[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 224 (Tuesday, November 19, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58894-58895]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29566]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Proposed Data Collection; Comment Request; Survey of Grantees
Providing Services Under Section 401 of JTPA
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, ETA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed new
collection of a survey of grantees providing services under Section 401
of the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA). 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 January 21, 1997.
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.
ADDRESSEE: Tom NaSell, Office of Policy and Research, ETA/DOL, Room N-
5637, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, DC, 20210. Voice Phone:
(202) 219-8668 (ext. 123); fax (202) 219-5455 (these are not toll free
numbers).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The U.S. Department of Labor has funded a study of the Indian and
Native American Program, Section 401 of JTPA. This study was undertaken
with the advice of the Indian and Native American Employment and
Training Council to identify the range of service designs and training
strategies undertaken by grantees funded under Section 401, the
strengths and weaknesses of these or innovative approaches, and steps
that DOL and the grantee community could take to improve the overall
effectiveness of the program in meeting the needs of Indian
[[Page 58895]]
and Native American participants and communities.
Meanwhile, in support of the President's goals stated in Executive
Order 12862, which mandates a concerted effort to obtain customer
feedback, the Department of Labor has undertaken a broad effort to
determine the services its customers want and to determine their level
of satisfaction with existing services. Section 401 grantees have been
identified as an important constituency whose opinions about DOL's
services and policy guidance should be elicited.
To satisfy both of these objectives simultaneously, DOL proposes to
conduct a mail survey of Section 401 grantees. This information will be
important for improving the overall design and delivery of services to
Indian and Native American program participants and for ensuring that
DOL's services can be made more responsive to the needs of INA program
administrators.
II. Current Actions
The proposed survey is to be administered by mail for a single time
only to the Executive Directors of all grantees receiving funds under
Section 401, exclusive of those participating under Public Law 102-477.
The survey will cover these general topics: (a) satisfaction with
services provided by DOL, and in particular the Division of Indian and
Native American Programs, with respect to policy guidance, technical
assistance, performance standards, and program administration, and
suggestions for improving those services; (b) program organization and
overall objectives for the grantees' efforts, including groups targeted
for services; (c) services emphasized by the grantees, including
training, subsidized employment, and supportive services, and the
criteria used to determine which participants should receive which
service; (d) community impacts attributed to the program and reasons
when individual participants have difficulty achieving their goals; (e)
services provided by the grantee with non-Section 401 funds; and (f)
coordination with community groups/state agencies. Survey responses
will be analyzed in tandem with data collected for grantees from other
sources, including the Annual Status Reports (OMB Approval No: 1205-
0308 expiring 5/31/97), which provide a record of participants'
characteristics and their outcomes.
Type of Review: New.
Agency: ETA.
Title: Survey of Grantees Providing Services under Section 401 of
JTPA.
Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions for Tribal
Governments.
Total Respondents: 177.
Freqency: One time.
Total Responses: 177.
Average Time per Response: 20 minutes.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 59 hours.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): None.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): None.
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: November 13, 1996.
Gerard F. Fiala,
Administrator, Office of Policy and Research.
[FR Doc. 96-29566 Filed 11-18-96; 8:45 am]
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