ETA Unified Agenda Entries

Issued December 3, 2001.

WELFARE-TO-WORK (WTW) GRANTS [Completed Actions]

Priority: Other Significant

Legal Authority: 42 USC 603(a)(5)(c)(ix); PL 106-113, Division B, sec 
1000(a)(4)

CFR Citation: 20 CFR 645

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Employment and Training Administration published interim 
final regulations on November 18, 1997, implementing the Welfare-to-
Work Grants Program. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 
Reconciliation Act reformed the Nation's welfare laws, when enacted in 
August 1996, by creating a new system of block grants to the States for 
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Moving people from 
welfare to work is one of the primary goals of Federal welfare policy. 
Section 5001 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 authorized the 
Department of Labor to provide Welfare-to-Work Grants to States and 
local communities to create additional job opportunities for the 
hardest-to-employ recipients of TANF and certain noncustodial parents. 
The Welfare-to-Work Grants were provided to the States through the use 
of a formula, and in a competitive process to local communities. A 
small amount of total grant funds were set aside for special purposes: 
one percent for Indian tribes; and 0.8 percent for evaluation.
Guidance and regulations reflect minimal amplification of the law and 
provide further information or clarification as needed to make the 
program operational. Existing regulations and systems are used wherever 
possible. Reporting requirements will assure program integrity and 
provide timely information for tracking performance. Leveraging of non-
Federal resources at the State and local level is encouraged.
These funds have allowed States and local communities to help move 
eligible individuals into jobs by: job creation through public or 
private sector wage subsidies; on-the-job training; short-term 
vocational educational training and job training; contracts with public 
or private providers of job readiness, job placement, and post-
employment services; job vouchers for similar services; community 
service or work experience; or job retention and supportive services 
(if such services are not otherwise available).

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

Interim Final Rule              11/18/97                    62 FR 61587
Interim Final Rule              01/11/01                     66 FR 2690
Final Rule                      01/11/01                     66 FR 2689
Interim Final Rule Comment 
Period Extended to 4/11/01      02/12/01                     66 FR 9763
Effective Date of Final Rule 
Delayed Until 4/13/01           02/12/01                     66 FR 9763
Final Rule Effective            02/12/01
Interim Final Rule Comment 
Period End                      03/12/01
Combined with 1205-AB16         09/25/01

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Government Levels Affected: State, Local, Tribal

Additional Information: As a result of the interim final rule published 
on January 11, 2001, the Department received comments from 14 entities 
resulting in about 60 discrete comments on the rule implementing the 
1999 Amendments. After considering several options, ETA proposes to 
respond at a future point in time on the Indian and Native American 
Welfare-to-Work Interim Final Rule (RIN 1205-AB16). This rule would 
apply to the system through September 2004.

Agency Contact: Dennis Lieberman, Director, Division of Welfare to 
Work, Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, 200 
Constitution Avenue NW, N4671, FP Building, Washington, DC 20210
Phone: 202 693-3375

RIN: 1205-AB15

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