[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 20, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43079-43080]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21184]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics


Proposed Collection; 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 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 (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 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments 
concerning the proposed

[[Page 43080]]

revision of the ``National Longitudinal Survey of Women.''
    A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be 
obtained by contacting the individual 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 21, 1996.
    BLS is particularly interested in comments which help the agency 
to:
     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.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Karin G. Kurz, BLS Clearance Officer, 
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 3255, 
2 Massachusetts Avenue NE., Washington, DC 20212. Ms. Kurz can be 
reached on 202-606-7628 (this is not a toll free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The National Longitudinal Survey (NLS) of Women has been conducted 
since the late 1960's. Historically, the NLS of Women was collected as 
two surveys, the Survey of Work Experience for Mature Women and the 
Survey of Work Experience for Young Women. In 1995 the Census Bureau 
combined the mature and young women's cohort into one panel.
    The data collected by the NLS of Women will contribute to the 
knowledge about labor market processes involved in the work to 
retirement transition, and opportunities and services for women who 
desire to enter or reenter the labor force. Survey data will contribute 
to the knowledge about women's ability to succeed in the job market and 
how their levels of success relate to educational attainment, 
vocational training, prior occupational experiences, general and job-
specific experiences, and retirement decisions.
    The NLS research contributes to the formation of national policy in 
the areas of education, training and employment programs, unemployment 
compensation, and social security benefits. In addition, members of the 
academic community publish articles and reports based on these NLS data 
for the Department of Labor (DOL) and other funding agencies. The DOL 
uses the changes measured in the labor market to design programs that 
would ease employment and unemployment problems. The survey design 
provides data gathered over time to form the only data set that 
contains this information. Without the collection of these data, an 
accurate longitudinal data set could not be provided to researchers and 
policy-makers, and the DOL could not perform its policy- and report-
making activities, as described above.

II. Current Actions

    The 1997 NLS of Women will document work experience, labor force 
attachment, participation in educational or training programs, 
financial situations, health status and health benefits. The survey 
will identify any significant trends in the woman's work experience as 
a whole. It will continue to obtain detailed information on the work 
history and pension coverage of the respondent's husband. In addition, 
it will obtain information on respondents who give (or receive) time or 
money to (or from) parents as well.
    Type of Review: Reinstatement, with change, of a previously 
approved collection for which approval has expired.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: National Longitudinal Survey of Women.
    OMB Number: 1220-0110.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Total Respondents: 7,221.
    Frequency: Biennially.
    Total Responses: 7,221.
    Average Time Per Response: 64.5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 7,762 hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they also will become a 
matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 15th day of August, 1996.
Peter T. Spolarich,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
[FR Doc. 96-21184 Filed 8-19-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-M