To transmit administrative and quarterly reporting forms for Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) program, and to provide related guidance.

To provide notice of an error on Page1, Box 5 of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) Individual Characteristics Form (ETA Form9061), and an error in the instructions for Box 17 of the same form. Employment Service Program Letter (ESPL) No. 5-97, dated November 25, 1996, transmitted The Work Opportunity Tax Credit Individual Characteristics Form. This ESPL transmits a revised Individual Characteristics Form (ICF) that corrects errors in that form.

To share information on how SESAs that earned recognition in the Annual National Awards Program since its inception in 1994 have used or are planning to use the award funds.

To alert states, that the uninterrupted use of the existing WOTC administrative and quarterly reporting forms beyond the listed expiration date of June 30, 1997 is authorized.

To announce a National H-2B Forestry Conference to be held in New Orleans, Louisiana August 26-28, 1997. State and Federal staff involved in administering the H-2B forestry worker program and related activities should plan to attend.

To announce: a) the reauthorization of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) Program under the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (P. L. 105-34), the Act, and provide information on the major changes in the program as a result of the new law; and, b) the new Welfare-to-Work Tax Credit authorized under the Act, which is to be administered in the same manner as the WOTC program.

To clarify the amendment to Section 51(i)(2) of the IRC dealing with "qualifying rehires," and to identify the period of time requirement for referral of individuals from vocational rehabilitation programs as this applies to the WOTC and WtW tax credits.

To inform State Employment Security Agencies (SESAs) that the U.S. Employment Service/America's Labor Market Information System (USES/ALMIS) within the Office of Workforce Security will be supplying States with starter kits and an initial supply of three new Occupational Information Network (O*NET) career exploration tools. These tools are intended for use within local One-Stop Centers to enhance the range of services available to job seekers. This initial supply will introduce these tools to State and local One-Stop Centers through SESAs.

To inform State Employment Security Agencies (SESAs) of the Annual National Monitor Advocate Conference being held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on March 11 - 15, 2001.

To provide notice of an expected significant increase in new Permanent Labor Certification applications as a result in a recent change in the Immigration and Nationality Act, and provide recommendations for actions to support the intentions of the change in the Act while recognizing the constraints under current regulations and budget limitations.