2023-28967. Proposed Revision of Information Collection; Rehabilitation Action Report (OWCP-44)

AGENCY:

Division of Federal Employees' Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation, (OWCP/DFELHWC), Office of Workers' Compensation, Labor.

ACTION:

Request for public comments.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance request for comment to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This request helps to ensure that: requested data can be provided in the desired format; reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized; collection instruments are clearly understood; and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the OWCP/DFELHWC is soliciting comments on the information collection for the Rehabilitation Action Report, OWCP–44.

DATES:

All comments must be received on or before March 4, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comment as follows. Please note that late, untimely filed comments will not be considered.

Electronic Submissions: Submit electronic comments in the following way:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments for [OWCP/DFELHWC–1240–0008]. Comments submitted electronically, including attachments, to https://www.regulations.gov will be posted to the docket, with no changes. Because your comment will be made public, you are responsible for ensuring that your comment does not include any confidential information that you or a third party may not wish to be posted, such as your or anyone else's Social Security number or confidential business information.

• If your comment includes confidential information that you do not wish to be made available to the public, submit the comment as a written/paper submission.

Written/Paper Submissions: Submit written/paper submissions in the following way:

• Mail/Hand Delivery: Mail or visit DOL–OWCP/DFELHWC, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Division of Federal Employees' Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Room S–3323, Washington, DC 20210.

• OWCP/DFELHWC will post your comment as well as any attachments, except for information submitted and marked as confidential, in the docket at https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Anjanette Suggs, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Division of Federal Employees Longshore, and Harbor Workers' Compensation, OWCP/DFELHWC, at [e-mail] (email); (202) 354–9660 (voice).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) administers the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) and the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA). These acts provide vocational rehabilitation services to eligible workers with disabilities. Section 8104(a) of the FECA and section 939(c) of the LHWCA provide that eligible injured workers are to be furnished vocational rehabilitation services, and section 8111(b) of the FECA and section 908(g) of the LHWCA provide that persons undergoing such vocational rehabilitation receive maintenance allowances as additional compensation. Form OWCP–44 is used to provide prompt notification of key events in the vocational rehabilitation process that may require OWCP action related to claims and benefits. This information may be used to decide if maintenance allowances should continue to be paid.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

OWCP is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information collection (ICR) related to the Rehabilitation Action Report, OWCP–44. OWCP/DFELHWC is particularly interested in comments that:

• Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information has practical utility;
• Evaluate the accuracy of OWCP/DFELHWC's estimate of the burden related to the information collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used in the estimate;
• Suggest methods to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

• Minimize the burden of the information collection on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

Background documents related to this information collection request are available at https://regulations.gov and at DOL–OWCP/DFELHWC located at located at 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room S–3323, Washington, DC 20210. Questions about the information collection requirements may be directed to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION section of this notice.

III. Current Actions

This information collection request concerns the Rehabilitation Action Report, OWCP–44. OWCP/DFELHWC has updated the data with respect to the number of respondents, responses, burden hours, and burden costs supporting this information collection request from the previous information collection request.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Agency: Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Division of Federal Employees' Longshore, and Harbor Workers' Compensation, OWCP/DFELHWC.

OMB Number: 1240–0008.

Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions, Businesses or other for-profits.

Number of Respondents: 6,136.

Frequency: On Occasion.

Number of Responses: 6,136.

Annual Burden Hours: 0.17 hours.

Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper Cost: $0.

OWCP Form OWCP–44, Rehabilitation Action Report.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the proposed information collection request; they will become a matter of public record and will be available at https://www.reginfo.gov.

Anjanette Suggs,

Certifying Officer.