2018-05998. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Workforce Flexibility (Workflex) Plan Submission and Reporting Requirements

ACTION:

Notice of availability; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) revision titled, “Workforce Flexibility (Workflex) Plan Submission and Reporting Requirements” to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995. Public comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES:

The OMB will consider all written comments that agency receives on or before April 25, 2018.

ADDRESSES:

A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation; including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained free of charge from the RegInfo.gov website at http://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAViewICR?​ref_​nbr=​1205-0432 or by contacting Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are not toll-free numbers) or sending an email to [e-mail].

Submit comments about this request by mail to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL-ETA Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503; by Fax: [phone] (this is not a toll-free number); or by email: [e-mail]. Commenters are encouraged, but not required, to send a courtesy copy of any comments by mail or courier to the U.S. Department of Labor-OASAM, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Attn: Departmental Information Compliance Management Program, Room N1301, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210; or by email: [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are not toll-free numbers) or sending an email to [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This ICR seeks approval under the PRA for revisions to the Workforce Flexibility (Workflex) Plan Submission and Reporting Requirements. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), 29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq., and regulations 20 CFR 679.630 provide that the Secretary may grant Workflex waiver authority for up to five years pursuant to a Workflex plan submitted by a state. Workflex authorizes governors to approve local area requests to waive certain statutory and regulatory provisions of WIOA Title I programs. States may also request waivers from the Secretary of certain Wagner-Peyser Act requirements, as well as certain provisions of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (OAA) for state agencies on aging with respect to activities carried under OAA funding. One of the underlying principles for granting Workflex waivers is that the waivers will result in improved performance outcomes for persons served and that waiver authority will be granted in consideration of improved performance. This information collection has been classified as a revision, because it incorporates WIOA statutory and regulatory authorities; however, it should be noted that the WIOA information collections are substantively the same as those previously approved under the Workforce Investment Act. WIOA section 190 authorizes this information collection. See 29 U.S.C. 3250.

This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and the public is generally not required to respond to an information collection, unless it is approved by the OMB under the PRA and displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that does not display a valid Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this information collection under Control Number 1205-0432. The DOL notes that existing information collection requirements submitted to the OMB receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review. New requirements would only take effect upon OMB approval. For additional substantive information about this ICR, see the related notice published in the Federal Register on November 17, 2017 (82 FR 54414).

Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in the ADDRESSES section within thirty (30) days of publication of this notice in the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate consideration, comments should mention OMB Control Number 1205-0432. The OMB is particularly interested in comments that:

• 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 submission of responses.

Agency: DOL-ETA.

Title of Collection: Workforce Flexibility (Workflex) Plan Submission and Reporting Requirements.

OMB Control Number: 1205-0432.

Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments.

Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 5.

Total Estimated Number of Responses: 25.

Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 210 hours.

Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D).

Michel Smyth,

Departmental Clearance Officer.