2012-28939. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Benefit Accuracy Measurement Program

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

On November 30, 2012, the Department of Labor (DOL) will submit the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, “Benefit Accuracy Measurement Program,” to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

DATES:

Submit comments on or before December 31, 2012.

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 from the RegInfo.gov Web site, http://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain,, as of December 1, 2012, or by contacting Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or sending an email to [e-mail].

Submit comments about this request to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL-ETA, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503, Fax: [phone] (this is not a toll-free number), email: [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at [e-mail].

Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Benefits Accuracy Measurement (BAM) program is one of the tools the DOL uses to measure and reduce waste, fraud, and abuse for the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program. The BAM program provides reliable estimates of the accuracy of benefit payments and denied claims in the UI program, and identifies the sources of improper payments and denials so their causes can be eliminated. The BAM program consists of two comprehensive reviews: Paid Claims Accuracy (PCA) and Denied Claims Accuracy (DCA). States conduct intensive audits of statewide random samples of UI payments and denials to determine their accuracy. The DOL provides State Workforce Agencies with software to edit the sampling frame files and to select the weekly PCA and DCA samples.

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 the 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 if the collection of information does not display a valid Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this information collection under Control Number 1205-0245. The current approval is scheduled to expire on November 30, 2012; however, it should be noted that existing information collection requirements submitted to the OMB receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review. For additional information, see the related notice published in the Federal Register on September 6, 2012 (77 FR 54927).

Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in the ADDRESSES section by December 31, 2012. In order to help ensure appropriate consideration, comments should mention OMB Control Number 1205-0245. The OMB 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.

Title of Collection: Benefit Accuracy Measurement Program.

OMB Control Number: 1205-0245.

Affected Public: Individuals or Households; Private Sector—businesses or other for profits, farms, and not-for-profit institutions; and State, Local, and Tribal Governments.

Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 101,892.

Total Estimated Number of Responses: 149,004.

Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 524,744.

Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

Dated: November 26, 2012.

Michel Smyth,

Departmental Clearance Officer.