[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 67 (Thursday, April 6, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18125-18130]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-8443]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Proposed Collection of Job Corps Health Questionnaire 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. 
Currently, the Job Corps is soliciting comments concerning the proposed 
revision of the Health Questionnaire, Form ETA 6-53, a copy of which is 
attached to this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed; in the 
ADDRESSES section below on or before June 5, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Barbara J. Grove, RN, National Nursing Director, Job Corps, 
room N 4507, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210, 202-
219-5556, ext. 121 (this is not a toll-free number), 202-219-5183 
(fax).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Job Corps program is described in its enabling legislation 
under Public Law 105-220, Workforce Investment Act of 1998. Section 145 
establishes standards and procedures for obtaining data from each 
applicant relating to their needs. The Department of Labor's regulation 
at 20 CFR 670.410 further details the recruitment and screening of 
applicants.
    Individuals who wish to enroll in the Job Corps program, must first 
be determined to be eligible and selected

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for enrollment. This process is carried out by admissions agencies, 
including state employment services, contracted to recruit young people 
for the Job Corps program. The admission process ensures that 
applicants meet all the admission criteria as defined in the Policy and 
Requirement Handbook (PRH) Chapter 1, Outreach and Admissions, October 
1998.
    Nonmedical personnel in the admission's office (admission 
counselors) conduct the admission interview and complete the required 
application forms. The ETA 6-53 is completed on all applicants that 
have been determined to be eligible and selected for the Job Corps 
Program.

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 submission or responses.

III. Current Actions

    After the applicant has been determined to be eligible and then 
selected for the Job Corps Program, the applicant is assigned to a 
center. After being assigned to a center, the ETA 6-53 is completed on 
all applicants. If additional health information is needed from 
previous health care providers, this information is collected and the 
admission packet in its entirety, is sent to the center of assignment. 
When the application is received on center, it is reviewed; and if 
there are health related issues, the application is forwarded to the 
center's health services. After reviewing the application, if it is 
felt that the applicant's health needs can not be met on center, the 
folder is sent to the Regional Office for review. The folder is then 
reviewed by the Regional Health Consultant and a recommendation is made 
to the Regional Director. The Regional Director makes the final 
determination regarding enrollment of the applicant. If the application 
is denied, the applicant will be referred to other state and/or local 
agencies.
    Experience throughout the Job Corps indicates that the Health 
Questionnaire is an excellent guide in identifying current and 
potential applicant health needs. Its use results in considerable 
savings of time, by both center health staff and regional health 
consultants and staff, and of money, by reducing high medical program 
costs due to medical separations.
    Revisions of the ETA 6-53 have been made to reflect the Workforce 
Investment Act, and to be more sensitive to applicants with health 
needs.
    Type of Review: Reinstatement with Change.
    Agency: Employment and Training Agency.
    Title: Job Corps Health Questionnaire, ETA 6-53.
    OMB Number: 1205-0033.
    Agency Number: ETA 653.
    Recordkeeping: The applicant is not required to retain the records; 
admission counselors or contractor's main offices are required to 
retain records of applicants who are enrolled in the program for three 
years from the date of application.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Frequency: The form would be completed on each applicant.
    Total Responses: 93,000.
    Average Time for Responses: It takes approximately 5 minutes to 
complete the form. (It may take longer for some applicants.)
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 7750. [93,000 (number of 
applications)  12 ( number of applications that can be 
completed in an hour) = 7750].
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 0.
    Total Burden Cost: (operating/maintaining): Operating and 
maintenance services associated with these forms are contracted yearly 
by the Federal Government with outreach and admissions contractors, 
according to designated recruiting areas. This is one of the many 
functions the contractors perform for which precise costs cannot be 
identified. Based on the past experience of recruitment contractors, 
however, the annual cost for contractor staff and related cost is 
estimated to be about $771,750. An additional cost of $11,974 is added 
for the applicant's time, making the total $783,724. For the 
approximately 70 percent of the Job Corps applicants who have never 
worked, no value is determined. For the remaining 30 percent of 
applicants who have been in the work force previously for any length of 
time, whether full-time or less, the current minimum wage of $5.15 is 
used to determine the value of the applicant time.
    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: March 31, 2000.
Jackie Roberts,
Acting Deputy Director, Job Corps.
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[FR Doc. 00-8443 Filed 4-5-00; 8:45 am]
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