[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 132 (Friday, July 10, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 37317-37318] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-18335] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Bureau of the Census Annual Survey of Government Employment ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on [[Page 37318]] proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 8, 1998. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions should be directed to Alan Stevens, U.S. Bureau of the Census, Governments Division, Washington, DC 20233-6800, (301) 457-1550. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract The Annual Survey of Government Employment collects data on the employment, payrolls, and hours worked by part-time employees of state and local governments for one pay period in March. Data are collected from all agencies, departments, and institutions of the fifty state governments and from a sample of all local governments (counties, cities, townships, school districts, and special districts). This is a mail canvass survey with an initial mailing and one follow-up mailing. Telephone follow-up is used to contact non- respondents and, as necessary, to correct apparent errors and incomplete responses. These forms and procedures are similar to those used in the previous annual survey conducted in March 1998. Results from this survey are used directly in a variety of Federal programs: By the Bureau of Economic Analysis to develop the public sector components of the National Income and Product Accounts and to develop personal income statistics; by the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the allocation of operating subsidies to local housing authorities; and by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to bench mark the government component in their monthly employment and earnings statistics program. Other users include state and local government executives and legislators, policy makers, economists, researchers, and the general public. II. Method of Collection Data collection is primarily accomplished through the use of mail canvass questionnaires that are tailored to the type of government, agency or institution being surveyed. Mail canvass replies are screened for completeness, electronically recorded for processing, and electronically edited. Special data reporting arrangements exist with many state governments and some local governments to facilitate data reporting in ways that help minimize reporting burden (e.g. central reporting of data for all agencies and institutions of individual state governments, electronic reporting of data by some state and local governments, central reporting of school systems data by a number of state education agencies, etc.). III. Data OMB Number: 0607-0452. Form Number: E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4, E-6, E-7, E-9. Type of Review: Regular. Affected Public: State, local or tribal government. Estimated Number of Respondents: 20,244. Estimated Time Per Response: 1.06. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 21,437. Estimated Total Cost: The estimated cost to respondents for the employment survey is $326,277. The budgeted cost to the Federal government for all phases of this survey is $1.1 million. Legal Authority: This survey is authorized by Title 13, United States Code, Section 161. Respondents' Obligation: This is a voluntary survey. IV. Request for Comments Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter of public record. Dated: July 6, 1998. Linda Engelmeier, Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and Organization. [FR Doc. 98-18335 Filed 7-9-98; 8:45 a.m.] BILLING CODE 3510-07-P