[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 55 (Friday, March 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13712-13713]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7203]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Unemployment Insurance Service; Proposed Information Collection
Request Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations; Program
Budget Plan for FY 1998
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
[[Page 13713]]
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 current Program Budget Plan while the new State Quality Service
Plan which will replace it is developed.
A copy of the proposed information collection request can be
obtained by contacting the employee listed below in the contact section
of this notice.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 20, 1997.
Written comments should:
--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 automatic,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic
submission of responses.
ADDRESSES: Terrence L. Clark, Unemployment Insurance Service,
Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room
S-4522, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, 202-219-
5215, Ext. 139 (this is not a toll-free number); FAX, 202-219-8506;
Internet, eta.sao.tclark@doleta.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Program Budget Plan (PBP) is the planning instrument for the
Unemployment Insurance System Nationwide. The statutory basis for the
PBP is Title III, Section 302 of the Social Security Act, which
authorizes the Secretary of Labor to provide funds to administer the UI
program. Plans are prepared annually since funds for UI operations are
appropriated each year. The Department of Labor's annual budget request
for State UI operations contains workload assumptions for which the
State must plan in order for the Secretary to carry out his
responsibilities under Section 303(a) of the Social Security Act to
ensure full payment of unemployment compensation when due. The
Department issues financial planning targets based on the budget
request. States make plans based on such assumptions and targets via
this mechanism.
II. Current Actions
DOL proposes to extend the expiration date for this process from
September 30, 1997 to September 30, 1999 which will allow the
Unemployment Insurance Service in concert with its Federal/State
partners to finalize a new State Quality Service Plan to replace the
Program Budget Plan. In addition, DOL proposes to modify the current
Program Budget Plan to accommodate funding initiatives incorporated in
the President's Budget Request. Additional funding has been requested
to facilitate State action with regard to Year 2000 automation
modifications needed to allow current systems to function and continue
payment of Unemployment Insurance compensation using that date. In
addition, plans associated with the $89 Million integrity increase that
is included in the President's Budget need to be incorporated into the
Program Budget Plan to meet oversight agreements. States may elect to
utilize the increase in any or all of 4 specific areas: Field Audit,
Benefit Payment Control, Eligibility Review, or Separation Issues.
Type of Review: Revision--ET Handbook No. 336 for use through
September 30, 1997, under OMB No. 1205-0132.
Specifically, we propose the following:
I. Add a requirement for states to report in Block 12 of the
current SF 269 to allow entry of specific Year 2000 Automation
Expenditures by the States.
II. Utilize the following Corrective Action Pages from the current
PBP to obtain plans for the four integrity areas:
(1) Use the ``Field Audits'' page for Field Audit Integrity
Planning.
(2) Use the ``Necessary Corrective Action to Improve the Recovery
of Fraud/Non Fraud Benefit Overpayments'' page for the Benefit Payment
Control Integrity Activity Planning.
(3) Use the ``Automation Grants'' page for Eligibility Review
Program Integrity Planning.
(4) Use the ``Nonmonetary Determination Performance for Intrastate
Separation Issues'' page to capture additional Integrity planning in
the area of Initial Claim Separation Issues.
Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
Title: PBP Handbook.
OMB Number: 1205-0132.
Recordkeeping: States are required to follow their State laws
regarding public record retention.
Affected Public: State Employment Security Agencies (SESA's).
Total Respondents: 53.
Frequency: Annually.
Total Responses: 53.
Average Time Per Response: 35 hours.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1855.
Estimated Total Burden Cost: $53,405.
Comments submitted in response to this notice 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: March 17, 1997.
Virginia A. Chupp,
Director, Division of Legislation.
[FR Doc. 97-7203 Filed 3-20-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-13-M
