SAWDB
POLICY 02-006 Amendment
SOUTHWESTERN AREA WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT BOARD
PRIORITY OF SERVICE POLICY
Date of Issue: June 15, 2006
Effective Date:
This policy is effective July 1, 2003.
Applicability
Southwest Area Workforce Development Board (SAWDB) providers of Workforce Investment Act (WIA) adult employment and training services.
Purpose
To provide SAWDB contractors of WIA adult employment and training services with an adult and Veteran’s priority of services policy in the event of limited funding.
Background
A. If adult funds allocated to a local workforce development board
are “limited”, then priority for
intensive and training services must be given to
recipients of public assistance and other low-income individuals. This requirement ensures that low-income
individuals and public assistance recipients receive services beyond core. It also assures that WIA funds are used for
low-income individuals who do not qualify for other programs.
B. On September 16, 2003, the
of the Jobs for Veterans Act. This guidance transmitted in TEGL 5-03
requires priority of services to veterans (and some spouses) for all USDOL
training programs. Pending development of specific federal guidance for WIA
programs, the USDOL has encouraged states to provide interim guidance for WIA
Title 1 programs. TEGL 5-03 can be accessed at http: www.doleta.gov., or on the state WIA website at www.wia.state.nm.us.
C. USDOL states that the Jobs for Veterans Act is applicable to
operations under current law when a
program has its own statutory priorities for
certain population groups. WIA Title I has such priorities at section 134(d)(4)(E).
NOTE: This policy does not apply to
dislocated workers.
Action Required
A. SAWDB has determined that “Priority of Service” is initiated when
the provider of adult employment and training services reaches an 80%
expenditure rate of the total program year (PY) allocation. At that time, priority will be given to those
applicants that are recipients of public assistance and other low-income
individuals. A low income individual is defined as an individual who received
an income, or is a member of a family that received a total family income that,
in relation to family size, does not exceed 70% of the lower living standard
income level. The system of service
priority shall include consideration of the adequacy of other available funding
sources for adult employment and training-related services such as TANF or
Welfare-to-Work. The “Priority of
Service” remains in effect until additional funds become available.
B. If the SAWDB makes a determination that a priority of service
system is necessary because
funding is limited, the Board shall notify the
state administrative entity (SAE) in writing. The Board shall also notify the
SAE in writing when reverting back to a non-priority process.
C. Upon a determination that local adult funds are limited and a
priority of services system for the
provision of intensive or training services to
program eligible adults is necessary, a veterans priority as well as priority
to public assistance recipients and low income individuals required in WIA
regulations will be established as follows:
(1) First priority will be provided to recipients of public
assistance and other low-income individuals
who are also veterans or spouses of veterans that fall
into the following categories:
(a) any veteran who dies of a service connected disability;
(b) any member of the armed services serving on active duty who,
at the time of application, is
listed in one or more of the categories below
for a total of more than 90 days as:
(i) missing in action;
(ii) captured in the line of duty by a hostile force;
or
(iii) forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty
by a foreign government or power;
(c) any veteran who has a total disability resulting from a
service-connected disability;
(d) any veteran who dies while a disability so evaluated was in
existence.
(2) recipients of public assistance and other low-income
individuals;
(3) veterans, or spouses of veterans as defined above
D. When providing intensive and training services without the limited
funds provision for
priority of services, veterans receive priority
over non-veterans.
E. The SAWDB or their designee, shall monitor delivery of intensive
and training services for adults
to ensure that no individuals receiving
public assistance or other low-income individuals are excluded from
participation or denied benefits under WIA and that the
veterans priority mandate is established.
Inquiries
Questions related to this policy should be directed to the SAWDB AE at (505) 744-4857 in Elephant Butte.
Approved: __________________________ _ _
William I Buhler, SAWDB Chairman (Date)
Attachments
Attachment A - LLSIL
