[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 163 (Tuesday, August 22, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51034-51036]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21327]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 revised collection of the data 
contained on the Welfare to Work Formula (ETA 9068) and Competitive 
(ETA 9068-1) Cumulative Quarterly Status Reports.
    A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be 
obtained by contacting the office 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 October 23, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Isabel Danley, Division of Financial Grants Management 
Policy and Review, Office of Grants and Contract Management, United 
States Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, 200 
Constitution Ave. NW., Rm. N-4720, Washington, DC 20210, (202-219-5731 
x115--not a toll free number) and, Internet address; [email protected] 
and/or FAX: (202-208-1551).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Pursuant to Title IV, Part A of the Social Security Act, as amended 
by the enactment of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, the Welfare to 
Work program was designed to assist States in providing transitional 
employment assistance to move hard-to-employ recipients of Temporary 
Assistance for Needy Families, with significant job placement and job 
retention barriers, into unsubsidized jobs. On Tuesday, November 18, 
1997, the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration 
issued an Interim Final Rule, 20 CFR Part 645, implementing the grant 
provisions of the Social Security Act Amendments. The reporting 
requirements set forth at 20 CFR 645.240 directed the Department to 
issue detailed reporting instructions. In accordance with the Paperwork

[[Page 51035]]

Reduction Act of 1995, the reporting formats (ETA 9068 and 9068-1) and 
corresponding instructions were submitted to the Office of Management 
and Budget for review, clearance, and subsequent approval.
    Passage of the TITLE VIIID WELFARE-TO-WORK AND CHILD SUPPORT 
AMENDMENTS OF 1999, Section 804. SIMPLIFICATION AND COORDINATION OF 
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, necessitated revisions to currently approved 
reporting requirements, including the provision for collection of 
participant information. Upon approval by OMB, the revised reporting 
formats will be provided electronically to the States and competitive 
grant recipients, replacing the formats in place at the present time. 
The currently assigned Passwords and Personal Identification Numbers 
will continue to be used in accessing the formats and for data 
certification.

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. Current Actions

    The revised collection of information must be approved so that DOL 
can effectively manage and evaluate the WtW program in compliance with 
the requirements set forth in the Social Security Act Amendments, as 
further amended by the TITLE VIII WELFARE-TO-WORK AND CHILD SUPPORT 
AMENDMENTS OF 1999.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Welfare to Work Formula (ETA 9068) and Competitive (ETA 
9068-1) Cumulative Quarterly Status Reports.
    OMB Number: 1205-0385.
    Agency Numbers: ETA 9068 and ETA 9068-1.
    Frequency: Quarterly.
    Affected Public: (1) WtW Formula Grants: States, local governments, 
and Private Industry Councils; and, (2) WtW Competitive Grants: 
Eligible applicants from business and/or other for profit and non-
profit institutions.
    Reporting Burden: See the following Reporting Burden Tables for WtW 
Formula Grants (Revised ETA 9068) and WtW Competitive Grants (Revised 
ETA 9068-1).

      DOL-ETA Reporting Burden for WtW Formula and Tribal Grants Financial and Participant Data Collection
                                               [Revised ETA 9068]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Requirements                            FY 1998      FY 1999      FY 2000      FY 2001
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Reports Per Entity Per Quarter....................            1            2            2            1
Total Number of Reports Per Entity Per Year.................            2            8            8            4
Number of Hours Required for Reporting Hours Per Quarter Per            1            1            2            2
 Report.....................................................
Total Number of Hours Required for Reporting Hours Per                  2            8           16            8
 Entity Per Year............................................
Number of Entities Reporting................................           55           55           55           55
Total Number of Hours Required for Reporting Burden Per Year          110          440          880          440
Total Burden Cost @ $23.45 per hour.........................       $2,580      $10,318      $20,636      $10,318
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note: (1) The number of reports per entity per year is impacted 
by the 3 year life of both FY 1998 and FY 1999 funds.
    (2) In FY 1998, reporting was not effective until the second 
half of the FY.
    (3) In FY 2000 and FY 2001, the number of hours required per 
quarter per report is increased based upon the additional 
participant reporting requirements.
    (4) The burden cost is estimated based on a GS 12/01 position.


    DOL-ETA Reporting Burden for WtW Competitive Grants Financial and
                       Participant Data Collection
                          [Revised ETA 9068-1]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Requirements              FY 1998      FY 1999      FY 2000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Reports Per Entity Per             1            1            1
 Quarter.........................
Total Number of Reports Per                  2            4            4
 Entity Per Year.................
Number of Hours Required for               1.5          1.5          2.5
 Reporting Per Quarter Per Report
Total Number of Hours Required               3            6           10
 for Reporting (Hours Per Entity
 Per Year).......................
Estimated Number of Entities               126          191           65
 Reporting.......................
Total Number of Hours Required             378         1146          650
 for Reporting Burden Per Year...
Total Burden Cost @ $23.45 per          $8,864      $26,873      $15,242
 hour............................
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note: (1) Competitive grants have a 2 year life. FY 1998 grants 
must be reported in FY 1998 (2 quarters) and in FY 1999. FY 1999 
grants must be reported in FY 1999 and FY 2000.
    (2) Approximately 126 entities reported in FY 1998 (continuing 
to be reported in FY 1999; with an additional 65 entities reporting 
in FY 1999 (which will continue to report in FY 2000).
    (3) The number of hours required per report increased in FY 
2000, due to the additional participant reporting requirements.
    (4) The burden cost is based upon the salary of a GS 12/01.

    Comments submitted in response to this comment request will be 
summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and

[[Page 51036]]

Budget approval of the information collection request; they will also 
become a matter of public record.

    Dated: August 16, 2000.
Dennis Lieberman,
Director, Office of Welfare to Work.
[FR Doc. 00-21327 Filed 8-21-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M