To assist the State Workforce Agencies (SWA) in implementing the provisions of the Trade Act of 2002 that amend the current Trade Adjustment Assistance program and repeal the North American Free Trade ¿ Transitional Adjustment Assistance program.

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is pleased to announce the commencement of a non-experimental net impact evaluation of the formula programs established under title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA). ETA has contracted with IMPAQ International, LLC (IMPAQ), of Columbia, Maryland to conduct the evaluation. The evaluation will focus on the Adult and Dislocated Worker formula programs. This evaluation will utilize a rigorous, non-experimental design to assess the impact of core and intensive services, and the incremental impact of WIA training on participant outcomes. As such, the evaluation will compare outcomes of WIA participants to the outcomes of similar individuals drawn from a comparison group. This 12-month project will utilize existing and newly-acquired administrative data from a representative sample of states. Throughout the life of the research effort, state workforce agencies, partners, and stakeholders will receive continuing updates on the study’s progress.

(1) transmit information regarding new health insurance coverage benefits and state-level responsibilities created by the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002; and (2) announce the availability of funds to help states establish the systems and procedures needed to carry out their new responsibilities.

To ensure State Workforce Agencies are aware of the locality-based salary rates for certain Federal civilian employees.

To extend the date of plan submissions and correct data figures for Table 2 Affirmative Action Plan Significant MSFW Local Offices in the attached Planning Guidance for PY 2002 Wagner-Peyser Act Agricultural Services Submissions with the Strategic Five-Year State Plan under the Workforce Investment (WIA) Act of 1998.

To ensure State Workforce Agencies are aware of the Federal military retired pay annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) and to provide the Department of Defense Web site where the COLA information is located.

To announce details for three RJM training sessions for state staff.

To provide a copy of ETA Form 9042A and 9042A-1, Petition for Trade Adjustment Assistance and Solicitud de Asistencia Para Ajuste.

To provide guidance to state workforce agencies (SWAs) on reporting of postage, TRA, and SAVE administrative expenditures on the RJM.

To provide clarification to State Workforce Agencies (SWA) with regard to the processing of H-2B temporary applications for limited jobs in the landscaping industry which includes only those activities addressed in this guidance for the 2002-2003 season.