[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 220 (Wednesday, November 16, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69602-69603]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-6320]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Summaries Unemployment Insurance (UI) 
Trust Fund Activities Reports

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.

DATES: Submit comments on or before January 17, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to James E. Herbert, Room C4526, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, (202) 693-2926 (this is 
not a toll-free number). E-mail address is [email protected] and 
the fax number is (202) 693-2874.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James E. Herbert, Room C4526, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, (202) 693-2926 (this is 
not a toll-free number). E-mail address is [email protected] and 
the fax number is (202) 693-2874.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Section 303(a)(4) of the Social Security Act (SSA) and Section 
3304(a)(3) of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) require that all 
money received in the unemployment fund of a state be paid immediately 
to the Secretary of Treasury to the credit of the Unemployment Trust 
Fund (UTF). This is the ``immediate deposit'' standard.
    Section 303(a)(5) of the SSA and Section 3304(a)(4) of the FUTA 
require that all money withdrawn from the UTF be used solely for the 
payment of unemployment compensation, exclusive of the expenses of 
administration. This is the ``limited withdrawal standard''.
    Federal law (Section 303(a)(6) of the SSA) gives the Secretary of 
Labor the authority to require the reporting of information deemed 
necessary to assure state compliance with the provisions of the SSA.
    Under this authority, the Secretary of Labor requires the following 
reports to monitor state compliance with the immediate deposit and 
limited withdrawal standards:

ETA 2112: UI Financial Transactions Summary, Unemployment Fund
ETA 8401: Monthly Analysis of Benefit Payment Account
ETA 8405: Monthly Analysis of Clearing Account
ETA 8413: Income--Expense Analysis UC Fund, Benefit Payment Account
ETA 8414: Income--Expense Analysis UC Fund, Clearing Account
ETA 8403: Summary of Financial Transactions--Title IX Funds

    These reports are submitted to the Office of Workforce Security 
(OWS) in the ETA which uses them to:
     Monitor cash flows into and out of the UTF to determine 
state compliance with the immediate deposit and limited withdrawal 
standards.
     Assure proper accounting for unemployment funds, an 
integral part of preparing the Department's consolidated financial 
statements, required by the Chief Financial Officer Act of 1990. The 
UTF is the single largest asset and liability on the statements.
     Reconcile the Department's records with the U.S. Treasury 
records.
     Develop UI research and actuarial reports, especially to 
monitor the solvency of the UTF.
    The cited reports have been submitted monthly by the states the 
past several years in electronic format, with the exception of the ETA 
8403. The Department is working with the U.S. Treasury to convert the 
ETA 8403 to an electronic format by December 31, 2006.
    Since the reports are essential to the Department's financial 
statements and program oversight responsibilities, the Department seeks 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for a three year 
extension to March 31, 2009.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    Currently, the Employment and Training Administration is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed extension for the collection of the UI 
Trust Fund Summaries reports. Comments should:
     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;

[[Page 69603]]

     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 the 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.

III. Current Actions

    Type of review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: ETA Summaries UI Trust Fund Activities.
    OMB Number: 1205-0154.
    Agency Numbers: ETA 2112, ETA 8401, ETA 8403, ETA 8405, ETA 8413 
and ETA 8414.
    Affected Public: 50 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, and the 
Virgin Islands.
    Total respondents: 53 states.
    Frequency: ETA 8403: As needed. This report is submitted only when 
there is activity requiring update of the state's Reed Act account. ETA 
2112, 8401, 8405, 8413, 8414: Monthly.
    Total Responses: 53 states x 12 months = 636 responses.
    Average Time Per Response: ETA 2112, 8401, 8405, 8413, 8414: 636 x 
2.5 hours for all 5 reports (.5 hours for each report) = 1,590 hours.
    ETA 8403: 53 states x 6 annual responses x 30 minutes per response 
= 159 reporting hours.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,749 hours.
    Estimated Total Burden Cost: $0.
    Comments in response to this notice will be summarized and/or 
included in the request to the OMB for approval; they will also become 
part of the public record.

    Dated: November 8, 2005.
Cheryl Atkinson,
Administrator, Office of Workforce Security.
[FR Doc. E5-6320 Filed 11-15-05; 8:45 am]
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