To announce the release and availability of Comparison of State Unemployment Insurance Laws 2008.

To provide states guidance on the Employment and Training Administration¿s (ETA) policy related to application of sanctions for failure to meet the state negotiated levels of performance under title I of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).

To inform states of the acceptable levels of performance criteria for the average age of pending lower and higher authority appeals core measures, to update the current minimum passing score for nonmonetary cases and the sampling rules for the measure of nonmonetary determinations quality. This is also to remind states that the regulatory requirements remain in effect for lower authority appeals promptness.

To transmit the revised Federal Schedule of Remuneration for the UCX program based on the January 1, 2003, military pay increase.

To respond to questions from states concerning the QCEW program, and to remind them of the importance of collecting these data and the appropriate use of unemployment insurance (UI) administrative funds to collect the data.

To transmit the CY 2000 and CY 2001 Supplements to ET Handbook 394, Unemployment Insurance Financial Data.

To request Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Section 166 grantees to submit nominations for consideration by the Secretary of Labor for appointment to fill expiring terms of membership on the Native American Employment and Training Council (Council).

To provide policies and procedures governing the use of Workforce Investment Act (WIA) National Emergency Grants (NEG) for health insurance coverage assistance and support services to eligible trade-impacted workers and other eligible individuals, as specified in the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002.

To provide planning guidelines and instructions to Native American grantees for the development of a strategic two-year Comprehensive Services Program (CSP) plan and Supplemental Youth Services Program (SYSP) plan for PY 2008-2009. Native American entities designated as a Section 166 grantee for PY 2008-2009 must submit a two-year plan for meeting the employment and training needs of Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians consistent with the purposes described in Section 166 of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).

The requirement to submit a two-year strategic plan is contingent upon your organization being “Designated” as a Section 166 grantee for PY 2008-2009. Grantees that are not designated as a Section 166 grantee for PY 2008-2009 will not receive Section 166 funds and therefore, there is no need for them to submit a two-year plan. Grant designations will be made in accordance with the procedures described in the Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA) process which was published in the Federal Register on January 4, 2008 (73 Federal Re. 883).

As indicated in No. 4 below, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) expects the initial submission of the two-year plan to thoroughly address the guiding questions in Attachment B. Plans that fail to meet these standards will not be approved. Therefore, grantees are encouraged to begin working on their two-year strategic plan as soon as they receive this TEGL.

To transmit revised Workforce Investment Act (WIA) National Emergency Grant (NEG) financial reporting requirements, including the revised OMB approved reporting format (ETA 9099) and corresponding instructions.