Department of Labor: 2014 Dislocated Worker National Reserve Grant Opportunity

WIOA was signed into law on July 22, 2014. WIOA is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy. WIOA supersedes titles I and II of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and amends the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, the Wagner-Peyser Act, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. In general, the Act takes effect on July 1, 2015, the first full program year after enactment, unless otherwise noted.

The Departments of Labor and Education are working to publish a set of regulations implementing WIOA. On April 9th, the Federal Register posted five Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs) implementing the Opportunity Act on its Web site for public inspection, https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection, which offers a preview of documents scheduled to publish soon in the Federal Register. The NPRMs were formally published in the Federal Register on April 16th. Comments should be submitted in accordance with the process outlined in the NPRMs, including by visiting http://www.regulations.gov. The comment period will be open for 60 days, and will close on June 15, 2015.

In order to continue implementation prior to the final rule, a series of WIOA Operating Guidance documents that provide the needed implementation information will be issued in the form of Training and Employment Guidance Letters (TEGLs). These Operating Guidance documents on WIOA will inform the system about how to begin the important planning and reorganization necessary to comply with new WIOA statutory requirements for the upcoming Program Year (PY) 2015 (beginning July 1, 2015). The Operating Guidance TEGLs will provide a framework for program activities until the regulations are finalized. This TEGL is one in the ongoing series of Guidance.