ESPL03-98.html

ETA Advisory File Text

Work Opportunity Tax Credit WOTC and Welfare-to-Work W-2-W Tax Credit National Training Conference U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOREmployment and Training AdministrationWashington D. C. 20210 CLASSIFICATION ES WOTC CORRESPONDENCE SYMBOL TEESS ISSUE DATE October 30 1997 RESCISSIONS None EXPIRATION DATE Continuing DIRECTIVE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE PROGRAM LETTER NO. 03-98 TO ALL STATE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY AGENCIES FROM JOHN R. BEVERLY IIIDirectorU.S. Employment Service SUBJECT Work Opportunity Tax Credit WOTC and Welfare-to-Work W-2-W Tax Credit National Training Conference. Purpose.To provide logistical travel and other related information regarding Regional and State staff participation at the National WOTC W-2-W Training Conference to be held November 18 - 20 1997 in Kansas City Missouri. References.Internal Revenue Code of 1986 Sections 51 and 51A. as amended the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996 P.L. 104-188 the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 P.L. 105-34 ETA Handbook No. 408 First Edition July 1997 FM No. 3-98 dated October 1 1997 ESPL No.98-02 dated October 2 1997 and ICESA CESER Memorandum issued to the State Coordinators October 28 .1997. Background.As you are aware the recently enacted Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 Public Law 105-34 included a nine-month extension of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program with modifications. The Act also authorized a Welfare-to-Work Tax Credit for a 16-month period beginning January 1 1998. Employment Service Program Letter No. 98-02 dated October 2 1997 provided an overview of the major changes to the program under the Act. State Employment Security Agencies SESAs have responsibility for the certification process as well as implementation administrative and reporting responsibilities for both programs. Information.In an effort to provide state WOTC coordinators with a briefing by USDOL IRS and other federal officials on the changes to the program and provide an opportunity for coordinators to learn from each other and share successful practices the U.S. Employment Service through a cooperative grant with the Kansas Department of Human Resources has secured the services of ICESA's education and research arm the Center for Employment Security Education and Research CESER to jointly sponsor a National Briefing and Training Conference November 18-20 at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center Kansas City MO. As part of the grant with USES CESER will also develop and disseminate at this conference an initial tool kit of technical resource materials to help WOTC State Coordinators enhance the operation and administration of the WOTC and Welfare-to-Work Tax Credit Programs. Travel and Lodging Information. A block of rooms has been reserved through November 7 at the government rate of 78 sgl. or 98 dbl government ID required at the Hyatt Recency Crown Center Hotel. The phone number for reservations is 816 421-1234. Please specify "U.S. Department of Labor--WOTC Conference" when you make your reservations. The hotel is located on 2345 McGee Street Kansas City MO 604108. Complementary breakfast will be served daily for all conference attendees. USES grant funds will also pay for one coordinator from each state to attend this conference. These funds are intended to pay for air land travel hotel and meal costs up to 1 000 per state coordinator. CESER will reimburse states for the costs of this travel. States can send one additional staff member with WOTCrelated program responsibilities but are responsible for all travel lodging and per diem expenses. Travel and lodging expenses for Regional staff will be borne by the Regional Offices. Conference Information.The conference will begin at 8 30 a.m. on November 18 and conclude at 12 noon on November 20. A draft agenda is attached for your information. Many states have developed useful desk aids fact sheets and marketing materials for the program. During the second day of the training session we will have roundtable discussions in which these strategies practices can be discussed and shared. If you would like to "facilitate" one of these roundtable discussions please fax back the attached form by November 3. Using some of the state materials already collected CESER will be preparing an initial package of "model" materials for distribution to all states at the meeting. If you have developed materials that you have not yet shared with ICESA CESER please send them immediately to ICESA CESER 444 N. Capitol St. N.W. Suite 142 Washington DC 20001 Based on your feedback at the conference additional materials will be developed for distribution in early 1998. Finally many states have developed websites to market the WOTC program and or computer software programs that have facilitated in the WOTC certification and tracking process. During the conference we plan to set aside time on the agenda for demonstrations of these websites and computer programs and will have a resource room for state coordinators and staff to view these state-designed products and learn from each other. To accomplish this we ask states that have developed such tools and are willing to demonstrate them to please fax the attached form to ICESA CESER by November 3. ICESA CESER will then contact you to make the necessary arrangements for these tools to be "showcased" at the conference. Action Required.State Employment Security Agency Administrators are requested to immediately provide' this information to all WOTC SESA Coordinators participating agencies and other staff handling the WOTC program provide to ORM via the ADMORM E-Mail account the names of the individuals who will attend this national conference by COB November 7 1997 Attn Christopher Paslawski and ensure all SESA Coordinators their backups and other staff attending the conference send their registration forms to ICESA CESER by November 7. Inquiries.Direct all questions to the appropriate Regional WOTC Coordinator. Attachments.Copy of Draft Agenda Registration Form and State Program Showcase Form.