[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 138 (Thursday, July 17, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41126-41128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16318]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Information Collection Request for Extension (Without Changes) of 
the Prisoner Reentry Initiative Reporting System; Comment Request

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce

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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 currently approved reporting and recordkeeping system to support 
the Prisoner Reentry Initiative (PRI).
    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: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee's section below on or before September 15, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the Employment and Training 
Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210, 
Attention: Gregg Weltz, Telephone number: 202-693-3030 (this is not a 
toll-free number). Fax: 202-693-3861. E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    In applying for the Prisoner Reentry Initiative grants, Faith-based 
and Community Organization grantees agree to submit participant data 
and quarterly aggregate reports for individuals who receive services 
through PRI programs and their partnerships with One-Stop Centers, 
local Workforce Investment Boards, employment providers, the criminal 
justice system, and local housing authorities. The reports include 
aggregate data on demographic characteristics, types of services 
received, placements, outcomes, and follow-up status. Specifically, 
they summarize data on participants who received employment and 
placement services, housing assistance, mentoring, and other services 
essential to reintegrating ex-offenders through PRI programs.
    This requests an extension of the currently approved information 
collection to meet the reporting and recordkeeping requirements of the 
Prisoner Reentry Initiative through an ETA-provided, web-based 
Management Information System (MIS). In addition to reporting 
participant information and performance-related outcomes, PRI grantees 
demonstrate their ability to establish effective partnerships with the 
criminal justice system, local Workforce Investment Boards, local 
housing authorities, and other partner agencies. They also document the 
cost effectiveness of their projects. The MIS reporting and 
recordkeeping system incorporates each of these aspects necessary for 
program evaluation.
    Five outcome measures are used to measure success in the PRI 
grants: Entered employment rate, employment retention rate, attainment 
of a degree or certificate, average six-month postprogram earnings, and 
recidivism rate. Several of these conform to the common performance 
measures implemented across federal job training programs as of July 1, 
2005. By standardizing the reporting and performance requirements of 
different programs, the common measures give ETA the ability to compare 
across programs the core goals of the workforce system--how many people 
entered jobs; how many stayed employed; and how many successfully 
completed an educational program. Although the common measures are an 
integral part of ETA's performance accountability system, these 
measures provide only part of the information necessary to effectively 
oversee the workforce investment system. ETA also collects data from 
PRI grantees on program activities, participants, and outcomes that are 
necessary for program management and for conveying full and accurate 
information on the performance of PRI programs to policymakers and 
stakeholders.
    This information collection maintains a reporting and record-
keeping system for a minimum level of information collection that is 
necessary to comply with Equal Opportunity requirements, to hold PRI 
grantees appropriately accountable for the Federal funds they receive, 
including common performance measures, and to allow the Department to 
fulfill its oversight and management responsibilities.

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 without revisions of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Prisoner Reentry Initiative (PRI) Reporting System.
    OMB Number: 1205-0455.
    Affected Public: Faith-Based and Community Organization grantees.
    Total Respondents: 74 grantees.
    Frequency: Quarterly.

                                          Estimated Total Burden Hours
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                                                                                   Average time
        Form/activity               Total          Frequency      Total annual     per response    Total annual
                                 respondents                        response         (hours)       burden hours
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Participant Data Collection..              74  Continual.......           6,610              1.8          11,898
Quarterly narrative progress               74  Quarterly.......             296             16             4,736
 report.
Quarterly performance report.              74  Quarterly.......             296             16             4,736
    Totals...................              74  ................           7,202  ...............          21,370
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    Comments submitted in response to this comment request will be 
summarized in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval 
of the information collection request and will become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: July 10, 2008.
Gay M. Gilbert,
Administrator, Office of Workforce Investment, Employment and Training 
Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-16318 Filed 7-16-08; 8:45 am]
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