[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 18 (Wednesday, January 28, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4181-4182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1787]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Proposed Collection; 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 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 is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed extension for State Income and 
Eligibility Verification provisions of the Deficit Reduction Act.
    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's section below on or before March 29, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the Employment and Training 
Administration, Office of Workforce Security, 200 Constitution Avenue 
NW., Room S4231, Washington, DC 20210, Attention: Diane Wood. Telephone 
number: 202-693-3212 (this is not a toll-free number). Fax: 202-693-
3975. E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 established an income and 
eligibility verification system for the exchange of information among 
state agencies administering specific programs. The programs include 
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Medicaid, Food Stamps, 
Supplemental Security Income, Unemployment Compensation and any state 
program approved under Title I, X, XIV, or XVI of the Social Security 
Act. Under the Act, programs participating must exchange information to 
the extent that it is useful and productive in verifying eligibility 
and benefit amounts to assist the child support program and the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services in verifying eligibility and 
benefit amounts under Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act.

[[Page 4182]]

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

    As the only continuous source of income and eligibility 
verification, the data is required by other agencies to administer and 
monitor multiple programs.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Income and Eligibility.
    OMB Number: 1205-0238.
    Agency Number: None.
    Record Keeping: State governments.
    Affected Public: State governments.
    Cite/Reference/Form/etc: Section 303 of Title III of the Social 
Security Act.
    Total Respondents: 53 state agencies.
    Frequency: Quarterly.
    Total Responses: 212.
    Average Time per Response: 10 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 39,388 hours.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $0.
    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: January 20, 2004.
Cheryl Atkinson,
Administrator, Office of Workforce Security.
[FR Doc. 04-1787 Filed 1-27-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P