96-22511. Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers (UCX) Handbook; Comment Request  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 4, 1996)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 46666-46667]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-22511]
    
    
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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, 
    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 4, 1996.
        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.
    
    
    [[Page 46667]]
    
    
    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-4231, Frances Perkins Building, 200 
    Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20210, telephone (202) 219-5340 
    ext 16 (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, ETA 842 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 individuals'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. 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 255,000 UCX claims were filed in 
    FY 1994 and a proposed inventory of 138,573 UCX claims will be reported 
    for FY 1995 reflecting a significant decrease of 116,427 from the 
    previous fiscal year resulting in a reduction of -3,009 hours toward 
    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.'' Form ETA 842 is very rarely used 
    under current legislation so our estimate is zero burden. 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 
    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, ETA 842 and ETA 843
        Total Respondents: 138,573
        Frequency: As needed
        Total Responses: 138,573
        Average Time per Response: 1.5 min.
        Estimated Total Burden Hours: 3,579 hrs. or chart for multiple 
    forms/information collections.
    
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                                                                                                   Average          
                                               Total                                    Total     time per    Burden
                Cite/reference              respondents           Frequency           responses   response    (hrs.)
                                                                                                   (min.)           
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    ETA 841...............................     138,573   As needed..................    138,573         1.5    3,464
    ETA 842...............................           0   As needed..................          0         0          0
    ETA 843...............................       6,929   As needed..................      6,929         1.0      115
                                                                                     -----------            --------
          Totals..........................  ...........  ...........................    145,502  ..........    3,579
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        Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 0.
        Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $3,201,036.
        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: August 28, 1996.
    Mary Ann Wyrsch,
    Director, Unemployment Insurance Service.
    [FR Doc. 96-22511 Filed 9-3-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4510-30-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
09/04/1996
Department:
Employment and Training Administration
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice.
Document Number:
96-22511
Dates:
Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the
Pages:
46666-46667 (2 pages)
PDF File:
96-22511.pdf