Workforce Services, Employment Development

Section R986-200-247

Utah Back to Work Pilot Program (BWP)

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 34897
Filed: 06/01/2011 04:25:31 PM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The purpose of this amendment is to clarify language and requirements for the program.

Summary of the rule or change:

This rule change will make it clear that subsidies are only available for new employees, not employees who were hired prior to enrollment in the program. This program is intended to help employers provide new job opportunities to unemployed employees, not to pay subsidies for employees who are already working.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Subsection 35A-3-302(5)(b)
• Section 35A-1-104
• Subsection 35A-1-104(4)

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

This applies to federally-funded programs so there are no costs or savings to the state budget.

local governments:

This program is funded with federal TANF funds so there are no costs or savings to the local government.

small businesses:

There will be no costs to small businesses to comply with these changes because this is a federally-funded program.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

There will be no costs of any persons, businesses or local government entities to comply with these changes because there are no costs or fees associated with these proposed changes.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There are no compliance costs associated with these changes for any persons because this is a federally-funded program and there are no fees or costs associated with these proposed changes.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

There are no compliance costs associated with this change. There are no fees associated with this change. There will be no cost to anyone to comply with these changes. There will be no fiscal impact on any business.

Kristen Cox, Executive Director

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Workforce Services
Employment Development
140 E 300 S
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111-2333

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Suzan Pixton at the above address, by phone at 801-526-9645, by FAX at 801-526-9211, or by Internet E-mail at spixton@utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

07/15/2011

This rule may become effective on:

07/22/2011

Authorized by:

Kristen Cox, Executive Director

R986. Workforce Services, Employment Development.

R986-200. Family Employment Program.

R986-200-247. Utah Back to Work Pilot Program (BWP).

(1) BWP is a voluntary program providing short term subsidized employment for a maximum of three months to an eligible unemployment insurance (UI) claimant. To be eligible, a UI claimant must:

(a) be currently receiving UI benefits and have received at least one week of paid UI benefit. The waiting week is not considered a "paid" benefit for the purposes of this section;

(b) be legally eligible to work in the U.S. and be a U.S. citizen or meet the alienage requirements of R986-200-203;

(c) have at least 1 week of UI benefits remaining on his or her claim. The week can be Extended Benefits under 35A-4-402 or Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) benefits as defined by the UI division;

(d) be the parent of at least one minor dependent child and be contributing to the financial support of that child or children;

(e) have not worked for the employer where the claimant is to be hired under this program more than 40 hours in the 60 days immediately preceding the date of hire under the BWP program;[ and]

(f) have not previously participated in the BWP or BWY program; and

(g) sign a "statement of facts" agreement.

(2) The Utah Back to Work Youth Program (BWY) provides short term subsidized employment for a maximum of three months to unemployed youth 18-24 years of age. BWY youth must be legally eligible to work in the U.S. and be unemployed but do not need to be receiving or eligible to receive UI benefits. BWY youth do not need to be a parent but must meet the requirements of subsections (1)(e) through (g) of this section.[and have not participated in the BWP or BWY program before.] Eligible Utah Back to Work Youth who are also eligible UI claimants are not required to have a minor dependent child.

(3) An employer eligible for a subsidy under this section is an employer that:

(a) is registered with the Department's UI division as an active employer in "good standing". For the purposes of this section, "good standing" means the employer has no delinquent UI contributions or reports;

(b) is a "qualified employer" [under the "Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act" of 2010] which "means any employer other than the United States, any State, or any political subdivision" or instrumentality thereof. A public institution of higher education is considered a "qualified employer" for purposes of this section. The employer cannot be a Temporary Help Company as defined in R994-202-102 or a Professional Employer Organization as defined in R994-202-106;

(c) pays a wage of at least $9 per hour. Commission only jobs may qualify if the employer guarantees $9 per hour or more, employees who receive gratuities plus wages may qualify if the employer reports $9 per hour or more to the UI Contributions division;

(d) has not displaced or partially displaced existing workers by participating in this program;

(e) has at least one other employee;

(f) will provide the claimant with at least 35 hours work per week;[ and]

(g) does not hire the claimant for temporary or seasonal work[.] and

(h) has signed a participation agreement with the department. The agreement must be signed before the "date of hire" of the qualified unemployed individual. A qualified unemployed individual is one who has enrolled in, and is eligible for, the BWP. The date of hire means the date services for remuneration were first performed by the employee.

(4) Once it has been verified that a claimant has been hired, a qualified employer will be paid a $500 subsidy and an additional $1,500 subsidy at the conclusion of the third month of employment provided the required DWS invoices have been provided.

(5) BWP and BWY will continue for as long as funding is available.

 

KEY: family employment program

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [January 13,] 2011

Notice of Continuation: September 8, 2010

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 35A-3-301 et seq.