E7-7150. Submission for OMB Review: Comment Request

April 11, 2007.

The Department of Labor (DOL) has submitted the following public information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). A copy of this ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained at http://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain, or contact Ira Mills on 202-693-4122 (this is not a toll-free number) or e-Mail: [e-mail].

Comments should be sent to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, 202-395-7316 (this is not a toll free number), within 30 days from the date of this publication in the Federal Register.

The OMB 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 submission of responses.

Agency: Employment and Training Administration.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Title: Transmittal of Unemployment Insurance Materials.

OMB Number: 1205-0222.

Frequency: Annually.

Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Government.

Type of Response: Reporting.

Number of Respondents: 53.

Annual Responses: 636.

Average Response time: 1 minute.

Total Annual Burden Hours: 11.

Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: 0.

Total Annual Costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing services): 0.

Description: Section 303(a)(6), SSA, requires, as a condition of receiving administrative grants, that state law contain provision for the “making of such reports, in such form and containing such information, as the Secretary of Labor may from time to time require, and compliance with such provisions as the Secretary of Labor may from time to time find necessary to ensure the correctness and verification of such reports.” Departmental regulations at 20 CFR 601.3 in part implement this requirement by requiring the submission of “all relevant state materials, such as statutes, executive and administrative orders, legal opinions, rules, regulations, interpretations, court opinions, etc. * * * ” Also, the regulations for the UC for Federal Civilian Employees (UCFE) program at 20 CFR 609.1(d)(1) and for the UC for ex-service members (UCX) program at 20 CFR 614.1(d)(1) require submission of certain documents to assure that states are properly administering these programs. The Trade Adjustment Assistance (which includes Trade Readjustment Allowances) program (TAA/TRA) regulations provide similar requirements at 20 CFR 617.52(c)(1).

The MA 8-7 is the mechanism for implementing these submittal requirements, the purpose of which is to provide the Secretary with sufficient information to determine if (a) employers in a state qualify for tax credits under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act; (b) the state meets the requirements for obtaining administrative grants under Title III, SSA; and (c) the state is fulfilling it obligations under Federal UC programs.

Ira L. Mills,

Departmental Clearance Officer/Team Leader.