[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 241 (Monday, December 16, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 77078]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-31526]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Extension of the Unemployment Insurance 
(UI) Title XII Advances Process

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL), 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 DOL is soliciting comments concerning the proposed 
extension of the process for requesting advances from the Federal 
Unemployment Account (FUA) and repayment of such advances under title 
XII of the Social Security Act (SSA). Technically, there is no request 
for information. There is, however, a paperwork burden on States 
because they must prepare and transmit formal requests for the 
authority to request advances and the repayment of said advances.
    A copy of the proposed procedure can be obtained by contacting the 
addressee listed below.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 14, 
2003.

ADDRESSES: Office of Workforce Security, Employment and Training 
Administration, Department of Labor, Room S 4231, 200 Constitution Ave, 
NW., Washington, DC, 20210; 202-693-3200 (this is not a toll-free 
number).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James E. Herbert 202-693-2926, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Title XII section 1201 of the SSA provides for advances to States 
from the FUA. The law further sets out specific requirements to be met 
by a State requesting an advance:
    [sbull] The Governor must apply for the advance;
    [sbull] The application must cover a 3 month period and the 
Secretary of Labor must be furnished with estimates of the amounts 
needed in each month of the 3 month period;
    [sbull] An application for an advance shall be made on such forms 
and shall contain such information and data (fiscal and otherwise) 
concerning the operation and administration of the State unemployment 
compensation law as the Secretary of Labor deems necessary or relevant 
to the performance of his duties under this title;
    [sbull] The amount required by any State for the payment of 
compensation in any month shall be determined with due allowance for 
contingencies and taking into account all other amounts that will be 
available in the State's unemployment fund for the payment of 
compensation in such month;
    [sbull] The term ``compensation'' means cash benefits payable to 
individuals with respect to their unemployment exclusive of expenses of 
administration.
    Section 1202(a) of the SSA provides that the Governor of any State 
may at any time request that funds be transferred from the account of 
such State to the FUA in repayment of part or all of the balance of 
advances made to such State under section 1201. These applications and 
repayments may be requested by an individual designated for that 
authority in writing by the Governor. The DOL proposes to extend this 
procedure through January 2006.

II. Review Focus

    The DOL is particularly interested in comments which:
    [sbull] Evaluate whether the proposed extension of the current 
procedure is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility;
    [sbull] Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed extension of the current procedure, including 
the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
    [sbull] Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the procedure; 
and
    [sbull] Minimize the burden of the procedure on those who are to 
respond, including 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

    This action is requested to maintain the continuity of current 
procedures which have succeeded in the orderly application and 
repayment operations at both the State and Federal levels. This is not 
a data collection process.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration, Department of 
Labor.
    Title: Governor's requests for advances from the Federal 
unemployment account or requests for voluntary repayment of such 
advances.
    OMB Number: 1205-0199.
    Affected Public: State governments.
    Total Respondents: 50 States, Washington, DC, the Virgin Islands, 
and Puerto Rico are covered by this process. The DOL estimates eight 
States will request advances and make voluntary repayments over the 
next 3 years. The DOL estimates that there will be 10 annual actions 
for each State.
    Frequency: As needed, based on a State's discretion.
    Total Responses: 240.
    Average Time Per Response: 1 hour.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 240.
    Estimated Total Burden Cost: There are no startup or capital costs. 
The operating and maintenance costs for the States will be 240 hours x 
$25 per hour = $6,000. The operating and maintenance costs for the 
Federal government will be 240 responses x 3 hours per response x $60 
per hour = $43,200.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice 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: December 10, 2002.
Cheryl Atkinson,
Administrator, Office of Workforce Security.
[FR Doc. 02-31526 Filed 12-13-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P