Pub. L. 93-567, tit. III, sec. 301

Sec. 301. The Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new title: “TITLE X— JOB OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM “statement of purpose “Sec. 1001. It is the purpose of this title to provide emergency financial assistance to stimulate, maintain or expand job creating activities in areas, both urban and rural, which are suffering from unusually high levels of unemployment. “definitions “Sec. 1002. For the purpose of this title— “(1) the term ‘eligible area’ means— “(A) any area, which the Secretary of Labor designates as an area which has a rate of unemployment, equal to or in excess of 6.5 per centum for three consecutive months. “(B) any area designated pursuant to section 204(c) of the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973, and “(C) any area which is designated by the Secretary of Commerce pursuant to section 401 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 as a redevelopment area. “program authorized “Sec. 1003. (a) To carry out the purposes of this title, the Secretary of Commerce, in accordance with the provisions of this title, is authorized from funds appropriated and made available under section 1007 of this title to provide financial assistance to programs and projects88 Stat. 1854 identified through the review process described in section 1004 to expand or accelerate the job creating impact of such programs or projects for unemployed persons in eligible areas. Programs and projects for which funds are made available under this title shall not be approved until the officials of the appropriate units of general government in the affected area have an adequate opportunity to comment on the specific proposal. “(b) Whenever funds are made available by the Secretary of Commerce under this title for any program or project, the head of the department, agency, or instrumentality of the Federal Government administering the law authorizing such assistance shall, except as otherwise provided in this subsection, administer the law authorizing such assistance in accordance with all applicable provisions of that law, except provisions relating to— “(1) requiring allocation of funds among the States, “(2) limits upon the total amount of such grants for any period, and “(3) the Federal contribution to any State or local government, whenever the President or head of such department, agency, or instrumentality of the Federal Government determines that any non-Federal contribution cannot reasonably be obtained by the State or local government concerned. “(c) Where necessary to effectively carry out the purposes of this title, the Secretary of Commerce is authorized to initiate programs in eligible areas, “(d) In allocating funds under this title, the Secretary of Commerce shall give priority consideration to— “(1) the severity of unemployment in the area; and “(2) the appropriateness of the proposed activity in relating to the number and needs of unemployed persons in eligible areas. “(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, funds allocated by the Secretary of Commerce shall be available only for programs or projects which the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Labor jointly determine are programs or projects— “(1) which will contribute significantly to the reduction of unemployment in the eligible area; “(2) which can be initiated or strengthened promptly; “(3) a substantial portion of which can be completed within 12 months after such allocation is made; “(4) which are not inconsistent with locally approved comprehensive plans for the jurisdiction affected, whenever such plans exist; and “(5) which will be approved giving first priority to programs and projects which are most labor intensive, “program review “Sec. 1004. Within 45 days after the date of enactment of the Emergency Jobs and Unemployment Assistance Act of 1974, each department, agency or instrumentality of the Federal government, and each regional commission established by section 101 of the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965 or pursuant to section 502 of this Act, shall (1) complete a review of its budget, plans and program including State, substate and local development plans filed with such department, agency or commission; (2) evaluate the job creation effectiveness of programs and projects for which funds are proposed to be obligated in calendar year 1975 and additional programs and projects for which funds could be obligated in such year with Federal financial assistance under this title; and (3) submit to the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Labor recommendations for programs and projects which have the potential to stimulate the creation of88 Stat. 1855 jobs for unemployed persons in eligible areas. Within 30 days of the receipt of such recommendations the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Labor shall jointly review such recommendations, and the Secretary of Commerce shall after consultation with such department, agency, instrumentality, and regional commissions, make allocations of funds in accordance with section 1003(e) of this title. “limitations on use of funds “Sec. 1005. Fifty per centum of the funds appropriated pursuant to section 1007 of this title shall be available only for programs and projects in which not more than 25 percent of such funds will be expended for necessary non-labor costs. “rules and regulations “Sec. 1006. The Secretary of Commerce shall prescribe such rules, regulations, and procedures to carry out the provisions of this title as will assure that adequate consideration is given to the relative needs of applicants for assistance in rural eligible areas and the relative needs of applicants for assistance in urban eligible areas and to any equitable distribution of funds authorized under this title between rural and urban eligible applicants. “authorization of appropriations “Sec. 1007. There are authorized to be appropriated $500,000,000 for the fiscal year 1975 to carry out the provisions of this title, except that no further obligation of funds appropriated under this section may be made subsequent to a determination that the national average rate of unemployment has receded below 6.5 per centum for three consecutive calendar months as determined by the Secretary of Labor. Any amounts so appropriated for such fiscal year which are not obligated prior to the end of such fiscal year shall remain available for obligation until December 31, 1975. “termination date “Sec. 1008. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, no further obligation of funds appropriated under this title shall be made by the Secretary of Commerce after December 31, 1975.” “Sec. 302. Section 712 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 is amended by striking “or 403” and inserting in lieu thereof “403,903, and 1003”.