[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 106 (Thursday, June 1, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35126-35127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-13613]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations

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 Employment and Training Administration is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed revision the information collection of 
the GPRA-Complaint Program Performance and Participant Outcomes Data 
System (OMB Control No. 1205-0392), now titled the Trade Act 
Participant Report.
    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 July 31, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Curtis K. Kooser, Program Analyst, Division of Trade 
Adjustment Assistance, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. 
Department of Labor, Room C-4318, 200 Constitution Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20210, telephone 202-219-4845, ext. 111 (this is not a 
toll-free number), FAX 202-219-5753, e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On June 16, 1998, the Office of Management and Budget approved a 
GPRA-complaint performance and participant outcomes data system for the

[[Page 35127]]

Division of Trade Adjustment Assistance (DTAA); this system is now 
known as the Trade Act Participant Report (TAPR). States implemented 
the TAPR beginning with the first quarter of fiscal year 1999 (October 
through December, 1998), and have continued to collect and report data 
every quarter since then.
    Because both Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and Title III of the 
Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) serve adult dislocated workers, the 
TAPR was modeled on the Standardized Program Information Report (SPIR) 
system used by the JTPA programs. The passage of the Workforce 
Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), which replaced JTPA, made substantial 
changes in Federal employment and training programs, including changes 
in the way participant data are defined, gathered, and reported.

II. Review Focus

    The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments 
which:
     Evaluate whether the proposed revision of information 
collection 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. Current Actions

    In order to maintain coordination and continuity with the 
dislocated worker program under Title One of WIA, and to make other 
improvements, DTAA is proposing revisions to the TAPR that make it 
substantially the same as the system to be used by the WIA programs. 
The major changes are the following:
    1. The definitions of Race and Ethnicity are now compliant with the 
most recent OMB definitions.
    2. Date for defining and judging outcomes for participants are now 
based upon Wage Record data rather than surveys of individuals program 
exiters. It is estimated that this will substantially reduce the 
reporting burden on the States.
    3. Minor revisions in the sequence and definitions of some of the 
TAPR fields have been made in order to increase the degree of 
continuity with the new system to be used by the dislocated workers 
program under WIA Title I.
    4. The format for reporting dates has been changed from MMDDYYYY to 
YYYYMMDD to conform with the new WIA-Based system.
    Type of Review: Revision.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Trade Act Participant Reporrt (TAPR).
    OMB Number: 1205-0392.
    Affected Public: State governments.
    Frequency: Quarterly.
    Total Responses: 200 (50 per quarter).
    Average Time per Response: 40 hours per quarter.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 8,000.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $120,000.
    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: May 25, 2000.
Edward A. Tomchick.
Director, Division of Trade Adjustment Assistance.
[FR Doc. 00-13613 Filed 5-31-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M