2022-18620. Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Confidentiality and Disclosure of State Unemployment Compensation Information Final Rule and State Income and Eligibility Verification Provisions of the Deficit Reduction Act of ...

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor's (DOL) Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed extension for the authority to conduct the information collection request (ICR) titled, “Confidentiality and Disclosure of State Unemployment Compensation Information Final Rule and State Income and Eligibility Verification Provisions of the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984.” This comment request is part of continuing Departmental efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

DATES:

Consideration will be given to all written comments received by October 31, 2022.

ADDRESSES:

A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation, including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency of response, and estimated total burden, may be obtained free by contacting John Schuettinger by telephone at 202-693-2680 (this is not a toll-free number), TTY 1-877-889-5627 (this is not a toll-free number), or by email at [e-mail].

Submit written comments about, or requests for a copy of, this ICR by mail or courier to the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Office of Unemployment Insurance, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Room S-4524, Washington, DC 20210; by email: [e-mail]; or by 202-693-2680.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michelle Beebe by telephone at 202-693-3029 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

DOL, as part of continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information before submitting them to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for final approval. This program helps to ensure 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 can be properly assessed.

The Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 (DEFRA) established an Income and Eligibility Verification System (IEVS) for the exchange of information for specific programs administered by state agencies. The programs include Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Medicaid, Food Stamps, Supplemental Security Income, Unemployment Compensation, and any state program approved under Titles I, X, XIV, or XVI of the Social Security Act. Under the DEFRA, participating programs must exchange information to the extent that it is useful and productive in verifying eligibility and benefit amounts to assist the child support program and the Secretary of Health and Human Services in verifying eligibility and benefit amounts under Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act.

On September 27, 2006, ETA issued a final rule regarding the Confidentiality and Disclosure of State Unemployment Compensation Information (71 FR 56842). This final rule includes a requirement for states to operate an income and eligibility verification system that meets the requirements of section 1137 of the Social Security Act ( see Subpart C of 20 CFR part 603). This rule supports and expands upon the requirements of the DEFRA and subsequent regulatory changes. The DEFRA authorizes this information collection.

This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and the public is generally not required to respond to an information collection, unless it is approved by OMB under the PRA and displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that does not display a valid Control Number. See5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.

Interested parties are encouraged to provide comments to the contact shown in the ADDRESSES section. Comments must be written to receive consideration, and they will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval of the final ICR. In order to help ensure appropriate consideration, comments should mention OMB Control Number 1205-0238.

Submitted comments will also be a matter of public record for this ICR and posted on the internet, without redaction. DOL encourages commenters not to include personally identifiable information, confidential business data, or other sensitive statements/information in any comments.

DOL is particularly interested in comments that:

• 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 submission of responses).

Agency: DOL-ETA-OUI.

Type of Review: Extension without changes.

Title of Collection: Confidentiality and Disclosure of State Unemployment Compensation Information Final Rule and State Income and Eligibility Verification Provisions of the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984.

Form: Not Applicable.

OMB Control Number: 1205-0238.

Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 53.

Frequency: Varies.

Total Estimated Annual Responses: 738,808.

Estimated Average Time per Response: 1 minute.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 16,164 hours.

Total Estimated Annual Other Cost Burden: $0.

Authority:44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A).

Brent Parton,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Labor.