[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 171 (Friday, September 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48432-48434]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23014]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers (UCX) Handbook;
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,
[[Page 48433]]
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 revision and extension of the
Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers (UCX) Handbook.
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
addresses section below on or before November 2, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on this notice may be mailed or
delivered to Charles E. Longus, Jr., Unemployment Insurance Service,
U.S. Department of Labor, Room S-4522, Frances Perkins Building, 200
Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20210, telephone (202) 219-7301
ext 189 (this is not a toll-free number), fax number (202) 219-8506.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The UCX law (5 U.S.C. 8521-8523) requires State employment security
agencies to administer the UCX program in accordance with the same
terms and conditions of the paying State's unemployment insurance law
which apply to unemployed claimants who worked in the private sector.
Each State agency must be able to obtain certain military service
information from each claimant filing claims for UCX benefits to enable
them to determine his/her eligibility for benefits. The State agencies
record or obtain required UCX information on forms developed by the
Department of Labor, ETA 841 and ETA 843. The use of each of these
forms is essential to the UCX claims process.
Information pertaining to the UCX claimant can only be obtained
from the individual's military discharge papers, the appropriate branch
of military service or the Department of Veterans Affairs (formerly the
Veterans Administration). If the claimant does not have this
information available, the most feasible and effective way to obtain
this information is by use of the forms prescribed by the Department of
Labor for State agency use. Without this information, we could not
adequately determine the eligibility of ex-servicemembers and would not
be able to properly administer the program.
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
This is a request for OMB approval under the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) of an extension to an existing
collection of information previously approved and assigned OMB control
No. 1205-0176. A current inventory of 76,647 UCX claims were filed in
FY 1998 and a proposed inventory of 66,126 UCX claims will be reported
for FY 1999 reflecting a significant decrease of 10,521 from the
previous fiscal year resulting in a reduction of -789 hours towards
ETA's Information Collection Budget.
Fifty-three (53) SESAs fill out these forms. Form ETA 841 is
completed by SESAs whenever an ex-servicemember files: (1) A ``first
claim'' (UCX) for unemployment compensation, whereby an assignment of
Federal military service is recorded; or (2) a request for
determination of entitlement to UCX benefits, whether or not such
request results in a ``first claim.'' ETA 843 is used by SESAs only
when it is necessary to obtain additional clarifying information from
the military pertaining to the UCX claimant or to obtain a copy of DD
Form 214 that was not issued to the claimant when separated from
military service. Accordingly, the ETA 843 is used for only 5% of the
UCX ``first claims.'' This is then sent to any one of the four branches
of military service (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force), the Coast Guard,
or the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (they are considered
branches of military service for UCX purposes but are not under the
jurisdiction of the Department of Defense).
Type of Review: Revision.
Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
Title: Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers (UCX)
Handbook.
OMB Number: 1205-0176.
Recordkeeping: The Department of Labor (DOL) does not maintain a
system of records for the UCX program. UCX records are maintained by
the SESAs acting as agents for the Federal Government in the
administration of the UCX program. The DOL procedures permit the SESAs,
upon request, to dispose of UCX records according to State law
provisions, 3 years after final action (including appeals or court
action) on the claim, or such records may be transferred in less than
the 3-year period if microphotographed in accordance with appropriate
microphotography standards.
Affected Public: State governments (State employment security
agencies).
Cite/Reference/Form/etc: Forms ETA 841 and ETA 843.
Total Respondents: 66,126.
Frequency: As needed.
Total Responses: 66,126.
Average Time per Response: 1.5 min.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,708 hrs.
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Average time
Cite/Reference Total Frequency Total per response Burden (hrs.)
respondents responses (min.)
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ETA 841...................... 66,126 As needed........ 66,126 1.5 1,653
ETA 843...................... 3,306 As needed........ 3,306 1.0 55
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Totals................... .............. ................. 69,432 .............. 1,708
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Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $1,526,952.
Comments submitted in response to this comment request will be
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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 30, 1999.
Cheryl Atkinson,
Deputy Director, Unemployment Insurance Service.
[FR Doc. 99-23014 Filed 9-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P
