Section 6250.1402 - Program(a) Establishment.--(1) The Keystone Works Program is established.(2) The department shall administer the program from funds appropriated for the program.(3) The department may promulgate regulations and issue guidelines that it deems necessary to administer the program.(b) Claimants.--A claimant may voluntarily enroll in the program and shall be qualified for training, if all of the following apply: (1) The department determines that the claimant is an appropriate match with a job opening at a participating business.(2) At the start of the training, the unexpended balance of regular unemployment compensation to which the claimant is financially eligible equals or exceeds the product of:(i) the claimant's weekly benefit rate; and(ii) the number of weeks of training.(3) The claimant certifies to the department, in a writing subject to 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904 (relating to unsworn falsification to authorities), that the claimant: (i) will not accept any form of compensation, cash or otherwise, from the participating business or individual or entity associated with the participating business for participation in the program;(ii) will provide information and documentation to the department as requested; and(iii) will cooperate with requests from the department for evaluation of aspects of the program.(c) Businesses.--The following are required for a business to be eligible to provide training under the program. (1) The business must satisfy all of the following criteria: (i) The business has a job opening to which a claimant may be matched by the department.(ii) The business will register with the Pennsylvania CareerLink system.(iii) The business will provide bona fide training to the claimant for the job opening.(iv) Upon completion of the training period, the business will consider the claimant for employment in the job opening for which the claimant was trained.(v) If the business hires the claimant upon completion of the training period, the claimant will perform services in "employment" within the meaning of the act of December 5, 1936 (2nd Sp.Sess., 1937 P.L.2897, No.1), known as the Unemployment Compensation Law.(vi) The claimant will not work in a contract or self-employment capacity for the business.(vii) The business and individuals or entities associated with the business will not provide a participating claimant with any form of compensation, cash or otherwise, for participation in training under the program.(viii) The business will not provide training under the program while a work stoppage attributable to a labor dispute is in effect.(ix) The business will not provide training while concurrently participating in a Work Share program under Article XIII of the Unemployment Compensation Law.(x) Providing training under the program and hiring the claimant upon completion of training would not violate a collective bargaining agreement.(xi) Providing training under the program and hiring the claimant upon completion of training would not displace or adversely impact existing employees.(xii) The business will cooperate with requests from the department for information and documentation related to the program.(2) The business must satisfy any additional criteria established by the department in administering the program. This paragraph includes imposing conditions on participating businesses to ensure that an appropriate number of claimants participating in the program receive offers of suitable long- term employment.(3) The business must certify in a writing subject to 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904 that all requirements of this subsection are or will be satisfied.(4) The business must not be disqualified under subsection (d)(2)(iii).(c.1) Business program.--(1) To be eligible to participate in the program, a business, its owner or authorized agent must certify that:(i) It has no tax liabilities or other obligations under the laws of the United States or the Commonwealth, or has filed a timely administrative or judicial appeal if such liabilities or obligations exist, or is subject to a duly approved deferred payment plan if such liabilities exist.(ii) Neither the business nor any subcontractors are under suspension or debarment by the Commonwealth or other government entity.(2) The Secretary of Labor and Industry may through guidelines provide for additional eligibility requirements or restrictions deemed necessary for a business to participate in the program.(d) Description.--(1) The department shall match claimants with businesses that have job openings and are willing to provide training for the corresponding high-priority occupations.(2) When a claimant is matched with a business, the business shall provide the claimant a maximum of 24 hours of unpaid training per week, for a maximum of eight weeks. At the end of the training period, the following apply: (i) The business shall consider the claimant for employment in the job opening.(ii) The business is not required to hire the claimant.(iii) The department shall disqualify from participation in the program any employer showing a pattern of acting in bad faith regarding job offers. A claimant who is participating in training may opt to discontinue participation in the program .
Added by P.L. 970 2012 No. 107, § 2, eff. 7/5/2012.