[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.)
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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
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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]
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