[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 168 (Friday, August 29, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52061-52062]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-22128]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Proposed Collection of the ETA 205, Preliminary Estimates of 
Average Employer Contribution Rates; Comment Request

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 a proposed continuance for a 
collection 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 is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed extension of the ETA 205, Preliminary 
Estimates of Average Employer Contribution Rates. A copy of the 
proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by 
contacting the office listed below in the addresses section of this 
notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section below on or before October 28, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Thomas Stengle, Office of Workforce Security, Employment and 
Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room S-4231, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone number (202) 
693-2991; fax: (202) 693-3229 (these are not toll-free numbers) or e-
mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The ETA 205 reports preliminary information on the taxation efforts 
in States relative to taxable and total wages and allows for comparison 
among states. The information is used for projecting unemployment 
insurance tax revenues for the Federal budget process as well as for 
actuarial analyses of the Unemployment Trust Fund. The data is 
published in several forms and is often requested by data users. In 
addition, this report helps to fulfill two statutory requirements. 
Section 3302(d)(7) of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) requires 
the Secretary of Labor to notify ``the Secretary of the Treasury before 
June 1 of each year, on the basis of a report furnished by such state 
to the Secretary of Labor before May 1 of such year'' of the difference 
between the average tax rate in a state and the 2.7 percent (i.e. 
section 3302(c)(2)(B) or (C)). These differences are used to calculate 
the loss of FUTA offset credit for borrowing states. In addition, the 
tax schedules are used to assure that states are in compliance with 
provisions of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (Pub. L. 97-
248), section 281.

II. Review Focus

    The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments 
which:
    [sbull] Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the

[[Page 52062]]

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 collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
    [sbull] Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    [sbull] 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

    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Preliminary Estimates of Average Employer Contribution 
Rates.
    OMB Number: 1205-0228.
    Agency Number: ETA.
    Affected Public: State Governments.
    Cite/Reference/Form/etc: ETA 205.
    Total Respondents: 53.
    Frequency: Annual.
    Total Responses: 53.
    Average Time per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 14.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.00.
    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: August 21, 2003.
Cheryl Atkinson,
Administrator, Office of Workforce Security.
[FR Doc. 03-22128 Filed 8-28-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P