Section 849.21 - Activities Prior to Certification of a Trade Petition(a) Boards shall develop intervention strategies for providing Workforce Solutions Office services, which ensure rapid and suitable employment for trade-affected workers and dislocated workers eligible for Trade benefits.(b) Boards shall ensure that Rapid Response assistance is provided consistent with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I Rapid Response services, including the following: (1) contacting the employer immediately upon the filing of a Trade petition, receipt of a WARN letter, the announcement of a layoff involving 50 or more workers, other notification of pending layoff, or a mass job dislocation that results from a natural disaster;(2) scheduling a meeting with the employer and workers to ensure notification of Rapid Response services, including availability of UI mass claims;(3) scheduling services for workers, including: (A) orientation to Trade Act benefits, which includes the following:(ii) Trade Act-funded employment and training activities; and(B) orientation to labor market information, including wage data and the availability of demand and targeted occupations as defined by the Board;(4) assisting employers, workers, and labor unions with filing Trade petitions with the United States Department of Labor;(5) providing initial assessment of the trade-affected worker's skill levels, (including literacy, numeracy, and English language proficiency), abilities (including skill gaps), and need for support services;(6) helping affected workers register in the state's labor exchange system; and(7) coordinating with the appropriate UI field specialist.(c) Boards shall ensure that:(1) Trade-affected workers are coenrolled in the WIOA Dislocated Worker program if they are eligible; and(2) Workforce Solutions Office staff completes the Trade Adjustment Assistance Coenrollment Declination Form if a trade-affected worker declines coenrollment.40 Tex. Admin. Code § 849.21
The provisions of this §849.21 adopted to be effective November 24, 2003, 28 TexReg 10510; amended by Texas Register, Volume 40, Number 02, January 9, 2015, TexReg 273, eff. 1/12/2015; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 47, Number 28, July 15, 2022, TexReg 4146, eff. 7/18/2022