[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 2, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31139-31140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-12378]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Benefits, Timeliness, and Quality Data Collection System; Comment 
Request

ACTION: Notice; Request for comments.

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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 a provision of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 at 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 Benefits 
Timeliness and Quality (BTQ) data collection system, which is part of 
the Unemployment Insurance (UI) performance measurement system.
    The Department plans to issue a Federal Register notice (FRN) 
requesting comments on proposed changes to UI Performs. That FRN may 
overlap with this request for renewal of the data collection system. 
While the proposed changes would shift emphasis of the Federal 
performance review, changes to the current BTQ data collection should 
be minimal and burden hours likely will not change.

DATES: Submit comments on or before August 2, 2004.

ADDRESSESS: Send comments to Ms. Geri Oberloh, U.S. Department of 
Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room S-4522, Washington, DC 20210, 
(202) 693-3194. (This is not a toll-free number.) E-mail comments to 
[email protected]; or fax to (202) 693-3975.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Geri Oberloh, U.S. Department of 
Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room S-4522, Washington, DC 20210, 
(202) 693-3194. (This is not a toll-free number.) E-mail 
[email protected]; or fax to (202) 693-3975.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Secretary of Labor under the Social Security Act, title III, 
section 302 (42 U.S.C. 502), funds the necessary cost of proper and 
efficient administration of each state UI law. The BTQ program collects 
information and analyzes data to do this. The BTQ measures look at 
timeliness and quality of states' performance, various administrative 
actions and administrative decisions concerning UI benefit operations.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    Currently, the Department is soliciting comments concerning the 
proposed extension of the collection of benefits timeliness and quality 
reports 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 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 addressee section 
of this notice.

[[Page 31140]]

III. Current Actions

    Type of Review: Extension without change.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Benefits, Timeliness, and Quality Review.
    OMB Number: 1205-0359.
    Affected Public: State Government.
    Agency Form Numbers: ETA-9050, ETA-9051, ETA-9052, ETA-9053, ETA-
9054, ETA-9055, ETA-9056, ETA-9057.
    Total Respondents: 53.
    Frequency: Monthly and Quarterly.
    Total Responses: 28,912.
    Average Time per Response: 0.7 hours.
    Summary of Burden:

                                                  Monthly Universe Measures: State Staff Hours per Year
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                                                                             Number of      Reports per        Total
            ETA report                            Measure                   respondents        year          responses    Hrs. per resp.  Total hrs/year
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9050.............................  First Payment Time Lapse, Tier I.....              53              12             636              .5             318
9050.............................  First Payment Time Lapse, Partial/                 53              12             636              .5             318
                                    Part Total Claims, Tier II.
9050.............................  First Payment Time Lapse, Workshare                53              12             636              .5             318
                                    Claims, Tier II.
9051.............................  Continued Weeks Compensated Time                   53              12             636              .5             318
                                    Lapse, Tier II.
9051.............................  Continued Weeks Compensated Time                   53              12             636              .5             318
                                    Lapse, Partial Part/Total, Tier II.
9051.............................  Continued Weeks Compensated Time                   53              12             636              .5             318
                                    Lapse, Workshare, Tier II.
9052.............................  Nonmonetary Determinations Time                    53              12             636             1.0             636
                                    Lapse, Tier I, Detection Date.
9053.............................  Nonmonetary Determinations Time                    53              12             636             1.0             636
                                    Lapse, Report Only.
9054.............................  Lower Authority Appeals Time Lapse,                53              12             636              .5             318
                                    Tier I.
9055.............................  Lower Authority Appeals Case Aging,                53              12             636             1.0             636
                                    Tier II.
9054.............................  Higher Authority Appeals Time Lapse,               53              12             636              .5             318
                                    Tier I.
9055.............................  Higher Authority Appeals Case Aging,               53              12             636             1.0             636
                                    Tier II.
                                                                                                                                         ---------------
    Subtotal.....................  .....................................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............           5,088
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                                              Quarterly Sample Review Measures: State Staff Hours per Year
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                                                                                           Sampled cases    Total cases
            ETA report                            Measure                    Number of     reviewed per    reviewed per   Hrs. per resp.  Total hrs/year
                                                                            respondents        year            year
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9056.............................  Nonmonetary Determination Quality,           29 Small             240           6,960               1           6,960
                                    Tier I.                                       States
9056.............................  Nonmonetary Determination Quality,           24 Large             400           9,600               1           9,600
                                    Tier I.                                       States
9057.............................  Lower Authority Appeals Quality, Tier        47 Small              80           3,760             3.5          13,160
                                    I.                                            States
9057.............................  Lower Authority Appeals Quality, Tier  6 Large States             160             960             3.5           3,360
                                    I.
                                                                                                                                         ---------------
    Subtotal.....................  .....................................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............          33,080
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    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 38,168 hours.
    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 ICR; they will also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: May 25, 2004.
Cheryl Atkinson,
Administrator, Office of Workforce Security, Washington, DC.
[FR Doc. 04-12378 Filed 6-1-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P