[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 82 (Thursday, April 29, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23123-23124]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10725]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Bureau of Labor Statistics


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 pre-clearance 
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 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments 
concerning the proposed revision of the ``Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) 
Program Survey.''
    A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be 
obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the ADDRESSES 
section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section below on or before June 28, 1999. The Bureau of Labor 
Statistics 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: Send comments to Karin G. Kurz, BLS Clearance Officer, 
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 3255, 
2 Massachusetts Avenue NE., Washington, DC 20212. Ms. Kurz can be 
reached on 202-606-7628 (this is not a toll free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Section 309(2)(a)(1)(A)(iii) of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) 
states that the Secretary of Labor shall oversee development, 
maintenance, and continuous improvements of the incidence of, 
industrial and geographical location of, and number of workers 
displaced by, permanent layoffs and plant closings. Prior to the WIA, 
Section 462(e) of PL 97-300, the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), 
provided that the Secretary of Labor develop and maintain statistical 
data relating to permanent mass layoffs and plant closings and issue an 
annual report. The report includes, at a minimum, the number of plant 
closings

[[Page 23124]]

and mass layoffs, and the number of workers affected. The data are 
summarized by geographic area and industry.
    The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program uses a standardized, 
automated approach to identify, describe, and track the impact of major 
job cutbacks. The program utilizes, to the greatest degree possible, 
existing Unemployment Insurance (UI) records and computerized data 
files, supplemented by direct employer contact. Its major features 
include:
     The identification of major layoffs and closings through 
initial UI claims filed against the identified employer;
     The use of existing files on claimants to obtain basic 
demographic and economic characteristics on the individual;
     The telephone contact of those employers meeting mass 
layoff criteria to obtain specific information on the nature of the 
layoff and characteristics of the establishment;
     The identification of the continuing impact of the mass 
layoff on individuals by matching affected initial claimants with 
persons in claims status; and,
     The measurement of the incidence of the exhaustion of 
regular state UI benefits by affected workers.
    In the program, State Employment Security Agencies (SESAs) submit 
seven comprehensive reports each quarter, and a preliminary, summary 
report each month. These computerized reports contain information from 
State administrative files and information obtained from those 
employers meeting the program criteria of a mass layoff.
    Congress has provided for the implementation of the MLS program by 
the Bureau of Labor Statistic (BLS) through the Fiscal Years 1984-1992 
appropriations for the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, 
Education, and related agencies. The program was not operational in 
Fiscal Years 1993 and 1994. Program operation resumed in Fiscal Year 
1995 with funds provided by the Employment and Training Administration 
(ETA).
    At the present time, all states (including the District of Columbia 
and Puerto Rico) are participating in the program.

II. Current Actions

    The information collected and compiled in the MLS program is used 
to satisfy legislative reporting requirements mandated by Section 
309(2)(a)(1)(A)(iii) of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), enacted on 
August 7, 1998. That section requires the Secretary of Labor to oversee 
the development, maintenance, and continuous improvement of a 
nationwide employment statistics systems that includes the incidence 
of, industrial and geographical location of, and number of workers 
displaced by, permanent layoffs and plant closings.
    In addition to the BLS uses of MLS data, such data are used by 
Congress, the Executive Branch, the business, labor, and academic 
communities, SESAs, and the U.S. Department of Labor for both macro- 
and microeconomic analysis, including specific labor market studies 
geared towards manpower assistance and development. Congress used these 
data in conjunction with the findings from a supplemental study of 
layoff actions in the development of the Worker Adjustment and 
Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, which was enacted in August 1988. 
Furthermore, the ETA uses MLS microdata in the evaluation of dislocated 
worker programs to assess the effectiveness of those activities and 
services.
    A Congressionally mandated use of mass layoff data includes the 
WIA, which replaces Title III of the JTPA. Section 133 of the WIA 
encourages the use of MLS data in substate allocations relating the 
dislocated worker employment and training activities.
    State agencies use of the MLS data in various ways, including the 
identification of geographic areas in need of special manpower 
services; ailing or troubled industries; specific employers needing 
assistance; outreach activities for the unemployed; and workers in need 
of temporary health care services.
    There is no other comprehensive source of statistics on either 
establishments or workers affected by mass layoffs and plant closings; 
therefore, none of the aforementioned data requirements could be 
fulfilled if this data collection did not occur.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    Title: Mass Layoff Statistics Program.
    OMB Number: 1220-0090.
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit; Not-for-profit 
institutions; Farms; Federal Government; State, Local or Tribal 
Government.
    Total Respondents: 15,652.
    Frequency: SESAs report quarterly and annually. Affected employers 
report on occasion.
    Total Responses: 16,432.
    Average Time Per Response: 60 minutes for SESAs and 30 minutes for 
employers.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 73,570 hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.
    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 also will become a 
matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, D.C., this 23rd day of April 1999.
W. Stuart Rust, Jr.,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
[FR Doc. 99-10725 Filed 4-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-M