[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 157 (Tuesday, August 13, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42061-42062]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20604]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public
Comment and Recommendations; Extension of the Unemployment Insurance
(UI) Title XII Advances Process
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL), 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 extension of the process for
requesting advances from the Federal Unemployment Account (FUA) and
repayment of such advances under Title XII of the Social Security Act
(SSA). Technically, there is
[[Page 42062]]
no request for information. There is, however, a paperwork burden on
States because they must prepare and transmit formal requests for the
authority to request advances and the repayment of said advances.
A copy of the proposed procedure can be obtained by contacting the
addressee listed below.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 15,
1996.
Written comments should:
--Evaluate whether the proposed extension of the current procedure 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 extension of the current procedure, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
--Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the procedure; and
--Minimize the burden of the procedure on those who are to respond,
including 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 Service, Employment
and Training Administration, Department of Labor, Room C 4514, 200
Constitution Ave, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210; 202 219-5309 (this is
not a toll-free number).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Title XII Section 1201 of the SSA provides for advances to States
from the FUA. The law further sets out specific requirements to be met
by a State requesting an advance:
The Governor must apply for the advance;
The application must cover a three month period and the
Secretary of Labor must be furnished with estimates of the amounts
needed in each month of the three month period;
An application for an advance shall be made on such forms
and shall contain such information and data (fiscal and otherwise)
concerning the operation and administration of the State unemployment
compensation law as the Secretary of Labor deems necessary or relevant
to the performance of his duties under this title;
The amount required by any State for the payment of
compensation in any month shall be determined with due allowance for
contingencies and taking into account all other amounts that will be
available in the State's unemployment fund for the payment of
compensation in such month;
The term ``compensation'' means cash benefits payable to
individuals with respect to their unemployment exclusive of expenses of
administration.
Section 1202(a) of the SSA provides that the Governor of any State
may at any time request that funds be transferred from the account of
such State to the FUA in repayment of part or all of the balance of
advances made to such State under section 1201. These applications and
repayments may be requested by an individual designated for that
authority in writing by the Governor. The DOL proposes to extend this
procedure through September, 1999.
II. Current Actions
This action is requested to maintain the continuity of current
procedures which have succeeded in the orderly application and
repayment operations at both the State and Federal levels. This is not
a data collection process.
This is a request for OMB approval under the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (44 USC 3506 (c)(2)(A)) of an extension to an existing
procedure previously approved and assigned OMB control No. 1205-0199.
Agency: Employment and Training Administration, Department of
Labor.
Title: Governor's requests for advances from the Federal
unemployment account or requests for voluntary repayment of such
advances.
OMB Number: 1205-0199.
Affected Public: State governments (State Employment Security
Agencies).
Total Respondents: 50 States, Washington, D.C., the Virgin Islands,
and Puerto Rico are covered by this process. The DOL estimates that one
State will be requesting advances and making repayments in FY 1997.
Absent recessionary periods in FY 1998 and FY 1999, an average of two
States per year will be doing so. During the last recession, six states
requested advances.
Frequency: As needed, based on a State's discretion.
Average Time Per Response: 1 hour.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 5 State/years x 14 responses (4
requests for advances and 10 repayments) x 1 hour=70 burden hours.
Estimated Total Burden Cost: 70 hours x $27.75=$1,942.50.
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: August 5, 1996.
Mary Ann Wyrsch,
Director, Unemployment Insurance Service.
[FR Doc. 96-20604 Filed 8-12-96; 8:45 am]
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