Located in:
- III. Operational Planning Elements
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include an Operational Planning Elements section that supports the State’s strategy and the system-wide vision described in Section II(c) above. Unless otherwise noted, all Operational Planning Elements apply to Combined State Plan partner programs included in the plan as well as to core programs. This section must include—
- b. State Operating Systems and Policies
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include a description of the State operating systems and policies that will support the implementation of the State strategy described in section II Strategic Elements. This includes—
- 5. Distribution of Funds for Core Programs
Describe the methods and factors the State will use in distributing funds under the core programs in accordance with the provisions authorizing such distributions.
- A. For Title I Programs
Provide a description of the written policies that establish the State's methods and factors used to distribute funds to local areas for—
- A. For Title I Programs
- 5. Distribution of Funds for Core Programs
- b. State Operating Systems and Policies
III. b. 5. A. iii. Dislocated Worker Employment and Training Activities in Accordance with WIOA Section 133(b)(2) and Based on Data and Weights Assigned
Current Narrative:
(iii) Dislocated worker employment and training activities in accordance with WIOA section 133(b)(2) and based on data and weights assigned.
Maryland will distribute WIOA Title I Adult funds in accordance with the formula allocation method cited in WIOA Section 133 (b)(2)(A). Fourteen percent of the funds will be set aside as the Governor’s Reserve, 17.5 percent of the funds will be set aside for Rapid Response Activities (the allowable maximum for Rapid Response is 25 percent), and 68.5 percent of funds will be distributed to the Local Areas.
Maryland refers to TEGL 16-19, Change 1 and WIOA section 133(b)(2) as a guide for allocations. Initially. The Maryland WIOA Fiscal Accountability Workgroup, comprised of Local Directors, local staff, and staff from the DWDAL, met multiple times to discuss the allocation formula for Dislocated Worker funds administered under Title I of WIOA. Specifically, WIOA Section 133 provides that information that can be used in the formulation of the Dislocated Worker allocation includes “insured unemployment data, unemployment concentrations, plant closing and mass layoff data, declining industries data, farmer rancher economic hardship data, and long-term unemployment data.” Utilizing the data referenced above, which included unemployment statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages and other Bureau of Labor Statistics data, and other sources, the workgroup identified six factors to be used to determine the local Dislocated Worker formula:
- UI Exhaustee,
- Insured Unemployed,
- Unemployed,
- Declining Industries,
- Mass Layoffs/Plant Closings, and
- Farmer/Rancher Data.
The workgroup also recommended the priority of the factors. While recommendations were made, the workgroup deferred any final decision regarding the factors used, and the weighting of those factors. Consistent with the purpose of the dislocated worker program, the allocation method addresses current and future needs by focusing on unemployed individuals. Maryland combines the Insured Unemployed and Unemployed into one factor with a high assigned weighting. This was done to ensure that all unemployed individuals, regardless of their status as receiving UI benefits, can utilize dislocated worker funding within the existing constraints of the law.
Based on that conversation and substantial research and data analysis, it was concluded that the final factors and weighting for the Dislocated Workers local formula allocations are:
- Priority Weighting Unemployed 49 percent;
- UI Exhaustee 29 percent;
- Declining Industries eight percent;
- Mass Layoffs/Plant Closings (WARN and other data) seven percent; and
- Farmer/Rancher Data seven percent.
| Dislocated Workers Formula Allocation Factors | Priority | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployed | 1 | 49 percent |
| UI Exhaustee | 2 | 29 percent |
| Declining Industries | 3 | 8 percent |
| Mass Layoffs/Plant Closings (WARN and other data) | 4 | 7 percent |
| Farmer/Rancher Data | 5 | 7 percent |
Table: Factors and weighting for the Dislocated Workers local formula allocations
In accordance with TEGL 19-16, Local Areas that would receive less than 90 percent of their relative share as compared to their last two years’ funding level will be held at 90 percent. Again, it is noted that pursuant to Policy Issuance 2016-01, Transfer Authority for WIOA Title I Adult and Dislocated Worker Funds, as issued on January 12, 2016, and consistent with Section 133 of WIOA, a Local Area may transfer up to and including 100 percent of a PY and FY allocation for Adult employment and training activities, and up to and including 100 percent of a PY and FY allocation for Dislocated Worker employment and training activities between the two programs. Transfers may only occur between Adult and Dislocated Worker funds within the same funding phase.