2011-24963. Extension Request for Collection of Baseline Information for Green Jobs and Health Care Impact Evaluation of ARRA-Funded Grants

AGENCY:

Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor (Department or DOL), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 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 (PRA) [44 U.S.C. 3505(c)(2)(A)]. The 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 the collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed.

Currently the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is soliciting comments concerning the continued collection of baseline data to support the evaluation of the impact of the Green Jobs and Health Care American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA or Recovery Act)-funded training grants. The present OMB approval expires January 31, 2011. This information collection follows an emergency review that was conducted in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 5 CFR 1320.13. The submission for OMB emergency review was approved on July 18, 2011. A copy of this ICR can be obtained from the RegInfo.gov Web site at http://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the addressee's section below on or before November 28, 2011.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments to the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Attn: Savi Swick, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N-5641, Washington, DC 20210. Written comments may be transmitted by facsimile to 202-693-2766 (this is not a toll-free number) or e-mailed to [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

This baseline information collection supports an evaluation of the impacts of the Green Jobs and Health Care (GJHC) training grants. This evaluation is sponsored by ETA for worker training and placement in high growth and emerging industries through training grants funded by the 2009 Recovery Act, which was enacted in an effort to preserve and create jobs, promote economic growth, and assist those impacted by the recession. The Recovery Act included funding for four Solicitations for Grant Applications (SGAs) with the goal of training workers in the skills required to be employed in specific high-growth and emerging industries including health care, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. Two of these four SGAs that are the focus of this study, for which baseline data must be collected, are:

• Pathways Out of Poverty (POP) ($150 million for 38 projects).
• Health Care and Other High Growth Emerging Industries (HHG) ($225 million for 55 projects).

The overall aim of this evaluation is to determine the extent to which enrollees achieve increases in employment, earnings, and career advancement because of their participation in the training provided by POP and HHG grantees and to identify promising best practices and strategies for replication. Individuals enrolling in the GJHC training programs have a 50/50 chance of receiving these services. Those individuals not receiving the training services receive the existing services offered by the grantee. Education, employment, and other outcomes of the two groups will be compared over time to evaluate the GJHC training grant impact. The evaluation will estimate the success in providing educational and occupational skills training that fosters entry into job fields that are innovative and/or experiencing high growth, as in health care industry.

II. Review Focus

The Department 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 submission of responses.

III. Current Actions

Agency: Employment and Training Administration.

Type of Review: Regular Extension of Approved Information Collection.

Title of Collection: Baseline Information for Green Jobs and Health Care Impact Evaluation of ARRA-Funded Grants.

OMB Control Number: 1205-0481.

Affected Public: Individuals or households; State, Local, and Tribal Governments.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,024.

Frequency: Once.

Total Estimated Annual Responses: 6,024.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,600.

Total Annualized Capital and Startup Costs: $0.

Total Annualized Operation and Maintenance Costs: $0.

Total Estimated Annual Cost Burden: $24,388.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and may be included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the final information collection request. The comments will become a matter of public record.

Dated: September 15, 2011.

Jane Oates,

Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration.