Free Revised TAA Petition Modifications - Tennessee

Revised TAA Petition Modifications
ETA Form 9042a Petition for Trade Adjustment Assistance and Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance has minor revisions designed to improve usability of the forms and obtain relevant information needed for a comprehensive TAA investigation, including slight rephrasing and clarifying language to past questions. Specific changes include: · Amending the title of the petition from Petition for Trade Adjustment Assistance to Petition for Trade Adjustment Assistance and Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance. As a result of this title change, submission of a completed petition will signify a desire to file for both TAA and ATAA. This modification replaces a box where the petitioner specifies whether they are petitioning to be considered under the ATAA program. As petitioners who are certified for both programs will have the option of applying for either TAA or ATAA benefits, the change is designed to eliminate significant petitioner confusion about negative implications of choosing to apply for ATAA, and resulting petitioner error in completing the form. It also meets the requirement under the Trade Act of 2002 that the Secretary of Labor provide the opportunity for a group of workers petitioning for TAA to request consideration for the ATAA program. Addition of a question asking the petitioner(s) for an alternate phone number to facilitate a timely investigation. Addition of question asking the petitioner(s) whether the petitioner type is: three workers, a company official, a union official, state workforce office, local one stop partner, or other authorized representative. This addition is designed to help the Department of Labor identify whether the petition submitted was completed by valid petitioners. Changing references from "company" to "firm/subdivision" to more closely adhere to the language of the statute. Addition of question asking the petitioner for the subject firm's Federal Employment Identification Number. This number will be used to identify a single company in instances where multiple petitions are filed under different company names. Addition of a question to clarify worker function in cases where no article is produced, in order to determine if there is a relationship between the workers and production. Addition of information request for contact information for a second company official at the subject firm/subdivision. In cases where one company official is unreachable, a second contact is useful in expediting investigations where time sensitive information is necessary to make a satisfactory determination within the 40 day statutory deadline. Addition of a question asking for an alternate phone number for each company official to expedite investigations where time sensitive information is necessary to make a satisfactory determination within the 40 day statutory deadline. Addition of a question with accompanying check boxes asking the petitioner to identify whether the petitioning worker group is contracted to perform work for the subject firm producing article(s), or whether they are employed by the subject firm that produces the article(s). This is designed to help investigators identify the correct company officials to contact at the initial stage of the investigation and thereby save the federal government time in determining how to address the investigation. Elimination of a question that asks workers to indicate whether they are filing as eligible for TAA on a "primary" or "secondary" basis. This question is irrelevant as petitioner eligibility is automatically investigated on first a primary, and then a secondary basis.

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Elimination of a question section that asks petitioners to identify the countries where production occurred that impacts the petitioning workers. This information is not essential at the initial stage of the investigation and will be identified later in the investigation. Addition of a space that allows petitioner(s) to provide reasons why they believe the petitioning worker group meets the TAA eligibility criteria in a narrative format. This is designed to improve clarity and save the federal government time in determining how to address the investigation, and ensures the petitioners' concerns are appropriately investigated with company officials. Addition of a check box that allow the petitioner(s) to indicate if they have provided supporting documentation. This will allow the Department of Labor to ascertain if all documentation that accompanies the petition is complete and to follow up with petitioners in cases where material is missing. Addition of a more explicit affirmation of information and signature block, and an explanation of what the signature means. Makes it explicit to the petitioner that the petition will be made available for public inspection and copying under the Freedom of Information Act.

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