96-33024. Proposed Collection of the ETA 539, Weekly Claims and Extended Benefits Trigger Data and the ETA 538, Advance Weekly Initial and Continued Claims Report; Comment Request

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 250 (Friday, December 27, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68297-68298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-33024]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Proposed Collection of the ETA 539, Weekly Claims and Extended 
Benefits Trigger Data and the ETA 538, Advance Weekly Initial and 
Continued Claims Report; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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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, the Employment and Training Administration is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed revision and extension of the 
collection of the ETA 538, Advance Weekly Initial and Continued Claims 
Report and the ETA 539, Weekly Claims and Extended Benefits Trigger. 
The proposed change is to the reported initial claims figure on the ETA 
538. With the advent of increased direct telephone claims taking of 
interstate initial claims, to have the most accurate and timely data 
requires the interstate component of this item be changed to the sum of 
all agent and liable interstate claims taken directly by the State in 
the report. 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 February 25, 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 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.

ADDRESSES: Cynthia Ambler, Unemployment Insurance Service, Employment 
and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, room S-4231, 200 
Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC, 20210; telephone number (202) 
219-9204; fax [phone] (these are not toll free numbers) or e-
mail [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The ETA 538 and ETA 539 reports contain information on initial 
claims and continued weeks claimed. These figures are important 
economic indicators. The ETA 538 is a quick look that allows U.S. 
figures to be released to the public five days after the close of the 
period. The ETA 539 contains more refined economic indicators that are 
publishable on a State level as well as information of the Extended 
Benefits trigger level and the background data supporting it. Several 
States have begun using the telephone for interstate claimants to file 
directly with liable States, by-passing the agent State. This trend 
will continue. It is necessary to change what is being reported as 
initial claims on the ETA 538 so that claims are not double counted or 
missed entirely. Therefore the definition of interstate claims to be 
reported on the ETA 538 has been changed to all those claims received 
directly from the claimant by the reporting State, whether in an agent 
or liable capacity, during the report week.

II. Current Actions

    The ETA 538 and ETA 539 reports continue to be needed to verify the

[[Page 68298]]

trigger for the Extended Benefits program and to allow publication of 
timely and accurate economic indicators for the nation.
    Type of review: Extension with change.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Weekly Claims and Extended Benefits Trigger Data Advance 
Weekly Initial and Continued Claims Report.
    OMB Number: 1205-0028.
    Agency Number: ETA 538 and ETA 539.
    Affected Public: State Government.
    Cite/Reference/Form/etc: ETA 538 and ETA 539.
    Total Respondents: 53.
    Frequency: Weekly.
    Total Responses: 5,512.
    Average Time per Response: 20 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 3,675.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/start): Estimated at $110,240 which is 
an allowable cost under the administrative grants awarded to States by 
the Federal Government.
    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: December 18, 1996.
Mary Ann Wyrsch,
Director, Unemployment Insurance Service.
[FR Doc. 96-33024 Filed 12-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M