[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 55 (Friday, March 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13712-13713]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7203]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Unemployment Insurance Service; Proposed Information Collection 
Request Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations; Program 
Budget Plan for FY 1998

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

[[Page 13713]]

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 current Program Budget Plan while the new State Quality Service 
Plan which will replace it is developed.
    A copy of the proposed information collection request can be 
obtained by contacting the employee listed below in the contact section 
of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 20, 1997.
    Written comments should:

--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 automatic, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses.

ADDRESSES: Terrence L. Clark, Unemployment Insurance Service, 
Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room 
S-4522, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, 202-219-
5215, Ext. 139 (this is not a toll-free number); FAX, 202-219-8506; 
Internet, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Program Budget Plan (PBP) is the planning instrument for the 
Unemployment Insurance System Nationwide. The statutory basis for the 
PBP is Title III, Section 302 of the Social Security Act, which 
authorizes the Secretary of Labor to provide funds to administer the UI 
program. Plans are prepared annually since funds for UI operations are 
appropriated each year. The Department of Labor's annual budget request 
for State UI operations contains workload assumptions for which the 
State must plan in order for the Secretary to carry out his 
responsibilities under Section 303(a) of the Social Security Act to 
ensure full payment of unemployment compensation when due. The 
Department issues financial planning targets based on the budget 
request. States make plans based on such assumptions and targets via 
this mechanism.

II. Current Actions

    DOL proposes to extend the expiration date for this process from 
September 30, 1997 to September 30, 1999 which will allow the 
Unemployment Insurance Service in concert with its Federal/State 
partners to finalize a new State Quality Service Plan to replace the 
Program Budget Plan. In addition, DOL proposes to modify the current 
Program Budget Plan to accommodate funding initiatives incorporated in 
the President's Budget Request. Additional funding has been requested 
to facilitate State action with regard to Year 2000 automation 
modifications needed to allow current systems to function and continue 
payment of Unemployment Insurance compensation using that date. In 
addition, plans associated with the $89 Million integrity increase that 
is included in the President's Budget need to be incorporated into the 
Program Budget Plan to meet oversight agreements. States may elect to 
utilize the increase in any or all of 4 specific areas: Field Audit, 
Benefit Payment Control, Eligibility Review, or Separation Issues.
    Type of Review: Revision--ET Handbook No. 336 for use through 
September 30, 1997, under OMB No. 1205-0132.
    Specifically, we propose the following:
    I. Add a requirement for states to report in Block 12 of the 
current SF 269 to allow entry of specific Year 2000 Automation 
Expenditures by the States.
    II. Utilize the following Corrective Action Pages from the current 
PBP to obtain plans for the four integrity areas:
    (1) Use the ``Field Audits'' page for Field Audit Integrity 
Planning.
    (2) Use the ``Necessary Corrective Action to Improve the Recovery 
of Fraud/Non Fraud Benefit Overpayments'' page for the Benefit Payment 
Control Integrity Activity Planning.
    (3) Use the ``Automation Grants'' page for Eligibility Review 
Program Integrity Planning.
    (4) Use the ``Nonmonetary Determination Performance for Intrastate 
Separation Issues'' page to capture additional Integrity planning in 
the area of Initial Claim Separation Issues.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: PBP Handbook.
    OMB Number: 1205-0132.
    Recordkeeping: States are required to follow their State laws 
regarding public record retention.
    Affected Public: State Employment Security Agencies (SESA's).
    Total Respondents: 53.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Total Responses: 53.
    Average Time Per Response: 35 hours.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1855.
    Estimated Total Burden Cost: $53,405.
    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 will also become a 
matter of public record.

    Dated: March 17, 1997.
Virginia A. Chupp,
Director, Division of Legislation.
[FR Doc. 97-7203 Filed 3-20-97; 8:45 am]
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