§3222 Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Programs

Summary

Every four years the Secretary must hold a competition and give grants or sign contracts with qualified groups to run programs for migrant and seasonal farmworkers. To win money, a group must know the farmworker problems, know the local area, and show it can run a mix of job and training services. The group must send a 4-year plan that says who it will serve, what education and job needs exist, how services will help people get or keep regular paid work (including better farm jobs), what supportive services will be offered and how they will link with other local help, how performance will be measured (with agreed and adjusted levels), what local resources are available, and how outreach, career planning, assessment, and one-stop delivery will work. The Department of Labor will run the competition centrally and follow normal federal procurement rules. The Secretary must consult with Governors and local workforce boards when awarding grants and consult with farmworker groups and States when writing rules. Grants must meet single-audit and OMB cost rules. Up to 1 percent of funds may be held back for discretionary uses like technical help. Funds may pay for outreach, job placement, training, education, English and literacy classes, safety training, housing and other supports, follow-up after placement, self-employment or micro-enterprise help, career and technical education that leads to better pay, and technical help to coordinate services. Definitions: Eligible seasonal farmworker — a low-income person who for 12 consecutive months out of the prior 24 months was mainly in agricultural or fish farm work with chronic unemployment or underemployment and who faces multiple barriers, plus dependents. Eligible migrant farmworker — a seasonal farmworker whose work requires travel so they cannot return home the same day, plus dependents.