[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 29, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15892-15893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6115]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Submission for OMB Emergency Review; Comment Request

March 21, 2005.
    The Department of Labor has submitted the following (see below) 
information collection request (ICR), utilizing emergency review 
procedures, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and 
clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 
L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). OMB approval is requested by April 
14, 2005. A copy of this ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, 
may be obtained by calling the Department of Labor Departmental 
Clearance Officer, Ira L. Mills (202) 693-4122.
    Comments and questions about the ICR listed below should be 
forwarded to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: 
OMB Desk Officer for the Employment and Training Administration, Room 
10235, Washington, DC 20503. The Office of Management and Budget 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 clarify 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.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration (ETA).
    Type of Review: Emergency.
    Title: Labor Exchange Reporting System.
    OMB Number: 1205-0240.
    Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Government.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Total                                    Total       Average time    Total annual
                         Form/Activity                             respondents          Frequency            responses     per response    burden hours
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ETA 9002 A.....................................................              54                Quarterly             216             346          74,641
ETA 9002 B.....................................................              54                Quarterly             216             346          74,641
ETA 9002 C.....................................................              54                Quarterly             216             346          74,641
ETA 9002 D.....................................................              54                Quarterly             216             346          74,641
ETA 9002 E.....................................................              54                Quarterly             216              21           4,536
VETS 200 A.....................................................              54                Quarterly             216             346          74,641
VETS 200 B.....................................................              54                Quarterly             216             346          74,641
VETS 200 C.....................................................              54                Quarterly             216             346          74,641
                                                                -----------------
    Totals.....................................................              54  .......................           1,728  ..............         527,020
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $1,825,200.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $17,128,164.
    Description: States submit quarterly performance data for the 
Wagner-Peyser-funded public labor exchange through ETA 9002 reports and 
for Veteran's Employment and Training Services (VETS)-funded labor 
exchange through VETS 200 reports. The Employment and Training (ET) 
Handbook No. 406 contains the report forms and provides instructions 
for completing these reports. The ET Handbook No. 406 contains a total 
of eight reports (ETA 9002 A, B, C, D, E; VETS 200 A, B, C). The ETA 
9002 and VETS 200 reports collect data on individuals who receive core 
employment and workforce information services through the public labor 
exchange and VETS-funded labor exchange of the states' One-Stop 
delivery systems. The current LERS expires in April 2005.
    This is a request to revise the current LERS requirements to 
include data elements necessary for assessing state progress against 
common measures of performance beginning July 1, 2005. In 2002, under 
the President's Management Agenda, OMB and other Federal agencies 
developed a set of common performance measures to be applied to certain 
Federally-funded employment and training programs with similar 
strategic goals. Although the common measures are an integral part of 
ETA's performance accountability system, these measures provide only 
part of the information necessary to effectively oversee the workforce 
investment system. ETA will continue to collect from states and 
grantees data on program activities, participants, and outcomes that 
are necessary for program management and to convey full and accurate 
information on the performance of workforce programs to policymakers 
and stakeholders.
    The value of implementing common measures is the ability to 
describe in a similar manner the core purposes of the workforce 
system--how many people found jobs; did people stay employed; and did 
earnings increase. Multiple sets of performance measures have burdened 
states and grantees as they are required to report performance outcomes 
based on varying definitions and methodologies. By minimizing the 
different reporting and performance requirements, common performance 
measures can facilitate the integration of service delivery, reduce 
barriers to cooperation among programs, and enhance the ability to 
assess the effectiveness and impact of the workforce investment system, 
including the performance of the system in serving

[[Page 15893]]

individuals facing significant barriers to employment.
    This revision to the LERS identifies a minimum level of information 
collection that is necessary to comply with Equal Opportunity 
requirements, holds states appropriately accountable for the Federal 
funds they receive, including common performance measures, and allows 
the Department to fulfill its oversight and management 
responsibilities.

Ira L. Mills,
Departmental Clearance Officer/Team Leader.
[FR Doc. 05-6115 Filed 3-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P