To provide an update on the IDH Participation Agreement (Version 5.0) and the available services in the IDH. The IDH is an important integrity tool to aid in detecting and preventing UI fraud; all states are strongly encouraged to enter into the updated IDH Participation Agreement in order to take advantage of the IDH services.

To provide guidance to the states regarding the content of the WIA Annual Report narrative; including strategies for serving veterans (as referenced in section 4, part E), and the procedures for submission of the report to the Employment and Training Administration (ETA). The Annual Report is due on Monday, October 1, 2012.

To announce the availability of the Employment and Training Administration's (ETA's) WIA Youth Program Reference Tool.

To provide guidance on disclosure of confidential UC information to private entities seeking to serve as intermediaries between lenders and state unemployment insurance (UI) agencies.

To advise state agencies of the provisions in the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, (the Act) governing Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) programs and offering assistance to state agencies that operate such programs.

The purpose of this advisory is to inform the State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) of new provisions that affect the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) Veteran target group, to provide guidance for the effective and timely implementation of eligibility determinations for this group and its new categories, and to inform SWAs of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance on the submission of Form 8850.

The purpose of this Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) is to provide information about exclusions based on criminal records, and how they are relevant to the existing nondiscrimination obligations for the public workforce system and other entities (including the “covered entities” listed above) that receive federal financial assistance to operate Job Banks, to provide assistance to job seekers in locating and obtaining employment, and to assist employers by screening and referring qualified applicants. As explained in this TEGL, restrictions based on criminal history records may have a disparate impact on members of a particular race or national origin, in violation of federal antidiscrimination laws. This guidance is being issued by the Employment and Training Administration (ETA), in conjunction with the Civil Rights Center (CRC).

To inform the workforce system of a curriculum for teaching soft skills or work readiness skills to youth.

To advise UC agencies of their responsibilities to provide information to the VA, upon request, about the UC eligibility of veterans applying for VA sponsored rehabilitation services and to transmit a copy of the Request for and Consent to Release of Information from Individual’s Records, VA Form 3288 (Office of Management and Budget Control No. 2900-0028).

To request states to submit spending plans for their shares of the $500 million Special Distribution provided under the Recovery Act.