ETA Unified Agenda - [Proposed Rule Stage]

Title: Senior Community Service Employment Program 

Abstract: The Older Americans Act Amendments of 2006, Pub. L. 109-365, enacted on October 17, 2006, contains provisions amending title V of that Act, which authorizes the Senior Community Service Employment program (SCSEP). The Amendments, effective July 1, 2007, make substantial changes to the current SCSEP provisions in the Older Americans Act, including new requirements relating to performance accountability, income eligibility for program participation, competition of national grants, and services to participants. This proposed NPRM consists of 8 subparts: subpart A--Definitions; Subpart B--Coordination with the Workforce Investment Act; subpart C--the State Plan; subpart D--Grant Application, Eligibility, and Award Requirements; Subpart E--Services to Participants; subpart F--Pilots, Demonstration, and Evaluation Projects, subpart H--Administrative Requirements; and subpart I--Grievance Procedures and Appeals Process. The performance accountability requirements (subpart G) will be implemented through a separate Interim Final Rule (IFR). 

Agency: Department of Labor(DOL) 

Priority: Other Significant 

RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda 

Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage 

Major: No 

Unfunded Mandates: No 

CFR Citation: 20 CFR 641 (To search for a specific CFR, visit the Code of Federal Regulations.) 

Legal Authority: 42 USC 3056 et seq 

Legal Deadline:  None

Statement of Need: The 2006 Amendments to the Older Americans Act (OAA-2006) were enacted on October 17, 2006. The amendments instituted a number of significant changes to the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), including time limits on the participation of eligible individuals, new enrollment priorities, streamlined and strengthened performance measures, more training options for participants, new limits on participant fringe benefits, and required open competition of national grants every 4 years. The Department was required to implement the new performance measures by July 1, 2007, and published an Interim Final Rule on these requirements in the Federal Register on June 29, 2007 (72 FR 35832). However, SCSEP grantees were advised that they were responsible for complying with all the OAA-2006 changes as of July 1, 2007 as communicated in administrative guidance issued on June 11, 2007. Since OAA-2006 instituted so many significant changes in addition to those relating to performance accountability, it is important that regulations implementing the full requirements of the amendments be issued consistent with the identified timetable.

Summary of the Legal Basis: These regulations are authorized by 42 U.S.C. 3056 et seq to implement amendments to the Older Americans Act of 1965

Alternatives: The public will be afforded an opportunity to provide comments on the SCSEP program changes when the Department publishes the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register. A Final Rule will be issued after analysis and incorporation of public comments to the NPRM.

Anticipated Costs and Benefits: Preliminary estimates of the anticipated costs of this regulatory action have not been determined at this time and will be determined at a later date.

Risks: This action does not affect public health, safety, or the environment.

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
NPRM	07/00/2008

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No 

Government Levels Affected: Federal, State, Tribal 

Small Entities Affected: No 

Federalism: No 

Included in the Regulatory Plan: Yes 

RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 

Related RINs: Related to 1205-AB47 

Agency Contact:
Gay Gilbert
Administrator, Office of Workforce Investment
Department of Labor
Employment and Training Administration
Room S4231, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., FP Building, Room S4231,
Washington, DC 20210
Phone:202 693-3428
Email: gilbert.gay@dol.gov