[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 65 (Thursday, April 3, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18302-18303]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6890]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request for the Unemployment 
Insurance (UI) State Quality Service Plan (SQSP); Comment Request

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor.

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 a provision of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 at 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 (ETA) 
is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the State 
Quality Service Plan (SQSP).
    Guidelines for completion and submittal of the SQSP are contained 
in ETA Handbook 336, 18th Edition. Fiscal year-specific information 
such as DOL's strategic goals and program areas that warrant special 
attention will be provided in an advisory that will initiate the 
planning process each year. The requirements of the reporting and data 
collection process itself remain unchanged from year to year.
    Copies of the SQSP Handbook may be obtained by contacting the 
addressee below. The Handbook is also available electronically at 
http://www.workforcesecurity.doleta.gov.
    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/OMBCN/OMBControlNumber.cfm.

DATES: Submit comments to the office listed in the addressee section 
below on or before June 2, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to Delores A. Mackall, Office of Workforce 
Security, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of 
Labor, Room S-4231, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210; 
telephone: 202-693-3183 (this is not a toll-free number), fax: 202-693-
3975 or by e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    I. Background: As part of UI Performs, a comprehensive performance 
management system implemented in 1995 for the UI program, SQSP is the 
principal vehicle that state UI agencies use to plan, record and manage 
program improvement efforts as they strive for excellence in service. 
The SQSP which serves as the State Plan for the UI program is also the 
grant agreement. The statutory basis for the SQSP is Title III, section 
302 of the Social Security Act, which authorizes the Secretary of Labor 
to provide funds to administer the UI programs, and sections 303(a)(8) 
and (9) which govern the expenditures of those funds. The SQSP 
represents an approach to tie program performance with the budget and 
planning process.
    II. Desired Focus of Comments: Currently, the Department of Labor 
is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension collection of 
the UI SQSP. The Department 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

[[Page 18303]]

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.
    III. Current Actions: ETA proposes to extend this clearance with no 
change in burden hours. States will describe in a single narrative: 
Performance related to the Government Performance Results Act (GPRA) 
goals; results of any customer satisfaction surveys (optional), and 
actions planned to correct deficiencies in program performance, 
reporting, Benefits Accuracy Measurement (BAM), and the Tax Performance 
System (TPS). Actions planned to correct deficiencies for Secretary 
Standards, Core Measures, and the Data Validation (DV) program are 
expected to be addressed in corrective action plans. States are 
requested to submit the SQSP and the required signature page 
electronically.
    Type of Review: Extension, without change.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Unemployment Insurance State Quality Service Plan (SQSP).
    OMB Number: 1205-0132.
    Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies (SWAs).
    Total Respondents: 53.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Average Time per Response: 3.14 hours.
    Number of Annual Responses: 583.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1829 hours.
    Estimated Total Burden Cost: $0.
    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.

    Dated: March 4, 2008.
Cheryl Atkinson,
Administrator, Office of Workforce Security.
 [FR Doc. E8-6890 Filed 4-2-08; 8:45 am]
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