[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 13, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40400-40402]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-13711]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Data Collection and Reporting for Wagner-
Peyser Act Funded Public Labor Exchange and Veterans' Employment and 
Training Service Funded Labor Exchange

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 pre-clearance 
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. The 
Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and the Veterans' 
Employment and Training Service (VETS) are soliciting comments on 
revised reporting requirements for the Labor Exchange Reporting System 
(LERS). These changes are necessary to reflect program and service 
changes implemented under the Jobs for Veterans Act and include data 
elements necessary for assessing state progress against a set of common 
performance measures beginning July 1, 2005.

DATES: Submit comments on or before September 12, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Dr. Esther R. Johnson, Administrator, 
Performance and Technology Office, Employment and Training 
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Room S-5206, Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-3420 (this is 
not a toll-free number); fax: (202) 693-3490; e-mail: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Karen A. Staha, Performance and 
Technology Office, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. 
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room S-5206, 
Washington, DC 20210; telephone: (202) 693-3420 (this is not a toll-
free number); fax: (202) 693-3490; e-mail: [email protected].
    Copies of the Paperwork Reduction Act Submission Package may be 
obtained directly at the Web site: http://www.doleta.gov/performance/guidance/ombcontrolnumber.cfm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    States submit quarterly performance data for the Wagner-Peyser-
funded public labor exchange services through ETA 9002 reports and for 
Veterans' Employment and Training Services (VETS)-funded labor exchange 
services 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.
    In 2001, under the President's Management Agenda, the Office of 
Management and Budget (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. 
As part of this initiative, ETA initially issued Training and 
Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) 15-03 and has more recently issued 
TEGL 28-04, Common Measures Policy, which rescinded TEGL 15-03 and 
reflected updates to the policy. 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; whether 
they kept their jobs; and what their earnings were. 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, implementing a set of 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.
    The common measures are an integral part of ETA's performance 
accountability system, and ETA will continue to collect from grantees 
the

[[Page 40401]]

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.
    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, assesses progress against the common performance 
measures, and allows the Department to fulfill its oversight and 
management responsibilities.
    The Employment and Training Administration is proposing similar 
changes to the reporting requirements for the Workforce Investment Act 
(WIA) title 1B and Trade Adjustment Assistance programs. Please note 
that ETA will seek comments regarding changes to information collection 
for these programs in separate Federal Register notices.
    The following three adult common performance measures apply to the 
Wagner-Peyser Act and VETS-funded public labor exchange programs:
     Entered Employment
     Retention
     Six Months Earnings Increase
    Implementation of common measures will involve the following 
modifications to the LERS:
     Registration year will be eliminated. States will track 
participant outcomes following the quarter in which the participant 
exited the program.
     States will track individuals as ``participants'' and 
``exiters.''
     The measurement period for entry into employment will 
change to the first quarter following the quarter of exit.
     The measurement period for employment retention will 
change to both the second and third quarters following the quarter of 
exit.
     States will be required to calculate and report on six-
month pre- to post-program earnings, a new measure for the Wagner-
Peyser Act and VETS-funded public labor exchange programs.
     To integrate its employment and workforce information 
services, ETA and VETS will collect data on the provision of workforce 
information services to job seekers.
     ``Transitioning Service Member'' will be introduced as a 
covered category in accordance with the Jobs for Veterans Act, Public 
Law 107-288. States will be required to submit data regarding services 
to and outcomes for Transitioning Service Members.
    The following modifications affect only the Wagner-Peyser Act 
funded program:
     States will be required to sub-aggregate outcome data for 
job seekers who receive workforce information services.
     States will no longer be required to collect and report on 
employer and job seeker customer satisfaction for Wagner-Peyser Act 
funded programs.
    The following modifications affect only the VETS-funded programs:
     States will be required to report aggregate counts of 
participants who receive a Transitional Assistance Program (TAP) 
Workshop.
     ``Homeless Veteran'' will be introduced as a covered 
category in accordance with the Homeless Veterans' Comprehensive 
Assistance Act of 2001 (Pub. L. 107-95).
     States will be required to submit data on services and 
outcomes to homeless veteran job seekers only on the VETS 200 C report.
    The ET Handbook No. 406, which contains the report forms and 
provides instructions for completing the ETA 9002 and the VETS 200 
reports, has been modified to reflect these changes.
    States will continue to submit performance information through the 
existing rolling-four quarters methodology. The first revised quarterly 
report, which includes common performance measures, will be due 
November 15, 2005. ETA and the states will negotiate expected levels of 
performance for the Wagner-Peyser-Act funded program beginning in 
Program Year 2006 (July 1, 2006), using information and outcomes from 
Program Year 2005 as a baseline.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    Currently, the Department is soliciting comments concerning the 
proposed revised collection of data for the Wagner-Peyser Act-funded 
public labor exchange and VETS-funded labor exchange in order 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 ICR can be obtained by contacting the office 
listed above in the addressee section of this notice.

III. Current Actions

    Type of Review: Revision.
    Agency: Department of Labor, Employment and Training 
Administration.
    Title: Labor Exchange Reporting System (LERS).
    OMB Number: 1205-0240.
    Affected Public: State, local, or tribal Governments.
    Cite/Reference/Form/etc: Wagner-Peyser Act (29 U.S.C. 49) and Jobs 
for Veterans Act (Pub. L. 107-288).
    Total Respondents: 54 states and territories.
    Frequency: Quarterly.
    Total Responses: 1,728 submissions annually--each state submits 
reports each quarter.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours:

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                                     Total                             Total       Average time    Total annual
         Form/activity            respondents       Frequency        responses     per response    burden hours
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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
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[[Page 40402]]

 
    Totals....................              54  ................           1,728  ..............         527,020
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    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $1,825,200.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $17,128,164.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the information 
collection request; they will also become a matter of public record.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on June 7, 2005.
Emily Stover DeRocco,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training.
[FR Doc. 05-13711 Filed 7-12-05; 8:45 am]
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