant(s). Section 2164 of the Act provided for grants to states for STC program activities.
   States had the opportunity to apply for one or both of the following two types of funding:

        (1) A grant to implement or improve a state STC program; and
        (2) A grant to promote and enroll employers in the STC program.

   The deadline to apply for these STC grants was December 31, 2014.

   The following sixteen (16) states received STC grant funds: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Iowa,
   Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania,

 RESCISSIONS                                                EXPIRATION DATE
 None                                                       June 30, 2019

   Rhode Island, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. A total of $46,154,004 was awarded to states.
   Of this total amount $16,264,548 was awarded to administer the program and $29,889,456 to
   promote and enroll employers in the program.

5. STC Quarterly Progress Report (QPR). The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and
   Training Administration (ETA) has oversight responsibility for monitoring the STC grants
   awarded to state workforce agencies (SWA). As part of the monitoring process, SWAs that
   received a STC grant(s) must submit a QPR. The QPR serves as a monitoring instrument to track
   the SWA’s progress toward completing STC grant activities.

   The QPR provides narrative updates on STC grant activities and ensures that the state achieves
   the goals set forth in the STC grant application. The QPR has five sections for states to document
   quarterly STC grant activities: implementation and/or improved administration, promotion and
   enrollment, outcomes, success stories, and technical assistance needs. ETA Regional Offices will
   monitor the state’s quarterly progress using the STC Grant QPR and match it against the timeline
   and outcomes submitted in the approved STC grant application. The report is due 45 days after
   the quarter ends. The table below shows the due dates for each reporting quarter.

                              Reporting                                  Due
                               Quarters                                 Dates
            October 1st – December 31st                            February 14th
            January 1st – March 31st                               May 15th
            April 1st – June 30th                                  August 14th
            July 1st – September 30th                              November 14th

   If the due date of the report falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, the report is due the
   previous business day.

   If a state fails to submit the STC Grant QPR and/or is not adequately meeting the state’s quarterly
   goals established for completing STC grant activities as approved per the application, the STC
   grant may be subject to recoupment of funds as described in UIPL No. 27-12, Section 10.

   The Information Collection Request (ICR) for the STC Grant QPR was initially approved by the
   Office of Management and Budget (OMB) pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
   (OMB Control No. 1205-0499) through January 31, 2016. Approval has been extended through
   June 30, 2019. A copy of the QPR was originally provided in UIPL No. 27-12, Attachment III.

6. Extension with Revisions. Information collection under OMB Control No. 1205-0499 was
   revised to exclude the collection of information that is no longer applicable. Previously, OMB
   Control No. 1205-0499 also included approval for the completion of an STC grant application
   checklist and the application for an STC grant (see UIPL No. 27-12, Attachment II), entering into
   an agreement with the Secretary of Labor (Secretary) for the temporary financing of STC
   payments by the Federal Government, and entering into an agreement with the Secretary to
   operate a temporary Federal STC program (for states without STC programs in state law).
   However, no further funds for STC grants are available for award and authority for the temporary
   Federal STC activities has expired and, consequently, approval for such activities is no longer
   needed. Therefore, OMB Control No. 1205-0499 was revised accordingly. The QPR form itself


    remains the same, except for a change in the identification of the grant type (on the top of the
    form). A copy of the QPR form is attached to this UIPL.

7. OMB Approval. OMB has approved the extension with revisions, pursuant to the Paperwork
   Reduction Act of 1995, under OMB Control No. 1205-0499 through June 30, 2019.

8. Action Requested. State administrators of states that received STC grants are requested to
   provide the above information to appropriate staff.

9. Inquiries. Direct all inquiries to the appropriate ETA Regional Office.

10. Paperwork Reduction Act. The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et
    seq., provides that no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such
    collection displays a valid OMB control number. The information collection mentioned in this
    UIPL has been approved under control number 1205-0499.

11. Attachment. Short-Time Compensation (STC) Grant Quarterly Progress Report (QPR).

Attachment (official PDF: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ETA/advisories/UIPL/2017/UIPL_23-17_Attachment_Acc.pdf)

Attachment

           Short-Time Compensation (STC) Grant Quarterly Progress Report (QPR)

State:                                                       STC Grant Type:
Project Director:                  _____                     Quarter Ending:              __

Purpose: To track STC grant activities and ensure that the state achieves the desired goals set forth
in the STC grant application.

Report Due Dates: The report is due 45 days after the quarter ends (i.e., on November 14, February
14, May 15, and August 14).

Section I. Implementation and/or Improved Administration Activities. Include a narrative
description of the implementation and/or administrative activities that occurred this quarter. If the
state’s quarterly goal is not achieved, please explain. Please consider the following in the narrative,
as applicable:
        Progress toward implementing/improving procedures/systems for the STC program.
        Progress in developing and/or enhancing systems to automate the STC program.
        STC program administrative activities (i.e., staff hired and/or staff training).

Section II. Promotion and Enrollment Activities. Include a narrative description of the
promotion and enrollment activities that occurred this quarter. If the state’s quarterly goal is not
achieved, then explain. Please consider the following in the narrative, as applicable:
        Progress in the state’s promotion and enrollment activities.
        Creation and support of Rapid Response teams or other partnerships established to advise
         employers about the STC program.
        Education and assistance to employers about the STC program.
        Development of outreach materials and messaging tools.
        Promotional activities (i.e., meetings attended, media, mailings).

Section III. Outcomes. Include a narrative description of the outcomes that occurred this quarter. If
the states’ quarterly goal is not achieved, then explain. Please consider the following in the narrative:
         If the state included outcome goals in its application, describe the progress made toward
         these outcome goal(s).

Section IV. Success Stories. Include any STC program or grant success stories or achievements for
the quarter. Please consider providing:
        Include any employer or claimant success stories.

Section V. Technical Assistance Needs. Describe any STC program or grant-related technical
assistance needs.