[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 179 (Friday, September 15, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54522-54523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15347]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


 Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public 
Comment and Recommendations; Reporting and Performance Standards System 
for the Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Program Under Title I, Section 
167 of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998

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 Employment and Training Administration is soliciting 
comments concerning the extension of the data collection for the 
Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Program, also known as the National 
Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP). 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 at this Web 
site: 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 November 14, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Gay M. Gilbert, Administrator, Office of Workforce 
Investment, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of 
Labor, Room S-4231, 200 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20210; 
telephone: (202) 693-3980 (this is not a toll-free number); fax: (202) 
693-3981, e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Each grantee administering funds under the NFJP program is required 
to submit a program planning report (ETA Form 9094), a budget 
information summary report (ETA Form 9093), and a quarterly program 
status report (ETA Form 9095). This latter form contains information 
related to levels of participation and service, related assistance 
activities, and actual placements in employment. In addition, each 
grantee submits a quarterly file of individual records on all 
participants who exit the program, called the Workforce Investment Act 
Standardized Participant Record (WIASPR).
    In 2001, under the President's Management Agenda, OMB and other 
Federal agencies developed a set of common measures to be applied to 
certain federally funded employment and training programs with similar 
strategic goals. As part of this initiative, ETA issued Training and 
Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) 28-04, Common Measures 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; did they keep those jobs; and what were their 
earnings. Implementing a set of common 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 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 extension to the NFJP reporting system identifies a minimum 
level of information collection that is necessary to comply with Equal 
Opportunity requirements, holds grantees appropriately accountable for 
the Federal funds they receive, assesses progress against a set of 
common performance measures, and allows the Department to fulfill its 
oversight and management responsibilities.
    The three adult common measures that apply to NFJP grantees are 
Entered Employment; Employment Retention; and Average Earnings. 
Grantees currently collect and submit the data necessary to report on 
these performance measures.

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.

III. Current Actions

    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Reporting and Performance Standards System for the National 
Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) under Title I, Section 167, of the 
Workforce Investment Act (WIA).
    OMB Number: 1205-0425.
    Recordkeeping: Quarterly.
    Affected Public: State, local or tribal governments; not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Total Respondents: 53 States and grantees.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 70,562.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $0.
    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.


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    Signed at Washington, DC this 8th day of September, 2006.
Gay M. Gilbert,
Administrator, Office of Workforce Investment.
 [FR Doc. E6-15347 Filed 9-14-06; 8:45 am]
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