[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 214 (Monday, November 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 65002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-18616]



[[Page 65002]]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Submission for OMB Review: Comment Request

October 31, 2006.
    The Department of Labor (DOL) has submitted the following public 
information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35). A copy of 
this ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained 
from RegInfo.gov at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain or by 
contacting Darrin King on 202-693-4129 (this is not toll-free number) / 
e-mail: [email protected].
    Comments should be sent to Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, Room 
10235, Washington, DC 20503, Telephone: 202-395-7316 / Fax: 202-395-
6974 (these are not toll-free numbers), within 30 days from the date of 
this publication in the Federal Register.
    The OMB 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 submission of responses.
    Agency: Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.
    Type of Review: Reinstatement with Change of a Previously Approved 
Collection.
    Title: Workforce Investment Board Survey.
    OMB Number: 1290-0004.
    Type of Response: Reporting.
    Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 500.
    Number of Annual Responses: 500
    Estimated Time per Response: Varies from 10 minutes for DOL 
respondents to 2 hours for DOJ respondents.
    Total Burden Hours: 156.
    Total Annualized capital/startup costs: $0.
    Total Annual Costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $0.
    Description: The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and the Employment 
and Training Administration (ETA) and the Center for Faith-Based and 
Community Initiatives (CFBCI) specifically, needs accurate, timely 
information on how services and systems under Workforce Investment Act 
(WIA) are unfolding and on the challenges and successes states and 
local areas encounter. Only in this way can it properly discharge its 
obligations to issue policy clarifications, regulations and technical 
assistance. This need is particularly acute given that the workforce 
investment system has been evolving rapidly in the several years since 
WIA was enacted. It is expected that WIA will continue to change 
rapidly.
    Much of the information available to DOL on key operational issues 
is impressionistic or anecdotal in nature, based on hearsay or 
unsystematic observations, and not accurate as to the incidence or 
scope nationally. When accurate nationwide information is available, as 
from long-term in-depth evaluation studies, it is often not timely. 
Thus DOL has a need for accurate and timely information that can be 
found only with systematic studies.
    Regarding the survey for Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) in 
particular, the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community 
Initiatives (WHOFBCI) and OMB have directed DOL to conduct this survey. 
The reason is that ETA and CFBCI currently do not have a mechanism by 
which to obtain information regarding the grants, contracts, and 
cooperative agreements being awarded by local and state WIBs using WIA 
formula funds. It is critical that DOL obtain this information in order 
to better understand how much money is being spent and the types of 
organizations that receive the funds. This WIB survey will bridge the 
gap in DOL's knowledge of WIB grants, contracts, and cooperative 
agreements that utilize WIA youth funds.
    The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is in a similar situation. 
Like the DOL, much of the information available to DOJ on key 
operational issues is impressionistic or anecdotal in nature, based on 
hearsay or unsystematic observations, and not accurate as to the 
incidence or scope nationally. When accurate nationwide information is 
available, as from long-term in-depth evaluation studies, it is often 
not timely. Thus DOJ has a need for accurate and timely information 
that can be found only with systematic studies. Absent this survey, the 
DOJ does not have a mechanism by which to obtain information regarding 
certain grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements being awarded by 
state administering agencies using DOJ funds, particularly the Bureau 
of Justice Assistance's Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State 
Prisoners program (RSAT). It is critical that DOJ obtain this 
information in order to better understand how much money is being spent 
and the types of organizations that receive the funds. Again, like DOL, 
DOJ is especially interested to obtain information on those grants 
being awarded to faith-based and community-based non-profit 
organizations.
    This DOL survey is designed to fill a critical gap in its 
information needs regarding how the workforce system is unfolding and 
will inform development of legislation, regulations and technical 
assistance. The WHOFBCI used the information gathered by DOL in the 
December 2005 survey to determine the degree to which faith-based and 
community-based non-profit organizations received WIA Youth formula 
funds at the state and local levels. DOL will use the information 
gathered in the upcoming surveys to determine whether there have been 
any changes in the way DOL funds have been awarded, especially 
regarding their issuance to faith-based and community-based non-profit 
organizations.

Darrin A. King,
Acting Departmental Clearance Officer.
 [FR Doc. E6-18616 Filed 11-3-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-23-P