[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 98 (Wednesday, May 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27781-27782]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-13337]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Proposed Collection; Comment Request
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 Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1955 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(a)(A)]. This program helps to
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format,
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized,
[[Page 27782]]
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed.
Currently, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the collection
of the ETA-227 Report, Overpayment Detection and Recovery Activities. A
copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be
obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addressee section
of this notice.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the
addressee section below on or before July 21, 1997.
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.
ADDRESSES: Robert Whiting, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution
Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210, 202-219-5211 (this is not a toll-
free number).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Form ETA-227, Overpayment and Recovery Activities, provides
information on determinations, overpayments, and recoveries of
overpayments on intrastate and liable interstate claims under State and
Federal unemployment compensation programs; i.e., programs providing
unemployment compensation for Federal employees (UCFE) and ex-
servicepersons (UCX), established under Chapter 85, Title 5, U.S. Code.
This report includes claims for regular, additional and Federal-State
extended benefits.
The State agency's accomplishments in principal detection areas of
benefit payment control are shown in the ETA-227 report. ETA and State
agencies need such information to monitor the effectiveness of the
controls of benefit payment operations.
Data are also provided for criminal and civil actions involving
benefit overpayments obtained fraudulently, and an aging schedule of
outstanding benefit overpayment accounts is included.
II. Current Actions
By collecting data on overpayment detection and recovery, State
agencies can monitor the effectiveness of their benefit payment process
and the controls built into their systems. Section A of the report
shows the establishment of fraud and nonfraud overpayments, with fraud
being broken out into categories that identify cause. Section B shows
overpayment recoveries and other actions taken to reconcile amounts
outstanding. Section C shows the results of the primary detection
activities. Section D shows the criminal and civil actions taken
against claimants. Section E shows the aging of accounts, i.e., how
long overpayments have remained uncollected. Together these data
provide a comprehensive tool useful for management of benefit
operations at the State level.
For ETA, the data provide a valuable tool to fulfill the
Secretary's responsibility to oversee operations in State agencies
individually and collectively. Periodic reporting provides data useful
for trend analyses.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
Title: Overpayment Detection and Recovery Activities.
OMB Number: 1205-0173.
Agency Number: ETA-227.
Recordkeeping: State agencies are required to maintain all
documentation supporting the information reported on the ETA-227 for
three years following the end of each report period.
Affected Public: State Government.
Cite/Reference/Form/etc.: Form.
Total Respondents: 53 State agencies.
Frequency: Quarterly.
Total Responses: 212.
Average Time per Response: 10 hours.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 2120.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): Estimated at $42,400
which is an allowable cost under the administrative grants awarded to
States by the Federal government.
Comments submitted in response to this comment request 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: May 15, 1997.
Grace A. Kilbane,
Director, Unemployment Insurance Service.
[FR Doc. 97-13337 Filed 5-20-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-33-M
