Average Weekly Benefit Amount (AWBA) Utilization: As required by 20 CFR 625.6, the attached listing sets forth the 50 percent of AWBA computation applicable for major disasters declared during the third quarter of FY 1999, from April 1 through June 30, 1999. Action Required: SESA Administrators are requested to provide this information to appropriate staff and insure that the correct AWBA is utilized in determining the weekly DUA amount.

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Background: A review of Benefit Timeliness and Quality (BTQ) non-monetary determination quality scores of the SESAs indicates a need for improvement in certain areas of the adjudication process. In an attempt to assist States with improving performance in these selected areas (see attached draft agenda), the National Office is offering two ¿Train the Trainer¿ seminars. Participants and Objectives: The seminars are designed to assist SESA staff who are responsible for training State staff in areas of non-monetary determinations with training material and preparation. The seminars will be held in 1999 in Washington, D.C., and in San Diego, California. While prior training experience is not necessary, each participant should be knowledgeable of the adjudication process in his/her State. A package of training materials will be provided to each participant which may be used to conduct training within his/her respective State. Each participant will be expected to practice presenting the material during these sessions. Group workshops will be conducted in areas which have been identified based on analyses of the BTQ data as needing specific attention. Conference Locations/Reservations: The sessions will be held as follows: States in Regions I thru V: A session will be held June 7 -11, 1999, in Washington, D.C., at One Washington Circle Hotel, One Washington Circle NW, Washington, D.C., 20037. Room rates are $115.00 plus 14.5% tax per night for a single and $130 plus 14.5% tax each night for a double. Each participant is responsible for contacting the hotel at (800) 424-9671 or (202) 872-1680 to make his/her own reservation. Please reference ¿Department of Labor (DOL) Group¿ when making a reservation to ensure the correct rate is quoted. Reservations must be made no later than May 8, 1999. Ground Transportation : The hotel is located directly across the circle from the Foggy Bottom-George Washington University Metro station on the blue line. The blue line is available from National Airport without a change of trains. Super Shuttle and taxi cabs are also available from all three area airports (National, Dulles, Baltimore-Washington). States in Regions VI thru X: A session will be held July 26 -30, 1999, at the Westgate Hotel, 1055 Second Avenue, San Diego, California. Room rates are $98.00 (includes all taxes) per night for a single/double room. Each participant is responsible for contacting the hotel at (619) 238-1818 to make his/her own reservation. Please reference ¿Department of Labor (DOL) Group¿ when making a reservation to ensure the correct rate is quoted. Reservations must be made no later than July 5, 1999. Ground Transportation: The hotel provides complimentary airport transportation. The San Diego Trolley stops at the hotel. Auto parking is available for an additional $12 per day for those who may wish to drive. Action Required: SESA Administrators are requested to: (a) Encourage attendance of State staff who are responsible for training in the area of non-monetary determinations. (b) States in Regions I thru V -provide the names of each staff member planning to attend the June training to the appropriate Regional Office no later than May 8, 1999. States in Regions VI thru X -provide the names of each staff member planning to attend the July training to the appropriate Regional Office no later than July 5, 1999.

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Agenda: A copy of the agenda is attached. Participants: The Annual Conference of NAUIAB will be of interest to unemployment insurance appellate boards and commission members, chief hearing officers responsible for lower authority appellate adjudications, and the chief counsel and chief executive officers of the various higher authority boards and commissions. Meeting Particulars and Inquiries: Travel and per diem costs for State Employment Security Agency participants will have to be paid from available State FY 96 allocations. Additional funds from ETA are not available for this purpose. Details about the meeting site, costs, and contact persons for additional information are in the attached materials. Action Required: SESA Administrators are requested to provide this information to the appropriate SESA personnel and appellate board members and staff.

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References: 20 CFR part 655, subpart A; 20 CFR part 655, subparts H and I; 20 CFR part 656; Technical Assistance Guide (TAG) No. 656 Labor Certifications; General Administration Letter (GAL) 2- 98, Prevailing Wage Policy for Nonagricultural Immigration Programs; and GAL 2-98, Change 1, Prevailing Wage Policy for Researchers Employed by Colleges and Universities, College and University Operated Federally Funded Research and Development Centers, and Certain Federal Agencies. Background: The Bureau of Labor Statistics regional offices have recently provided new data files to Employment Security Agencies which contain the updated OES data. The State is to use this data in making prevailing wage determinations during Calendar Year 1999. This year there are two data sets. One set is composed of the ALC__97f.dbf and *.dat files and is referred to as the AALC@ database. These files will be used to determine prevailing wages for occupations in most industries. The second set is composed of the EDC__97f.dbf and *.dat files and is referred to as the AEDC@ database. These files are to be used to determine prevailing wages in industries identified in ACWIA, as discussed below. These data sets should be used for making prevailing wage determinations immediately upon receipt. This year¿s data are the second year of OES estimates and have been developed using both 1996 and 1997 survey data that, when combined, cover approximately 800,000 sample units. As expected, wages for use in 1999 differ from those used in 1998. One of the results of the new sample is that the number of occupation/location cells whose data is based on data only obtained within the specific location has more than doubled from last year. Fewer cells must show national or State data because of the inability to obtain a sample resulting in publishable data for that cell. The recently enacted ACWIA, which increased the H-1B quota and made other changes to the program, also included a change for the calculation of prevailing wages in all labor certification programs for all occupations in specific types of employers. The ACWIA states: Section 212 (8 U.S.C.1182) is amended by adding at the end the following: (p)(1) In computing the prevailing wage level for an occupational classification in an area of employment for purposes of subsections (n)(1)(A)(i)(II) [H-1B program] and (a)(5)(A) [permanent program] in the case of an employee of- (A) an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965), or a related or affiliated nonprofit entity; or (B) a nonprofit research organization or a Governmental research organization, the prevailing wage level shall only take into account employees at such institutions and organizations in the area of employment....@ Attached to this GAL is the definition of ¿an institution of higher education¿ found in the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA). Any institution meeting this definition is to be provided a prevailing wage determined by using the AEDC@ database (unless an approvable employer provided survey is offered). An institution which can show evidence (e.g., a charter) that they are a nonprofit entity either related to or affiliated with an institution of higher education as defined in the HEA is also to use the AEDC@ database. Institutions that can offer evidence of being a nonprofit research organization (e.g., recognition by IRS of nonprofit status) or a Governmental research organization are also to be provided prevailing wages based on the EDC database (unless an approvable employer provided survey is offered). The new law went beyond the recently published regulations referring to ¿researchers¿ in colleges and universities and selected research facilities. The ACWIA indicates that all occupations in institutions of higher education, a related or affiliated nonprofit entity, nonprofit research organization, or governmental research agency, should be provided prevailing wages using the AEDC database or use the prevailing wage based on a sample of similar institutions. Use of OES data: The OES wages in the AALC@ database from BLS are to be used to determine prevailing wages except: a) where a Davis-Bacon wage, an SCA wage, or a contract wage takes precedence, as outlined in GAL 2-98; and b) where the occupation is in an industry described under ACWIA. The OES survey collected wage data on occupations found in institutions of higher education (SIC 822). This is the AEDC@ database (files listed as EDC__97.dbf and *.dat). The AEDC@ database is to be used to determine the prevailing wage for occupations in organizations identified in ACWIA above, (institutions of higher education, a related or affiliated nonprofit entity, nonprofit research organization, or governmental research agency). The Davis-Bacon and Service Contract Act wages are not to be used as the prevailing wage for occupations in organizations identified in ACWIA because of the specific wording in the Act regarding the way in which prevailing wages are to be determined for these organizations. However, if a negotiated union agreement exists for the requested job in the facility where the job is being requested, the negotiated wage is to be used as the prevailing wage. The provisions of GAL 2-98 continue to apply to the process of providing Level One and Level Two as the appropriate prevailing wage for the requested occupation. Also applicable is the process described under GAL 2-98, Section J, Use of Employer-Provided Published Wage Surveys or Employer-Conducted Surveys. For occupations in organizations which were identified in ACWIA, employer provided or conducted surveys must meet the criteria under GAL 2-98, Section J, except that criterion (5) will not apply. Instead, such surveys, in order to be acceptable, must include a representative sample of the occupation in similar institutions as required in the ACWIA. We are currently discussing with BLS the possibility of obtaining wage data for ¿Governmental research organizations¿. Although BLS has data from OPM on Federal wages, we must determine if we can extract from that data those wages paid in organizations where the primary function is research. Until that information can be provided, the EDC database should be used to provide prevailing wage determinations in these organizations as well. For users of ALCATS, that computer program has been revised to allow the user to select the use of the ALC or EDC database, as appropriate. The application is available to down load from the following internet site: http://edc.dws.state.ut.us/alcats21.htm. State Agency staff that would like to obtain a CD containing the application may obtain it either by using the order form available at that site, or by calling Gary Ray at 801-526-9455. Action Required: State Administrators are requested to: A. Provide this guidance to appropriate staff. B. Ensure that the State OES coordinator has provided the 1997 Occupational Employment Statistics Survey to staff responsible for making prevailing wage determinations under the nonagricultural Alien Labor Certification programs. C. Ensure that state staff start using these data for determining prevailing wages immediately upon receipt of the data.

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