[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 69 (Thursday, April 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17677-17678]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-8842]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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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 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 (ETA) is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of data 
collection using the ETA Form 9023, Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA)/
North American Free Trade Agreement Transitional Adjustment Assistance 
(NAFTA-TAA) Program Financial Status Report/Request for Funds (1205-
0275, expires 4/31/2003). Efforts are currently underway to transition 
financial reporting on the TAA and NAFTA-TAA programs to the Standard 
Form 269. This transition will make financial reporting uniform across 
all ETA programs. It should be noted that the ETA-9023 will continue to 
be used by States to request supplemental funding for both the TAA and 
NAFTA-TAA programs.
    A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be 
obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addressee section 
of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before June 9, 2003.

ADDRESSEE: Edward A. Tomchick, Director, Division of Trade Adjustment 
Assistance, Room C-5311, 200 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 
20210. Phone (202) 693-3577 (this is not a toll-free number), fax (202) 
693-3584, e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002 consolidated the 
Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and North American Free Trade 
Agreement--Transitional Adjustment Assistance (NAFTA-TAA) programs into 
one program for trade affected workers. However; earlier amendments to 
the Trade Act of 1974, contained in the Omnibus Trade and 
Competitiveness Act (OTCA) of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-418) and Title 5 of the 
North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (Pub. L. 103-
182) of 1993 made some significant changes and additions to the way 
worker adjustment assistance programs for trade-affected workers are 
funded and administered. These changes made enrollment in training an 
entitlement for workers adversely affected by imports (TAA program) or 
by imports from Canada or Mexico (NAFTA-TAA program). The TAA and 
NAFTA-TAA trade programs provide monies for trade readjustment 
allowances, job search allowances, job relocation allowances and 
training. In order for workers to receive trade readjustment allowances 
for the maximum amount of time permitted, they must be enrolled in a 
training program approved by the Secretary of Labor (section 423 of 
OTCA) for the TAA program and (section 250 of the NAFTA Implementation 
Act) for the NAFTA-TAA program. Although training becomes an 
entitlement under both programs if certain regulatory criteria are met, 
the OTCA imposed a training cap in section 236 of the TAA program and 
under subchapter D for the NAFTA-TAA program. Under the Trade 
Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002, the statutory cap for 
training dollars is $220 million. The purpose of the collection of this 
information on the form ETA-9023 is to be able to monitor

[[Page 17678]]

expenditures for training and related activities for both programs to 
ensure that the statutory ceiling is not exceeded. Tracking of 
expenditures for the NAFTA-TAA program will occur until all funds have 
been expended or the State submits a final report--at which time the 
NAFTA-TAA program will be phased out in accordance with the Trade 
Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002. Additionally, the Secretary 
of Labor is responsible for ensuring that resources are equitably 
distributed to the States. This form enables the ETA to evaluate a 
State's need for resources and to distribute resources among States as 
necessary.

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 ETA-9023 has been successfully utilized by the ETA and the 
States with only minor modifications since Fiscal Year 1989. The 
Federal Register Notice requests an extension of the ETA-9023 for both 
the reformed TAA program and the NAFTA-TAA program--the latter only 
until monies for it expire. Overall, States have done a commendable job 
in completing the form with relatively minor problems or questions 
raised by the States on the form. The ETA-9023 has been extremely 
important to the ETA over the last several years because the entire 
funding available, under the statutory cap for the Trade program for 
training was allocated to the States. The ETA-9023 report was critical 
in allowing ETA to be able to distribute resources equitably among 
States so the maximum number of eligible participants seeking training 
could obtain it.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Trade Adjustment Assistance/NAFTA Financial Status Report/
Request for Funds.
    OMB Number: 1205-0275.
    Agency Number: ETA-9023.
    Affected Public: State Governments, State Workforce Agencies.

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                                                                                            Average
                                                        Total                    Total     time per      Total
                  Cite/Reference                    respondents/   Frequency   responses   response    requested
                                                      responses                             (hours)     burden
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TAA Reporting.....................................            50           5         250           2         500
NAFTA Reporting...................................            50           5         250           2         500
                                                   ---------------
    Totals........................................  ............  ..........         500  ..........       1,000
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    The total costs is $26.00 x 100 hours = $26,000. Comments submitted 
in response to this comment request 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: April 4, 2003.
Shirley Smith,
Administrator, Employment and Training Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-8842 Filed 4-9-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P