[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 1, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21736-21737]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10773]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Applicant Background Questionnaire

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before July 2, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Madeleine Clayton, 
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
6086, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via 
the Internet at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Geraldine Burt, U.S. Census Bureau, Field 
Division, FOB-3, Room 1784, Washington, DC 20233-5700, 301-457-1939.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Applicant Background Questionnaire is completed on a voluntary 
basis by applicants for Regional Office Schedule A positions with the 
Census Bureau at the time of application and testing. The Census Bureau 
conducts a wide variety of statistical surveys and hires interviewers 
and other Schedule A employees to work on these surveys on an ongoing 
basis. The questions on the Applicant Background Questionnaire are of a 
sensitive nature relating to race and national origin as well as 
medical disabilities. This information is useful in determining whether 
we have a representative sample of the community from which we are 
hiring. This allows the Census Bureau to adjust recruiting efforts 
quickly and to employ local applicants for indigenous hiring. It also 
allows us to assess our compliance with equal employment opportunity 
regulations. Background information provided by applicants will not be 
used in applicant screening or selection and will not be available to 
the selecting official.

II. Method of Collection

    Individuals complete the BC-1431 only once. Based on past 
experience, the BC-1431 on average takes about 2.5 minutes to complete. 
The paper form is completed by the applicant at the time of testing.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0494.
    Form Number: BC-1431.
    Type of Review: Regular Submission.
    Affected Public: Census Bureau Job Applicants.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 25,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 2.5 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,042.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: There is no cost to respondents except 
for their time.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

    Legal Authority: Pub. L. 92-261, Equal Employment Opportunity 
Act of 1972 Pub. L. 94-311, Publication of Economic and Social 
Statistics for Americans of Spanish Origin or Descent 41 CFR part 
60-3, Information on Impact (Section 4) 5 U.S.C. 7201, 
Antidiscrimination Policy, Minority Recruitment Program.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have

[[Page 21737]]

practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of 
information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of 
the collection of information on respondents, including through the use 
of automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: April 26, 2001.
Madeleine Clayton,
Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief 
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-10773 Filed 4-30-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P