29 U.S.C. § 3113 — Combined State plan

(a) In general. (1) Authority to submit plan. A State may submit one combined plan to the appropriate Secretaries for the core programs and one or more listed programs or activities instead of submitting two or more separate plans. (2) Programs. The listed programs and activities are: (A) career and technical education programs under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006; (B) programs under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act; (C) programs under section 2015(d)(4) of title 7; (D) work programs under section 2015(o) of title 7; (E) activities under chapter 2 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974; (F) activities under chapter 41 of title 38; (G) programs under State unemployment-compensation laws, consistent with applicable Federal law; (H) programs under title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965; (I) employment and training activities carried out by the Department of Housing and Urban Development; (J) employment and training activities under the Community Services Block Grant Act; and (K) programs under section 60532 of title 34. (b) Requirements. (1) In general. The part covering the core programs must meet section 3112’s requirements, including section 3112(c)(3). The part covering a listed program or activity must meet any requirements that Federal law sets for a plan or assistance application for that program or activity. The State may choose to apply section 3112(c)(3) to that part. (2) Additional submission not required. A State whose combined plan is approved under subsection (c) does not have to submit another plan or application to receive Federal funds for the covered core programs or listed programs or activities. (3) Coordination. The combined plan must describe the methods used for joint planning and coordination of the covered programs and activities. It must also assure that the entities responsible for planning or administering them had an opportunity to review and comment on every part of the plan. (c) Approval by the appropriate Secretaries. (1) Jurisdiction. The appropriate Secretary may approve the corresponding part of the plan described in subsection (d). Once approved, that part is implemented by the State under that part and under the Federal law authorizing the program or activity. (2) Approval of core programs. No part concerning a core program may be implemented until the appropriate Secretary approves the corresponding parts for all core programs. (3) Timing of approval. (A) Unless subparagraphs (B) or (C) applies, a part covering the core programs or a listed program or activity is considered approved at the end of 90 days after submission. (B) If an appropriate Secretary other than the Secretary of Labor or Secretary of Education must approve a part, that part is considered approved at the end of 120 days after submission. (C) A part is not considered approved if, during the applicable 90-day or 120-day period, the appropriate Secretary makes a written determination that it conflicts with the Federal law authorizing or applying to the program or activity, including any approval criteria, or that it conflicts with this section. (4) Special rule. For a State core program or a program under the Carl D. Perkins Act, “criteria for approval of a plan or application” includes agreement between the State and appropriate Secretaries on State performance measures or accountability measures, including performance levels. (d) Appropriate Secretary. For a core-program part, including its subsection (b)(3) description and assurance, “appropriate Secretary” means the Secretaries of Labor and Education. For a part covering a listed program or activity, including its subsection (b)(3) description and assurance, it means the head of the Federal agency that has plan or application approval authority under the authorizing law, or, if there are no such requirements, administrative authority under that law.