[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 73 (Monday, April 17, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19756-19757]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5659]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

[ETA Handbook No. 384]


Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers (UCX) Handbook; 
Comment Request

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. 
Currently, the Office of Workforce Security (OWS) is soliciting 
comments concerning the extension of the Unemployment Compensation for 
Ex-Servicemembers (UCX) Handbook, Number 384.
    A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be 
obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addressee section 
of this notice or by accessing: http://www.doleta.gov/Performance/guidance/OMBControlNumber.cfm.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before June 16, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on this notice may be mailed or delivered 
to Keith Ribnick, Office of Workforce Security (OWS), U.S. Department 
of Labor, Room S-4231, Frances Perkins Building, 200 Constitution Ave., 
NW., Washington, DC 20210, telephone (202) 693-3223 (this is not a 
toll-free number), fax number (202) 693-3975.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The UCX law (5 U.S.C. 8521-8523) provides for the payment of 
unemployment compensation to eligible ex-servicemembers separated from 
the military service. State workforce agencies (SWAs), through 
agreements with the Secretary of Labor, act as agents of the Secretary 
for the purpose of providing unemployment compensation to ex-
servicemembers following the Department's regulations at 20 CFR 614 and 
guidelines in the Department's UCX Handbook. SWAs must be able to 
obtain certain military service information from each claimant filing 
for UCX benefits to enable them to determine eligibility for benefits. 
The forms ETA 841 and ETA 843 (and related instructions) contained in 
the UCX Handbook are necessary and utilized by SWAs for the purpose of 
obtaining this needed information.
    The form ETA 841, which is in the current Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) inventory of approved burden collection, has become an 
optional form and is no longer used by the majority of SWAs. Since the 
ETA 841 is rarely used, the burden is so minimal it cannot be 
determined; hence, no burden is being requested.
    Information pertaining to a UCX claimant can only be obtained from 
the Federal Claims Control Center (FCCC) or the individual's military 
discharge form (DD Form 214) received from the appropriate branch of 
service. If the FCCC or the ex-servicemember does not have this 
information readily available, the most effective way to obtain this 
information is by use of the form ETA 843 which is prescribed by the 
Department of Labor for the SWAs' use. The completed ETA Form 843 is 
sent to the appropriate military branch to obtain an official copy of 
the DD Form 214 or to obtain clarification about information contained 
in an existing DD Form 214. Without this information, SWAs could not 
adequately determine the ex-servicemembers' eligibility for benefits 
and would not be able to properly administer the program.

II. Review Focus

    The Department of Labor 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.

Current Actions

    This is a request for OMB approval under the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) of an extension to an existing 
collection of information previously approved and assigned OMB control 
No. 1205-0176. The current burden is based on an inventory of 105,958 
UCX claims filed in fiscal year (FY) 2005. This request is based on 
same number of UCX claims filed in FY 2005 since it is estimated that 
approximately the same number of UCX claims will be filed in Fiscal 
Years 2006, 2007 and 2008. Fifty-three (53) SWAs utilize the ETA Form 
843. The ETA Form 843 is used by SWAs only when it is necessary to 
obtain additional clarifying information from the military pertaining 
to the UCX claimant or to obtain a copy of the DD Form 214. It is 
estimated that only 5 percent (5,297) of the UCX claims filed will 
require use of the ETA Form 843. The ETA Form 843 maybe sent to any one 
of the four branches of military service (Army, Navy, Marines, and Air 
Force), the Coast Guard, or the National Oceanic Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA). These latter two agencies are considered 
branches of military service for UCX purposes but are not under the 
jurisdiction of the Department of Defense.
    Type of Review: Extension, without change.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers (UCX) 
Handbook Number 384.
    OMB Number: 1205-0176.
    Agency Number: ETA Handbook  384.
    Recordkeeping: 3 years.
    Affected Public: Federal Government, State workforce agencies and 
Individuals.
    Total Respondents: 1.
    Frequency: As needed.
    Total responses: 5,297
    Average Time Per Response: 1.0 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 88 hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.

[[Page 19757]]

    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $747,138.
    Comments submitted in response to this comment request will be 
summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and 
Budget approval of the information collection request; they will also 
become a matter of public record.

    Dated: April 6, 2006.
Cheryl Atkinson,
Administrator, Office of Workforce Security.
 [FR Doc. E6-5659 Filed 4-14-06; 8:45 am]
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