[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 29, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15893-15894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6117]


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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 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 being 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 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.

[[Page 15894]]

    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Type of Review: Emergency.
    Title: Trade Act Participant Report.
    OMB Number: 1205-0392.
    Frequency: Quarterly.
    Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Government.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Annual
           TAA burden                national     Hours per TAPR    Annual TAPR     Applicable      Annual TAPR
                                   participants       record       burden hours     hourly rate   burden dollars
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Data Collection.................          30,000             0.3           9,000          $32.50        $292,500
TAPR Submission.................              50             2.5             500           32.50          16,250
                                 -----------------
                                  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............        $308,750
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Total Burden: 9,500 hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $ 0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $ 308,750.
    Description: On June 16, 1998, OMB approved a Government 
Performance and Results Act (GPRA) compliant performance and 
participant outcomes data collection system for the Trade Adjustment 
Assistance (TAA) program. This system was revised in 2000 and is now 
known as the Trade Act Participant Report (TAPR). States implemented 
the TAPR beginning with the first quarter of fiscal year 1999 (October 
through December, 1998), and have continued to collect and report data 
every quarter since then. The current TAPR reporting requirements will 
expire in November 2005.
    This is a request to revise the current TAA program reporting 
requirements to reflect expanded program and services implemented under 
the Trade Act of 2002 and include data elements necessary for assessing 
state progress against common measures of performance beginning October 
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 individuals facing 
significant barriers to employment.
    This revision to the TAA program reporting system 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.
[FR Doc. 05-6117 Filed 3-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P