96-29566. Proposed Data Collection; Comment Request; Survey of Grantees Providing Services Under Section 401 of JTPA

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 224 (Tuesday, November 19, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58894-58895]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29566]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration


Proposed Data Collection; Comment Request; Survey of Grantees 
Providing Services Under Section 401 of JTPA

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program 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, ETA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed new 
collection of a survey of grantees providing services under Section 401 
of the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA). A copy of the proposed 
information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the 
office listed below in the addressee section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before January 21, 1997.
    The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments 
which:
     evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     minimize the burden of the collection of information 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 submissions of responses.

ADDRESSEE: Tom NaSell, Office of Policy and Research, ETA/DOL, Room N-
5637, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, DC, 20210. Voice Phone: 
[phone] (ext. 123); fax [phone] (these are not toll free 
numbers).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The U.S. Department of Labor has funded a study of the Indian and 
Native American Program, Section 401 of JTPA. This study was undertaken 
with the advice of the Indian and Native American Employment and 
Training Council to identify the range of service designs and training 
strategies undertaken by grantees funded under Section 401, the 
strengths and weaknesses of these or innovative approaches, and steps 
that DOL and the grantee community could take to improve the overall 
effectiveness of the program in meeting the needs of Indian

[[Page 58895]]

and Native American participants and communities.
    Meanwhile, in support of the President's goals stated in Executive 
Order 12862, which mandates a concerted effort to obtain customer 
feedback, the Department of Labor has undertaken a broad effort to 
determine the services its customers want and to determine their level 
of satisfaction with existing services. Section 401 grantees have been 
identified as an important constituency whose opinions about DOL's 
services and policy guidance should be elicited.
    To satisfy both of these objectives simultaneously, DOL proposes to 
conduct a mail survey of Section 401 grantees. This information will be 
important for improving the overall design and delivery of services to 
Indian and Native American program participants and for ensuring that 
DOL's services can be made more responsive to the needs of INA program 
administrators.

II. Current Actions

    The proposed survey is to be administered by mail for a single time 
only to the Executive Directors of all grantees receiving funds under 
Section 401, exclusive of those participating under Public Law 102-477. 
The survey will cover these general topics: (a) satisfaction with 
services provided by DOL, and in particular the Division of Indian and 
Native American Programs, with respect to policy guidance, technical 
assistance, performance standards, and program administration, and 
suggestions for improving those services; (b) program organization and 
overall objectives for the grantees' efforts, including groups targeted 
for services; (c) services emphasized by the grantees, including 
training, subsidized employment, and supportive services, and the 
criteria used to determine which participants should receive which 
service; (d) community impacts attributed to the program and reasons 
when individual participants have difficulty achieving their goals; (e) 
services provided by the grantee with non-Section 401 funds; and (f) 
coordination with community groups/state agencies. Survey responses 
will be analyzed in tandem with data collected for grantees from other 
sources, including the Annual Status Reports (OMB Approval No: 1205-
0308 expiring 5/31/97), which provide a record of participants' 
characteristics and their outcomes.
    Type of Review: New.
    Agency: ETA.
    Title: Survey of Grantees Providing Services under Section 401 of 
JTPA.
    Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions for Tribal 
Governments.
    Total Respondents: 177.
    Freqency: One time.
    Total Responses: 177.
    Average Time per Response: 20 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 59 hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): None.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): None.
    Comments submitted in response to this comment request will be 
summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and 
Budget approval of the information collection request; they will also 
become a matter of public record.

    Dated: November 13, 1996.
Gerard F. Fiala,
Administrator, Office of Policy and Research.
[FR Doc. 96-29566 Filed 11-18-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M