[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 121 (Friday, June 21, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31952-31953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15873]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public
Comment and Public Comment and Recommendations; Extension of ETA
Summaries Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust Fund Activities
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 1995 (PRA95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(C) (2) (A)). This program helps to
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format,
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized,
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed.
Currently, the Employment and Training Administration is soliciting
comments concerning the proposed revision and extension of the UI ETA
Summaries UI Trust Fund Activities.
A copy of the proposed information collection request can be
obtained by contacting the employee listed below in the contact section
of this notice.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before August 20, 1996.
Written comments should:
--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 use;
--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
ADDRESSES: James E. Herbert, Unemployment Insurance Program Specialist,
Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Room C
4514, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. (202) 219-
5216 (this is not a toll-free number).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section 303(a)(4) of the Social Security Act (SSA) and Section
3304(a)(3) of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) require that all
money received in the unemployment fund of a State be paid immediately
to the Secretary of Treasury to the credit of the Unemployment Trust
Fund (UTF). This is the ``immediate deposit'' standard.
Section 303(a)(5) of the SSA and Section 3304(a)(4) of the FUTA
require that all money withdrawn from the UTF be used solely for the
payment of unemployment compensation, exclusive of the expenses of
administration. This is the ``limited withdrawal'' standard.
Federal law (section 303(a)(6) of the SSA) gives the Secretary of
Labor the authority to require the reporting of information deemed
necessary to assure State compliance with the provisions of the SSA.
Under this authority, the Secretary of Labor requires the following
reports to monitor State compliance with the immediate deposit and
limited withdrawal standards:
ETA 2112: UI Financial Transactions Summary, Unemployment Fund
ETA 8401: Monthly Analysis of Benefit Payment Account
ETA 8405: Monthly Analysis of Clearing Account
ETA 8413: Income--Expense Analysis UC Fund, Benefit Payment Account
ETA 8414: Income--Expense Analysis UC Fund, Clearing Account
ETA 8403: Reed Act
These reports are submitted to the Unemployment Insurance Service
(UIS) which uses them for the following purposes:
Monitoring cash flows into and out of the UTF to determine
State compliance with the immediate deposit and limited withdrawal
standards.
Proper accounting for unemployment funds. This is an
integral part of the Department's consolidated financial statements.
The UTF is the single largest asset on the Department's balance sheet.
Reconciliation with U.S. Treasury records.
Development of UI research and actuarial reports.
These reports have been submitted monthly by States for the past
several years, recently in an electronic format which has reduced mail
and storage costs. There is a viable system for the preparation and
electronic delivery of the reports. Since the reports are essential to
the Department's financial and program operations and are consonant
with the Secretary of Labor's oversight responsibilities, the
Department intends to seek OMB approval for a three year extension of
them, to September 30, 1999.
II. Current Actions
This action is requested because of the need for continuing the
existing collection of information. This information is needed to
enable the Secretary of Labor to exercise oversight responsibilities
and to assure the security, solvency, and integrity of the unemployment
fund. Furthermore, the Department requires this information to compile
annual consolidated financial statements and to prepare UIS statistical
reports.
The information is not captured from any other source. Because the
reporting system has been operational for several years and is
automated on-line, burden on States is negligible.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
Title: ETA Summaries UT Trust Fund Activities.
OMB Number: 1205-0154.
Agency Number: 1205.
Recordkeeping: Three years.
Affected Public: 50 States, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the
Virgin Islands.
Total Respondents: 53 State agencies.
Frequency: ETA 8403: As needed; this report is submitted only when
there has been activity which requires updating the State's Reed Act
account. ETA 2112, 8401, 8405, 8413, 8414: Monthly.
Total Responses: 53 State agencies x 12 months=636 responses.
Average Time Per Response: 636 responses x 2.5 hours (30 minutes
per response)=1,590 reporting hours.
Reed Act (ETA 8403): 18 States x 12 responses=216 annual
responses x 30 minutes per response=108 reporting hours.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,698 hours.
Estimated Total Burden Cost: 1,698 x $27.25=$47,119.50.
[[Page 31953]]
Comments submitted in response to this notice 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: June 12, 1996.
Mary Ann Wyrsch,
Director, Unemployment Insurance Service.
[FR Doc. 96-15873 Filed 6-20-96; 8:45am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M
