[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 140 (Thursday, July 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39531-39532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18675]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Workforce Investment Act; Planning Guidance and Instructions for
the Submission of the Strategic Five-Year Plan for Title I of the
Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (Workforce Investment Systems) and
Wagner-Peyser Act 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 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. 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. Currently, the Employment and Training Administration is
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the Workforce
Investment Act requirements that the Governor submit a five-year
strategic plan for Title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and
for the Wagner-Peyser Act to the Secretary of Labor. The State Boards,
in partnership with the Local Boards, will help the Governor develop
the strategic vision and the statewide plan. Among other things, the
plan will describe statewide workforce investment activities, explain
how the requirements of the Act will be implemented, and outline how
special population groups will be served.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the
addressee's section below on or before August 23, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Mr. Eric Johnson, Workforce Investment Implementation Task
Force Office, US Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room
S-5513, Washington, D.C. 20210, Telephone: (202) 219-0316 (voice) (This
is not a toll-free number), or 1-800-326-2577 (TDD). Information may
also be found at the website-http://usworkforce.org.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Workforce Investment Act (WIA or Act), Pub. L.105-220 (August
7, 1998) provides the framework for a reformed national workforce
preparation and employment system designed to meet the needs of the
nation's employers, job seekers and those who want to further their
careers. Titles I, III, and V of the Act encourage States to reform
existing employment and training programs to reach two important goals:
(1) To think broadly about how Federal, state, local resources and the
private sector can be brought together to increase the employment,
retention, and earnings of participants, and (2) to increase
occupational skill levels of customers. This will result in a more
qualified workforce, a reduction in welfare dependency, and enhanced
productivity and competitiveness for the Nation. The new law makes
changes to the current workforce development system in many areas,
including: funding streams; target populations; delivery systems;
performance accountability; long-term planning; and governance
structure.
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. Submission of State Plans
States are encouraged to take advantage of the option to submit
their plans electronically as indicated below. Pursuant to instructions
issued by the Secretary, States are required to submit their State Plan
(with an original signature) along with two copies to the US Department
of Labor, WIA Task Force as follows: Mr. Raymond L. Bramucci, Assistant
Secretary Employment and Training Administration, US Department of
Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S-5513, Washington, DC 20210,
ATTN: Eric Johnson, Director, WIA Task Force, (wia98tf@doleta.gov). One
copy of the Plan (with an original signature) must also be sent
simultaneously to the appropriate ETA Regional Administrator.
States may also submit State Plans via diskette or e-mail. In order
to transmit electronically, States must have WordPerfect or Microsoft
Word format. (Macintosh versions cannot be accepted.) States submitting
State Plans electronically should transmit one copy of the Plan to the
U.S. Department of Labor, WIA Task Force at the address or e-mail
address identified above, and one copy to the appropriate ETA Regional
Administrator. States that submit State Plans electronically will not
have to submit additional copies, but must submit signature pages with
an original signature to both the national and regional offices. States
wishing to implement WIA between July 1, 1999 and July 1, 2000 may
submit their Plans anytime before April 1, 2000. All States must submit
their full Plans no later than April 1, 2000.
Whenever a State submits its Plan, section 404 of WIA (which amends
Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973) requires the State to submit
its Vocational Rehabilitation State Plan on the same date.
IV. Current Actions
States will not be able to receive funds if the Strategic Five Year
State Plan for Title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998
(Workforce Investment Systems) is not submitted. Without an extension,
the existing collection would be in use without an OMB control number.
Section 112(a) of the Workforce Investment Act (Pub. L. 105-220, August
7, 1998), requires the Governor of the State to submit to the Secretary
a Strategic Five-Year State Plan for Title I of WIA and the Wagner-
Peyser Act, in order to be eligible to receive an allocation under
section 127 or 132 or to receive financial assistance.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
Title: Planning Guidance and Instructions for Submission of the
Strategic Five-Year State Plan for Title
[[Page 39532]]
I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and the Wagner-Peyser Act
OMB Number: 1205-0398.
Affected Public: The State Plan will be submitted by 50 States, the
District of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and Unites
States Virgin Islands. There are no special circumstances that require
the collection of information to be conducted in a manner inconsistent
with 5 CFR 1320.8.
Total Respondents: 54 respondents are expected to submit State
Plans by April 1, 2000.
Frequency: Once every five years.
Total Expected Responses: 54 Responses.
Average Time per Response: It is estimated that 50 hour burden per
response will be required. There is no experience under WIA to
determine estimated burden of 2700 Burden Hours.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): 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 15, 1999.
Raymond J. Uhalde,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-18675 Filed 7-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P
