2013-16905. Comment Request for Information Collection for the Benefits, Timeliness, and Quality Data Collection System; Extension With Revisions

AGENCY:

Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION:

Notice.

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 collection of data about the proposed extension of the Benefits Timeliness and Quality (BTQ) data collection system, which is part of the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Performs measurement system (current expiration date is February 28, 2014).

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's section below on or before September 16, 2013.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments to the Employment and Training Administration, Office of Unemployment Insurance, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room S4220, Washington, DC 20210, Attention: Delores Ferrell. Telephone number: 202-693-3183 (this is not a toll-free number). Fax: [phone]. Email: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Secretary of Labor, under the Social Security Act, Title III, Section 302 (42 U.S.C. 502), funds the necessary cost of proper and efficient administration of each state UI law. The BTQ program collects information and analyzes data. The BTQ data measure the timeliness and quality of states' administrative actions and administrative decisions related to UI benefit payments.

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 with revisions.

Title: Benefits, Timeliness, and Quality Review.

OMB Number: 1205-0359.

Affected Public: State governments.

Form(s): ETA-9050, ETA-9051, ETA-9052, ETA-9054, ETA-9055, ETA-9056, ETA-9057.

Total Annual Respondents: 53 state agencies.

Annual Frequency: Monthly and Quarterly.

Total Annual Responses: 28,836.

Average Time per Response: 80.5 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 38,692 hours.

Monthly Universe Measures: State Staff Hours per Year

ETA Report	Measure	Number of respondents	Reports per year	Total responses	Hours per response	Total hours/year
9050	First Payment Time Lapse, Core Measure	53	12	636	.5	318
9050	First Payment Time Lapse, Partial/Part Total Claims, Management Information Measure	53	12	636	.5	318
9050	First Payment Time Lapse, Workshare Claims, Management Information Measure	53	12	636	.5	318
9051	Continued Weeks Compensated Time Lapse, Management Information Measure	53	12	636	.5	318
9051	Continued Weeks Compensated Time Lapse, Partial Part/Total, Management Information Measure	53	12	636	.5	318
9051	Continued Weeks Compensated Time Lapse, Workshare, Management Information Measure	53	12	636	.5	318
9052	Nonmonetary Determinations Time Lapse, Detection Date, Core Measure	53	12	636	1.0	636
9054	Lower Authority Appeals Time Lapse, Management Information Measure	53	12	636	.5	318
9055	Lower Authority Appeals Case Aging, Core Measure	53	12	636	1.0	636
9054	Higher Authority Appeals Time Lapse, Management Information Measure	53	12	636	.5	318
9055	Higher Authority Appeals Case Aging, Core Measure	53	12	636	1.0	636
Subtotal						4452

Quarterly Sample Review Measures: State Staff Hours per Year

ETA Report	Measure	Number of respondents	Sampled cases reviewed per year	Total cases reviewed per year	Hours per response	Total hours/year
9056	Nonmonetary Determination Quality, Core Measure	27 Small States	240	6,480	1	6,480
9056	Nonmonetary Determination Quality, Core Measure	26 Large States	400	10,400	1	10,400
9057	Lower Authority Appeals Quality, Core Measure	44 Small States	80	3,520	3.5	12,320
9057	Lower Authority Appeals Quality, Core Measure	9 Large States	160	1,440	3.5	5,040
Subtotal						34,240

Total Annual Burden Cost for Respondents $0.

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: July 8, 2013.

Gerri Fiala,

Acting Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration.