TCA § 50-7-804 — Administration — Reimbursable screening for potential employment of grants to private businesses

The department shall administer the Tennessee works pilot program by awarding reimbursable training grants to privately owned businesses for the purpose of screening for potential employment of new and existing employees in this state. Tennessee works pilot program training grants will be awarded to eligible businesses seeking to make new hires during or after the screening period. Such grants shall be used for the eligible training expenses of a dislocated worker: Who is a first-time unemployment insurance claimant. The claimant shall continue to receive unemployment insurance benefits during the screening period; or Whose job is lost due to workforce offshoring by the worker's former employer and who is currently under a valid trade petition approved by the United States department of labor. A Tennessee works pilot program screening period shall last for up to, but no more than, eight (8) weeks. At any time during the screening period or after the screening period, the employer may elect to employ a dislocated worker on a full-time basis. If an employer elects to employ the dislocated worker and to provide additional on the job training (OJT) to the dislocated worker, then the employer will be eligible to receive a wage offset in return for providing additional OJT to the dislocated worker. The employment and training of a dislocated worker pursuant to this subdivision (b)(2)(B)(i) shall be in accordance with the department's existing OJT program and the department's rules and policies regarding the existing OJT program. A dislocated worker shall no longer be eligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits or trade adjustment compensation if the dislocated worker is employed and receiving OJT pursuant to subdivision (b)(2)(B)(i). If the employer does not retain the dislocated worker following the OJT period and the dislocated worker is otherwise eligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits, then the dislocated worker can, upon filing a claim, resume receipt of unemployment insurance benefits. An employer shall no longer be eligible for grants through the Tennessee works pilot program if the employer does not demonstrate a pattern of continued employment of dislocated workers following the end of the OJT period. Trade adjustment assistance funds shall only be awarded: Through the Tennessee works pilot program pursuant to subdivision (b)(1)(B); and To be used in limited cases as an option to expedite employment where the conditions described in subdivision (b)(1)(B) exist.