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