2016-04691. Comment Request for Information Collection for Confidentiality and Disclosure of State Unemployment Compensation Information and State Income and Eligibility Verification Provisions of the Deficit Reduction Act, Extension Without Change

AGENCY:

Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Labor.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor (Department), 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 [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)] (PRA). The PRA helps to ensure that respondents can provide data in the desired format with minimal reporting burden (time and financial resources), collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed.

Currently, ETA is soliciting comments concerning the collection of data about the regulatory requirements of the Confidentiality and Disclosure of State Unemployment Compensation Information final rule and State Income and Eligibility Verification System (IEVS) provisions of the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984, which expires September 30, 2016.

DATES:

Submit written comments to the office listed in the addressee's section below on or before May 3, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

Send written comments to Patricia Mertens, Office of Unemployment Insurance, Room S-4524, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210. Telephone number: 202-693-3182 (this is not a toll-free number). Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may access the telephone number above via TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Information Relay Service at 1-877-889-5627 (TTY/TDD). Fax: [phone]. Email: [e-mail]. To obtain a copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR), please contact the person listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 established an Income and Eligibility Verification System (IEVS) for the exchange of information among state agencies administering specific programs. The programs include Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Medicaid, Food Stamps, Supplemental Security Income, Unemployment Compensation and any state program approved under Titles I, X, XIV, or XVI of the Social Security Act. Under the Act, programs participating must exchange information to the extent that it is useful and productive in verifying eligibility and benefit amounts to assist the child support program and the Secretary of Health and Human Services in verifying eligibility and benefit amounts under Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act.

On September 27, 2006, the ETA of the Department of Labor issued a final rule regarding the Confidentiality and Disclosure of State Unemployment Compensation Information. This rule supports and expands upon the requirements of the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 and subsequent regulatory changes.

II. Review Focus

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.

III. Current Actions

Type of Review: Extension without changes.

Title: Confidentiality and Disclosure of State Unemployment Compensation Information Final Rule and State Income and Eligibility Verification provisions of the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984.

OMB Number: 1205-0238.

Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies.

Estimated Total Annual Respondents: 53 state agencies.

Annual Frequency: As needed.

Estimated Total Annual Responses: 904,957.

Average Estimated Response Time per Response: 1 minute.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 18,672 hours.

Total Annual Estimated Burden Cost for Respondents: $862,901.96.

We will summarize and/or include in the request for OMB approval of the ICR, the comments received in response to this comment request; they will also become a matter of public record.

Portia Wu,

Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Labor.