[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 109 (Friday, June 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31155-31156]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14815]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Proposed Collection of the ETA 205, Preliminary Estimates of 
Average Employer Contribution Rates; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 extension of the collection of the ETA 
205, Preliminary Estimates of Average Employer Contribution Rates. 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 August 5, 199. 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 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: Mike Miller, Unemployment Insurance Service, Employment and 
Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room C-4512, 200 
Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20210; telephone number (202) 
219-9297; fax (202) 219-8506 (these are not toll-free numbers) or e-
mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The ETA 205 reports preliminary information on the taxing efforts 
in States relative to taxable and total wages and allows comparison 
among States. The information is used for projecting unemployment 
insurance tax revenues for the Federal budget process as well as for 
actuarial analyses of the Unemployment Trust Fund. The data is 
published in several forms and is often requested by data users. In 
addition, this report helps to fulfill two statutory requirements. 
Section 3302(d)(7) of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) requires 
the Secretary of Labor to notify ``the Secretary of the Treasury before 
June 1 of each year, on the basis of a report furnished by such State 
to the Secretary of Labor before May 1 of such year'' of the 
differences between the average tax rate in a State and 2.7 percent 
(i.e., section 3302(c)(2) (B) or (C)). These differences are used to 
calculate the loss of FUTA offset credit for borrowing States. Also, 
the tax schedules collected are used to assure that States are in 
compliance with provisions of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility 
Act (Pub.L. 97-248), section 281.

II. Current Actions

    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Preliminary Estimates of Average Employer Contribution 
Rates.
    OMB Number: 1205-0228.
    Agency Number: ETC 205.
    Affected Public: State Governments.
    Cite/Reference/Form/etc: ETA 205.
    Total Respondents: 53.
    Frequency: Annual.
    Total Responses: 53.

[[Page 31156]]

    Average Time per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 14.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/start): Estimated at $280 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 30, 1997.
Grace A. Kilbane,
Director, Unemployment Insurance Service.
[FR Doc. 97-14815 Filed 6-5-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M.