[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 116 (Friday, June 15, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32645-32646]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-15165]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


State Quality Service Plan (SQSP) Handbook, Comment Request

ACTION: Notice; Request for comments.

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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 a provision or the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 at 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

[[Page 32646]]

properly assessed. Currently, the Employment and Training 
Administration (ETA) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed 
extension of the State Quality Service Plan (SQSP).
    Guidelines for completion and submittal of the SQSP are contained 
in ETA Handbook 336, 16th Edition. Fiscal year-specific information 
such as Federal Program emphasis, or additional budget allocations, 
will be provided annually in an implementation directive that will 
initiate the planning process each year. The requirements of the 
reporting and data collection process itself will remain unchanged from 
year to year. Copies of the SQSP Handbook may be obtained by contacting 
the addressed below. The Handbook is also available on the Internet at 
http://www.itsc.state.md.us/ and http://www.workforcesecurity.doleta.gov.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before August 14, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Delores A. Mackall, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Room S-4231, Washington, DC 20210, 202-693-
3183 (this is not a toll-free number).: FAX, 202-693-3229; Internet: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:   

I. Background

    The SQSP is the planning instrument for the Unemployment Insurance 
(UI) system nationwide. The statutory basis for the SQSP is Title III 
of the Social Security Act, which establishes conditions for each State 
to receive grant funds to administer its UI program. Plans are prepared 
annually, since funds for UI operations are appropriated each year. 
ETA's annual budget request for State UI operations contains workload 
assumptions for which a State must plan in order for the Secretary of 
Labor to carry out her responsibilities under title III. ETA issues 
financial planning targets based on the budget request. States make 
plans based on these assumptions and targets.

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 of responses.

III. Current Actions

    ETA proposes to extent this clearance and this request includes a 
revision to a form (Worksheet UI-3, Quarterly Contingency Report) that 
States use to report budget information. The revisions will change only 
the format in which information is reported by deleting three entries 
of figures that were already entered elsewhere on the form. There is no 
change in the burden of data collection. Revisions include allowing 
States to submit the SQSP and the required signature page 
electronically.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: SQSP Handbook.
    OMB Number: 1205-0132.
    Affected Public: State Employment Security Agencies (SESAs).
    Total Respondents: 53.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Average Time per Response: 40 hours.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 2120 hours.
    Estimated Total Burden Cost: $61,324.

    Dated: June 4, 2001.
Grace A. Kilbane,
Administrator, Office or Workforce Security.
[FR Doc. 01-15165 Filed 6-14-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M