[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 151 (Monday, August 5, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 40661-40662] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-19793] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Employment and Training Administration Experience Rating Report; Comment Request ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ETA 204, Experience Rating Report. 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 addressee section below on or before October 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 assumption 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 application of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submissions of responses. ADDRESSES: Michael Miller, Unemployment Insurance Service, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room S4231, 200 Constitution Ave, N.W., Washington, DC, 20210; telephone number (202) 219-5309; fax (202) 219-8506 (these are not toll-free numbers). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background The data submitted annually on the ETA 204 report enables the Employment and Training Administration to project revenues for the Unemployment Insurance program on a State by State basis and to measure the variations in assigned contribution rates which result from different experience rating systems. Used in conjunction with other data, the ETA 204 assists in determining the effects of certain factors (e.g., seasonably, stabilization, expansion, or contraction in employment, etc.) on the employment experience of various groups of employers. The data also provide an early signal for potential solvency problems, are useful in analyzing factors which give rise to these potential problems, and permit an evaluation of the effectiveness of the various approaches available to correct the detected problems. Further, the data are the basis for determining the Experience Rating Index; the index allows for the evaluation of the extent to which UI benefits in States are effectively charged, noncharged, and ineffectively charged. II. Current Actions The change being proposed in this request for extension will alter Section C of the report, All Taxable Subject Accounts, Selected Data by Experience Factor, standardizing it with a uniform format for all States. The change will require that States report the distribution of their employers according to fixed, standardized, experience factor intervals. Presently, States are allowed wide discretion in setting these intervals when submitting Section C. Informal queries of State personnel have indicated that, since Section C is presently tabulated electronically, the programming required to conform to standardized experience factor intervals would consist of modifications to software already in use. This change will allow [[Page 40662]] States to submit Section C electronically (Sections A and B are currently reported electronically), enable efficient manipulation of the data, and improve the accuracy of the Experience Rating Index. Type of Review: Revision. Agency: Employment and Training Administration. Title: Experience Rating Report. OMB Number: 1205-0164. Affected Public: State Governments. Agency Number: ETA 204. Frequency: Annually. Total Response: 53. Average Time per Response: 15 min. Estimated Total Burden Hours: 14. Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): It is estimated that startup programming will take 40 hours per State or 2,120 hours or $41,870. Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $277. Comments submitted to 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: July 30, 1996. Mary Ann Wyrsch, Director, Unemployment Insurance Service, Employment and Training Administration. [FR Doc. 96-19793 Filed 8-2-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-30-M