[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 39 (Friday, February 27, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9381-9382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E4-417]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; ETA 218, Benefit Rights and Experience

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 of the ETA 218, Benefits 
Rights and Experience. 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: Submit comments on or before April 27, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Thomas Stengle, U.S. Department of Labor, 
Employment and Training Administration, Room S-4231, 200 Constitution 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20210. Phone number: 202-693-2991. (This is 
not a toll free number.) E-mail: [email protected]. Fax: 202-693-
3229.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Attachment to the labor force, usually measured as amount of past 
wages earned, is used to determine eligibility for state unemployment 
compensation programs. The data in the ETA 218, Benefit Rights and 
Experience Report, includes numbers of individuals who were and were 
not monetarily eligible, those eligible for the maximum benefits, those 
eligible based on classification by potential duration categories, and 
those exhausting their full entitlement as classified by actual 
duration categories. These data are used by the National Office in 
solvency studies, cost estimating and modeling, and assessment of State 
benefit formulas.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    Currently, the Department of Labor is soliciting comments 
concerning the proposed extension for the collection of the ETA 218, 
Benefit Rights and Experience report. Comments are requested to:
     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.
    A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be 
obtained by contacting the office listed above in the ADDRESSES section 
of this notice.

Current Actions

    Type of Review: Extension without change.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration, Office of Workforce 
Security.
    Title: Benefit Rights and Experience.
    OMB Number: 1205-0177.
    Agency Number: ETA 218.
    Recordkeeping: 3 year record retention.
    Affected Public: State governments.
    Cite/Reference/Form/etc: Social Security Act, section 303(a)(6).
    Total Respondents: 53.
    Frequency: Quarterly.
    Total Responses: 216.
    Average Time per Response: .5 hour.

                                             Estimated Burden Hours
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                                                                                   Average time
        Cite/Reference               Total          Frequency          Total       per response       Burden
                                  respondents                        responses        (hours)         (hours)
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ETA 218 Regular...............              53  Quarterly.......             212              .5             106
ETA 218 Extended Benefits.....               2  Quarterly.......               4             .25               1
                                                                 -----------------
    Totals....................  ..............  ................             216  ..............             107
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[[Page 9382]]

    Total Burden Cost (Operating/Maintaining): $0.
    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: February 20, 2004.
Cheryl Atkinson,
Administrator, Office of Workforce Security.
 [FR Doc. E4-417 Filed 2-26-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-13-P