§2271. Petitions

(a) Filing of petitions; assistance; publication of notice

(1) A petition for certification of eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance for a group of workers under this part may be filed simultaneously with the Secretary and with the Governor of the State in which such workers' firm or subdivision is located by any of the following:

(A) The group of workers (including workers in an agricultural firm or subdivision of any agricultural firm).

(B) The certified or recognized union or other duly authorized representative of such workers.

(C) Employers of such workers, one-stop operators or one-stop partners (as defined in section 101 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801)), including State employment security agencies, or the State dislocated worker unit established under title I of such Act [29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.], on behalf of such workers.

(2) Upon receipt of a petition filed under paragraph (1), the Governor shall-

(A) ensure that rapid response assistance and appropriate core and intensive services (as described in section 134 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2864)) authorized under other Federal laws are made available to the workers covered by the petition to the extent authorized under such laws; and

(B) assist the Secretary in the review of the petition by verifying such information and providing such other assistance as the Secretary may request.

(3) Upon receipt of the petition, the Secretary shall promptly publish notice in the Federal Register that the Secretary has received the petition and initiated an investigation.

(b) Hearing

If the petitioner, or any other person found by the Secretary to have a substantial interest in the proceedings, submits not later than 10 days after the date of the Secretary's publication under subsection (a) of this section a request for a hearing, the Secretary shall provide for a public hearing and afford such interested persons an opportunity to be present, to produce evidence, and to be heard.

( Pub. L. 93–618, title II, §221, Jan. 3, 1975, 88 Stat. 2019 ; Pub. L. 99–272, title XIII, §13002(a), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 300 ; Pub. L. 103–182, title V, §503(a), Dec. 8, 1993, 107 Stat. 2151 ; Pub. L. 107–210, div. A, title I, §112(a), Aug. 6, 2002, 116 Stat. 937 ; Pub. L. 108–429, title II, §2004(a)(4), Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2590 .)

References in Text

The Workforce Investment Act of 1998, referred to in subsec. (a)(1)(C), is Pub. L. 105–220, Aug. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 936 , as amended. Title I of the Act is classified principally to chapter 30 (§2801 et seq.) of Title 29, Labor. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 9201 of Title 20, Education, and Tables.

Amendments

2004-Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 108–429 substituted "assistance and appropriate" for "assistance, and appropriate".

2002-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–210 amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: "A petition for a certification of eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance under this subpart may be filed with the Secretary of Labor (hereinafter in this part referred to as the 'Secretary') by a group of workers (including workers in any agricultural firm or subdivision of an agricultural firm) or by their certified or recognized union or other duly authorized representative. Upon receipt of the petition, the Secretary shall promptly publish notice in the Federal Register that he has received the petition and initiated an investigation."

1993-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–182 substituted "assistance under this subpart" for "assistance under this part".

1986-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–272 inserted "(including workers in any agricultural firm or subdivision of an agricultural firm)" after "group of workers".

Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 107–210 applicable to petitions for certification filed under this part or part 3 of this subchapter on or after the date that is 90 days after Aug. 6, 2002, except as otherwise provided, see section 151 of Pub. L. 107–210, set out as a note preceding this section.

Effective Date of 1993 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–182, title V, §506, Dec. 8, 1993, 107 Stat. 2152 , provided that:

"(a) In General.-The amendments made by sections 501, 502, 503, 504, and 505 [enacting sections 2322 and 2331 of this title and amending this section, sections 2272, 2273, 2275, 2317, and 2395 of this title, and provisions set out as a note preceding this section] shall take effect on the date the Agreement [North American Free Trade Agreement] enters into force with respect to the United States [Jan. 1, 1994].

"(b) Covered Workers.-

"(1) General rule.-Except as provided in paragraph (2), no worker shall be certified as eligible to receive assistance under subchapter D of chapter 2 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974 [former 19 U.S.C. 2331 et seq.] (as added by this subtitle) whose last total or partial separation from a firm (or appropriate subdivision of a firm) occurred before such date of entry into force.

"(2) Reachback.-Notwithstanding paragraph (1), any worker-

"(A) whose last total or partial separation from a firm (or appropriate subdivision of a firm) occurs-

"(i) after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 8, 1993], and

"(ii) before such date of entry into force, and

"(B) who would otherwise be eligible to receive assistance under subchapter D of chapter 2 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974,

shall be eligible to receive such assistance in the same manner as if such separation occurred on or after such date of entry into force."

Termination Date

No trade adjustment assistance, vouchers, allowances, or other payments or benefits may be provided under this part after Dec. 31, 2007, except as otherwise provided, see section 285 of Pub. L. 93–618, as amended, set out as a note preceding this section.

Declaration of Policy; Sense of Congress

Pub. L. 107–210, div. A, title I, §125, Aug. 6, 2002, 116 Stat. 946 , provided that:

"(a) Declaration of Policy.-Congress reiterates that, under the trade adjustment assistance program under chapter 2 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974 [this part], workers are eligible for transportation, childcare, and healthcare assistance, as well as other related assistance under programs administered by the Department of Labor.

"(b) Sense of Congress.-It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Labor, working independently and in conjunction with the States, should, in accordance with section 225 of the Trade Act of 1974 [19 U.S.C. 2275], provide more specific information about benefit allowances, training, and other employment services, and the petition and application procedures (including appropriate filing dates) for such allowances, training, and services, under the trade adjustment assistance program under chapter 2 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974 to workers who are applying for, or are certified to receive, assistance under that program, including information on all other Federal assistance available to such workers."