2011-2477. Agency Information Collection Activities

AGENCY:

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

ACTION:

Notice of Information Collection—Request For An Extension Without Change: State and Local Government Information Report (EEO-4).

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or Commission) announces that it intends to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for a three-year extension of the State and Local Government Information Report (EEO-4).

DATES:

Written comments on this notice must be submitted on or before April 5, 2011.

ADDRESSES:

Comments should be sent to Stephen Llewellyn, Executive Officer, Executive Secretariat, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 131 M Street, NE., Washington, DC 20507. As a convenience to commentators, the Executive Secretariat will accept comments totaling six or fewer pages by facsimile (“FAX”) machine. This limitation is necessary to assure access to the equipment. The telephone number of the fax receiver is [phone]. (This is not a toll-free number). Receipt of FAX transmittals will not be acknowledged, except that the sender may request confirmation of receipt by calling the Executive Secretariat staff at [phone] (voice) or [phone] (TTD). (These are not toll-free telephone numbers.) Instead of sending written comments to EEOC, you may submit comments and attachments electronically at http://www.regulations.gov,, which is the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions online for submitting comments. All comments received through this portal will be posted without change, icluding any personal information you provide. Copies of comments submitted by the public to EEOC directly or through the Federal eRulemaking Portal will be available for review, by advance appointment only, at the Commission's library between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or can be reviewed at http://www.regulations.gov. To schedule an appointment to inspect the comments at EEOC's library, contact the library staff at [phone] (voice) or [phone] (TTY). (These are not toll-free numbers.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ronald Edwards, Director, Program Research and Surveys Division, 131 M Street, NE., Room 4SW30F, Washington, DC 20507; [phone] (voice) or [phone] (TTY).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and OMB regulations 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), the Commission solicits public comment to enable it to:

(1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the Commission's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the Commission's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(4) 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 submission of responses.

Overview of Information Collection

Collection Title: State and Local Government Information Report (EEO-4).

OMB Number: 3046-0008.

Frequency of Report: Biennial.

Type of Respondent: State and local government jurisdictions with 100 or more Employees.

Description of Affected Public: State and local governments excluding elementary and secondary public school districts.

Number of Responses: 13,456.

Reporting Hours: 44,719.

Cost to Respondents: $1,045,000.

Number of Forms: 1.

Form Number: EEOC Form 164.

Federal Cost: $187,500.

ABSTRACT: Section 709(c) of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2000e-8(c), requires employers to make and keep records relevant to a determination of whether unlawful employment practices have been or are being committed, to preserve such records, and to produce reports as the Commission prescribes by regulation or order. Accordingly, the EEOC issued regulations prescribing the reporting requirements for state and local governments. State and local governments with 100 or more employees have been required to submit EEO-4 reports since 1974 (biennially in odd-numbered years since 1993). The individual reports are confidential.

EEO-4 data are used by the EEOC to investigate charges of discrimination against state and local governments and to provide information on the employment status of minorities and women. The data are shared with several other federal agencies. Pursuant to section 709(d) of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, U.S.C. 2000e-8(d), as amended, EEO-4 data is shared with state and local Fair Employment Practices Agencies (FEPAs). Aggregated data are also used by researchers and the general public.

Burden Statement: The estimated number of respondents included in the EEO-4 survey is 9,000 state and local governments. These 9,000 jurisdictions file about 13,456 reports due to the requirement for some to file separate reports by function. The form is estimated to impose 44,719 burden hours biennially.

Dated: January 31, 2011.

For the Commission.

Jacqueline A. Berrien,

Chair.