E4-752. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

April 1, 2004.

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 each ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained by contacting the Department of Labor (DOL). To obtain documentation, contact Ira Mills on 202-693-4122 (this is not a toll-free number) or E-Mail: [e-mail].

Comments should be sent to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL, 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: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Title: Benefit Accuracy Measurement Program.

OMB Number: 1205-0245.

Agency Number: ETA Handbook No. 395.

Frequency: Weekly.

Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-profit; not-for-profit institutions; farms; Federal Government; State, Local or Tribal government.

PCA/DCA Data Collection Burden Per State

	Paid claims	Monetary denied claims	Separation denied claims	Non-separation denied claims	Total
Cases	457	150	150	150	907
Respondents/Case	4.90	3.20	3.00	3.10
Hours/Case	10.22	7.925	7.525	7.675
Total Respondents	2239.3	480	450	465	3634.30
Total Hours	4670.54	1188.75	1128.75	1151.25	8139.29

The total response burden for both paid and denied claims and the 52 SWAs is:

52 SWAs × 3,634.3 respondents = 188,983.6 respondents

52 SWAs × 8,139.29 hours = 423,243.08 hours

Total Hours: 423,243.

Total annualized capital/startup costs: $0.

Total annual costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing services): $12,545,000.

Description: The Department of Labor requests approval to extend the Benefit Accuracy Measurement (BAM) program. The BAM program provides reliable estimates of the accuracy of benefit payments and denied claims in the UI program, and identifies the sources of mispayments and improper denials so that their causes can be eliminated.

Ira L. Mills,

Departmental Clearance Officer.