[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 240 (Friday, December 13, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76758-76759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-31560]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, DOL.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden conducts a pre-clearance 
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. 35069(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 Interagency Federal Agency Team from the Departments of 
Labor, Education, Health and Human Services, Agriculture, and Housing 
and Urban Development is soliciting comments concerning the proposed 
reinstatement of the Workforce Investment Act: Final Unified State 
Planning Guidance (OMB Control No. 1205-0407), should states desire to 
submit a modification to their current plan. A copy of the proposed 
information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the 
office listed below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Flynn, Office of One-Stop 
Operations/ATTN: Dolores Hall-Beran, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Room S-4231, Washington, DC 20210: (202) 693-
3045 (phone) (this is not a toll-free number); e-mail at 
[email protected]; fax at: (202) 693-3015, call TTD at: 1-800-326-2577. 
Information may also be found at the Web site--http://www.doleta.gov/usworkforce/

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Section 501 of the Workforce Investment Act (Public Law 105-220) 
provides the Governor of the state the option to submit a strategic 
Unified State Plan for two or more of the activities or programs listed 
in section 501(b)(2) of the Act, which include secondary vocational 
education programs authorized under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and 
Applied Technology Education Act, programs authorized under the title I 
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, other programs administered by 
Federal agencies other than the Department of Labor (DOL) as well as 
title I of WIA and other programs administered by DOL. The Unified 
Planning process provides an opportunity for states to maximize joint 
planning and coordination among a variety of programs and activities. 
States have the option of submitting a single plan for up to 16 Federal 
education and training programs. The Unified Plan outlines a 5-year 
strategy for the statewide workforce investment system of the State.
    Acting on behalf of the Secretaries from each agency whose program 
is included in the Plan, senior managers from these respective 
agencies, complete a comprehensive coordinated review of the Unified 
State Plan modification submitted by the Governor. Based upon this 
review, the appropriate Secretaries of the federal agencies listed 
above, make a determination of whether the Plan or its modification is 
consistent with each program or activities' governing legislation. If 
no outstanding issues are noted, the Unified Plan modification is 
approved; if deficiencies are noted, the Governor is advised that the 
state must submit clarification or additional information. 
Modifications to the Unified Plan during the 5-year period undergo a 
comparable review and determination followed by a letter indicating 
approval or the need for additional information or clarification.

II. WIA Reauthorization

    Reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act is scheduled for 
2003. The Administration is in the process of developing a 
reauthorization proposal which may impact the Unified Planning Process.

    Note: Since the original publication date, several of the 
Interagency Federal staff contact information listed in Section C 
(Programs and Activities) of the Unified Planning Guidance has 
changed. Should State staff require information on the programs and 
activities listed WIA section 501(b)(2), please note the following 
new contact information:

U.S. Department of Education, Office Vocational and Adult Education 
(OVAE)

    --Secondary Vocational Education Programs (Perkins III/Secondary);
    --Postsecondary Vocational Education (Perkins II/Postsecondary;
    --Tech-Prep Education (Title II of Perkins III); and
    --Activities authorized under Title II of WIA (Adult Education and 
Family Literacy Programs):
    Contact: Daniel Bonner, Director of Policy Analysis: 202-260-2517 
(phone); 202-260-9183 (fax); (e-mail: [email protected]).

U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA)

    --Activities authorized under Title I (Workforce Investment 
Activities for Adults, Dislocated Workers and Youth or WIA Title I):
    Contact: Maria Flynn, Office of Workforce Investment, Division of 
One-Stop Operations/ATTN: Dolores Hall-Beran: 202-693-3045 (phone); 
202-693-6336 (fax); (e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]).
    --Activities authorized under chapter 2 of title II of the Trade 
Act of 1974 as amended (Trade Act Programs):
    Contact: Edward Tomchick: 202-693-3577 (phone); 202-693-3584); (e-
mail: [email protected]).
    --Programs authorized under the Wagner-Peyser Act (Employment 
Service):
    Contact: Stephanie Cabell: 202-693-3171 (phone); 202-693-3015 
(fax); (e-mail: [email protected].
    --Programs authorized under State unemployment compensation laws 
(Unemployment Insurance):
    Contact: William Coyne: 202-693-3202 (phone); 202-693-3975 (fax); 
(e-mail: [email protected]).
    --Programs authorized under title V of the Older Americans Act of 
1965 (Senior Community Service Employment Program, or SCSEP):
    Contact: Robert Lunz: 202-693-3762 (phone); 202-693-3817 (fax); (e-
mail: [email protected]).

[[Page 76759]]

U.S. Department of Labor, Veterans' Employment and Training Service 
(VETS)

    --Programs authorized under chapters 41 and 42 of Title 38, U.S.C., 
and 20 CFR parts 1001 and 1005 (Veterans Programs, including Veterans 
Employment, Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program and Local Veterans' 
Employment Representative Programs):
    Contact: Miguel Hernandez: 202-693-4708 (phone); 202-693-4755 
(fax); (e-mail: [email protected].)

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

    --Training activities funded by HUD under the Community Development 
Block Grants (CDBG) and Public Housing Programs:
    Contact: Jeffery Lubell: 202-708-1537 ext. 5915 (phone); (e-mail: 
[email protected].)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

    --Programs authorized under the Community Services Block Grant Act 
(Community Services Block Grant, or CSBG):
    Contact: Brandy RayNor-Hill: 202-205-5926 (phone); 202-401-5718 
(fax); (e-mail: [email protected]).

III. Current Actions

    Section 501 of the Workforce Investment Act (Public Law 105-220) 
provides the Governor of the state the option to submit a strategic 
Unified State Plan for two or more of the activities or programs listed 
in section 501(b)(2) of the Act. The Unified State Planning Guidance 
Instructions outlines a strategy for the submission of a unified plan 
for the statewide workforce investment system that meets the 
requirements of Title V of the Act. This reinstatement is needed in 
order for state governments to submit modifications to their Unified 
State Plan. These modifications may be needed in order to keep the Plan 
a viable, living document over its five-year life. The Act gives states 
the authority to modify WIA Plans at any time and the recently issued 
Training and Employment Guidance Letter No. 4-02 encourages states to 
use the unified planning guidance to move from stand-alone planning to 
a unified planning process. This reinstatement is needed in order for 
state governments to have available the document used during their 
initial submission of State Plans, should the state need to submit a 
modification to its existing Plan.

IV. Review Focus

    The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments 
which:
    (1) 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;
    (2) 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; (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarify the information to be collected; and
    (4) 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, (e.g, electronic submissions of responses 
via e-mail submission, faxes, etc.).
    Type of Review: Reinstatement.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: State Unified Plan Planning Guidance (for State Unified 
Plans Submitted under section 501 of the Workforce Investment Act of 
1998).
    OMB Number: 1205-0407.
    Total Respondents: 57.
    Frequency: As Needed.
    Total Responses Received: 23.
    Average Time per Response: 25 hours.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 734.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this comment request will be 
summarized and/or included in the request for the Office of Management 
and Budget's approval of the information collection request; they will 
also become a matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, DC this 10th day of December, 2002.
Grace A. Kilbane,
Administrator, Office of Workforce Investment, Employment and Training 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 02-31560 Filed 12-12-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P