[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 140 (Thursday, July 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39531-39532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18675]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Workforce Investment Act; Planning Guidance and Instructions for 
the Submission of the Strategic Five-Year Plan for Title I of the 
Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (Workforce Investment Systems) and 
Wagner-Peyser Act 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 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. 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. Currently, the Employment and Training Administration is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the Workforce 
Investment Act requirements that the Governor submit a five-year 
strategic plan for Title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and 
for the Wagner-Peyser Act to the Secretary of Labor. The State Boards, 
in partnership with the Local Boards, will help the Governor develop 
the strategic vision and the statewide plan. Among other things, the 
plan will describe statewide workforce investment activities, explain 
how the requirements of the Act will be implemented, and outline how 
special population groups will be served.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee's section below on or before August 23, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Mr. Eric Johnson, Workforce Investment Implementation Task 
Force Office, US Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room 
S-5513, Washington, D.C. 20210, Telephone: (202) 219-0316 (voice) (This 
is not a toll-free number), or 1-800-326-2577 (TDD). Information may 
also be found at the website-http://usworkforce.org.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Workforce Investment Act (WIA or Act), Pub. L.105-220 (August 
7, 1998) provides the framework for a reformed national workforce 
preparation and employment system designed to meet the needs of the 
nation's employers, job seekers and those who want to further their 
careers. Titles I, III, and V of the Act encourage States to reform 
existing employment and training programs to reach two important goals: 
(1) To think broadly about how Federal, state, local resources and the 
private sector can be brought together to increase the employment, 
retention, and earnings of participants, and (2) to increase 
occupational skill levels of customers. This will result in a more 
qualified workforce, a reduction in welfare dependency, and enhanced 
productivity and competitiveness for the Nation. The new law makes 
changes to the current workforce development system in many areas, 
including: funding streams; target populations; delivery systems; 
performance accountability; long-term planning; and governance 
structure.

II. Review Focus

    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.

III. Submission of State Plans

    States are encouraged to take advantage of the option to submit 
their plans electronically as indicated below. Pursuant to instructions 
issued by the Secretary, States are required to submit their State Plan 
(with an original signature) along with two copies to the US Department 
of Labor, WIA Task Force as follows: Mr. Raymond L. Bramucci, Assistant 
Secretary Employment and Training Administration, US Department of 
Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S-5513, Washington, DC 20210, 
ATTN: Eric Johnson, Director, WIA Task Force, ([email protected]). One 
copy of the Plan (with an original signature) must also be sent 
simultaneously to the appropriate ETA Regional Administrator.
    States may also submit State Plans via diskette or e-mail. In order 
to transmit electronically, States must have WordPerfect or Microsoft 
Word format. (Macintosh versions cannot be accepted.) States submitting 
State Plans electronically should transmit one copy of the Plan to the 
U.S. Department of Labor, WIA Task Force at the address or e-mail 
address identified above, and one copy to the appropriate ETA Regional 
Administrator. States that submit State Plans electronically will not 
have to submit additional copies, but must submit signature pages with 
an original signature to both the national and regional offices. States 
wishing to implement WIA between July 1, 1999 and July 1, 2000 may 
submit their Plans anytime before April 1, 2000. All States must submit 
their full Plans no later than April 1, 2000.
    Whenever a State submits its Plan, section 404 of WIA (which amends 
Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973) requires the State to submit 
its Vocational Rehabilitation State Plan on the same date.

IV. Current Actions

    States will not be able to receive funds if the Strategic Five Year 
State Plan for Title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 
(Workforce Investment Systems) is not submitted. Without an extension, 
the existing collection would be in use without an OMB control number. 
Section 112(a) of the Workforce Investment Act (Pub. L. 105-220, August 
7, 1998), requires the Governor of the State to submit to the Secretary 
a Strategic Five-Year State Plan for Title I of WIA and the Wagner-
Peyser Act, in order to be eligible to receive an allocation under 
section 127 or 132 or to receive financial assistance.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Planning Guidance and Instructions for Submission of the 
Strategic Five-Year State Plan for Title

[[Page 39532]]

I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and the Wagner-Peyser Act
    OMB Number: 1205-0398.
    Affected Public: The State Plan will be submitted by 50 States, the 
District of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and Unites 
States Virgin Islands. There are no special circumstances that require 
the collection of information to be conducted in a manner inconsistent 
with 5 CFR 1320.8.
    Total Respondents: 54 respondents are expected to submit State 
Plans by April 1, 2000.
    Frequency: Once every five years.
    Total Expected Responses: 54 Responses.
    Average Time per Response: It is estimated that 50 hour burden per 
response will be required. There is no experience under WIA to 
determine estimated burden of 2700 Burden Hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): 0.
    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: July 15, 1999.
Raymond J. Uhalde,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-18675 Filed 7-21-99; 8:45 am]
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