[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 127 (Wednesday, July 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35836-35838]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17349]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) Program 
Forms Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 35837]]

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 
Action 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 Federal Employees (UCFE) 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 
addressee section below on or before September 2, 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 or responses.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on this notice may be mailed or delivered 
to Merri Baldwin, Unemployment Insurance Service, U.S. Department of 
Labor, Room S-4231, Frances Perkins Building, 200 Constitution Ave., 
NW, Washington, DC 20210, telephone (202) 219-7301 ext 185 (this is not 
a toll-free number) fax number (202) 219-8506.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The UCFE law (5 U.S.C. 8501-8509) requires State employment 
security agencies to administer the UCFE program in accordance with the 
same terms and conditions as payable under the unemployment insurance 
law of the State if their Federal service and Federal wages had been 
included as employment and wages under that State law. Each State 
agency must be able to obtain from the Federal agency wage and 
separation information from each claimant filing claims for UCFE 
benefits to enable them to determine his/her eligibility for benefits. 
The State agencies record or obtain required UCFE information on forms 
developed by the Department of Labor, ES-931, ES-935, and ES-934. The 
use of each of these forms is essential to the UCFE claims process
    Information pertaining to the UCFE claimant can only be obtained 
from the individual's former Federal agency be using the Form ES-931, 
Request for Wage and Separation Information. If the claimant's former 
employer does not provide the information, the most feasible and 
effective way to obtain this information is by use of the Forms ES-935, 
claimant's Affidavit of Federal Civilian Service, Wages and Reason for 
Separation, prescribed by the Department of Labor for State agency use. 
Without this information, we could not adequately determine the 
eligibility of former Federal employees 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. 1205-0179. A current inventory of 144,000 UCFE claims were filed in 
FY 1995 and a proposed inventory of 188,000 UCFE claims will be 
reported for by delayed returns of completed Form ES-931 by the 
employing Federal agency. This form is required to be completed in 100% 
of all claims. Form ES-934 is used to obtain information when missing 
or clarified data is needed from a Federal agency. This form is used in 
about 10% of claims. Form ETA 8-32 is used to provide a 6-month summary 
of verification activities by each SESA of Form ES-936, Verification of 
Wage and Separation Information, sent to payroll offices as a result of 
incomplete and/or incorrect information entered on Form ES-931, Request 
for Wage and Separation Information. This form is used semi-annually. 
Form ES-939, Federal Agency Visits Report, is completed by a SESA 
representative, on each visit to a Federal agency installation in 
connection with he UCFE program. The number of times this form is used 
varies with each State.
    Type of Review: Renewal.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) 
Handbook.
    OMB Number: 1205-0179.
    Recordkeeping: The Department of Labor (DOL) does not maintain a 
system of records for the UCFE program. UCFE records are maintained by 
the SESAs acting as agents for the Federal Government in the 
administration of the UCFE program. The DOL Handbook.

    OMB Number: 1205-0179.
    Recordkeeping: The Department of Labor (DOL) does not maintain a 
system of records for the UCFE program. UCFE records are maintained by 
the SESAs acting as agents for the Federal Government in the 
administration of the UCFE program. The DOL procedures permit the 
SESAs, upon request, to dispose of UCFE 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 
the 3-year period if microphotographed in accordance with appropriate 
microphotography standards.
    Affected Public: State governments (State employment security 
agencies) and Federal government agencies.
    Cite/Reference/Form/etc: Forms ES-931, ES-931A, ES-935, ES-933, ES-
934, ES-936, ES-939, and ETA 8-32.
    Total Respondents: 188,000.
    Frequency: As needed.
    Total Responses: 188,000.
    Average Time per Response: .05 min.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 28,434 hrs. or chart for multiple 
forms/information collections.

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                                                                                   Average time                 
         Cite/reference                Total         Frequency         Total       per response   Burden (hours)
                                    respondents                      responses        (mins.)                   
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ES-931..........................         188,000               1         188,000             .05           9,400

[[Page 35838]]

                                                                                                                
ES-931A.........................          43,240               1          43,240             .05           2,162
ES-935..........................         188,000               1         188,000             .08          15,040
ES-933..........................           3,760               1           3,760             .05             188
ES-934..........................          20,680               1          20,608             .05           1,034
ES-936..........................           9,400               1           9,400             .05             470
ES-939..........................              75               1              75            1.75             131
ETA 8-32........................              53               2             106             .08               9
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      Totals....................  ..............  ..............         453,261  ..............          28,434
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    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $65,807.
    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: June 26, 1997.
Grace A. Kilbane,
Director, Unemployment Insurance Service.
[FR Doc. 97-17349 Filed 7-1-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M