[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 98 (Wednesday, May 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27781-27782]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-13337]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


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 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 1955 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(a)(A)]. This program helps to 
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, 
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized,

[[Page 27782]]

collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of 
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. 
Currently, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the collection 
of the ETA-227 Report, Overpayment Detection and Recovery Activities. 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 July 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.

ADDRESSES: Robert Whiting, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution 
Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210, 202-219-5211 (this is not a toll-
free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Form ETA-227, Overpayment and Recovery Activities, provides 
information on determinations, overpayments, and recoveries of 
overpayments on intrastate and liable interstate claims under State and 
Federal unemployment compensation programs; i.e., programs providing 
unemployment compensation for Federal employees (UCFE) and ex-
servicepersons (UCX), established under Chapter 85, Title 5, U.S. Code. 
This report includes claims for regular, additional and Federal-State 
extended benefits.
    The State agency's accomplishments in principal detection areas of 
benefit payment control are shown in the ETA-227 report. ETA and State 
agencies need such information to monitor the effectiveness of the 
controls of benefit payment operations.
    Data are also provided for criminal and civil actions involving 
benefit overpayments obtained fraudulently, and an aging schedule of 
outstanding benefit overpayment accounts is included.

II. Current Actions

    By collecting data on overpayment detection and recovery, State 
agencies can monitor the effectiveness of their benefit payment process 
and the controls built into their systems. Section A of the report 
shows the establishment of fraud and nonfraud overpayments, with fraud 
being broken out into categories that identify cause. Section B shows 
overpayment recoveries and other actions taken to reconcile amounts 
outstanding. Section C shows the results of the primary detection 
activities. Section D shows the criminal and civil actions taken 
against claimants. Section E shows the aging of accounts, i.e., how 
long overpayments have remained uncollected. Together these data 
provide a comprehensive tool useful for management of benefit 
operations at the State level.
    For ETA, the data provide a valuable tool to fulfill the 
Secretary's responsibility to oversee operations in State agencies 
individually and collectively. Periodic reporting provides data useful 
for trend analyses.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Overpayment Detection and Recovery Activities.
    OMB Number: 1205-0173.
    Agency Number: ETA-227.
    Recordkeeping: State agencies are required to maintain all 
documentation supporting the information reported on the ETA-227 for 
three years following the end of each report period.
    Affected Public: State Government.
    Cite/Reference/Form/etc.: Form.
    Total Respondents: 53 State agencies.
    Frequency: Quarterly.
    Total Responses: 212.
    Average Time per Response: 10 hours.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 2120.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): Estimated at $42,400 
which is an allowable cost under the administrative grants awarded to 
States by the Federal government.
    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: May 15, 1997.
Grace A. Kilbane,
Director, Unemployment Insurance Service.
[FR Doc. 97-13337 Filed 5-20-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-33-M