[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 234 (Thursday, December 4, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73958-73959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28709]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Information Collection Request for Unemployment Insurance (UI) 
Trust Fund Activities Reports: Extension Without Change, 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 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 collection 
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.
    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 section below on or before February 2, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Joe Williams, U.S. Department of Labor, 
Employment and Training Administration, Office of Workforce Security, 
200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Frances Perkins Bldg. Room S-4231, 
Washington, DC 20210, telephone number (202) 693-2928 (this is not a 
toll-free number) or by e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    I. Background: Section 303(a)(4) of the Social Security Act (SSA) 
and Section 3304(a)(3) of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) 
require that all monies received in the unemployment fund of a state be 
paid immediately to the Secretary of Treasury to the credit of the 
Unemployment Trust Fund (UTF). This is the ``immediate deposit'' 
standard.
    Section 303(a)(5) of the SSA and Section 3304(a)(4) of the FUTA 
require that all monies withdrawn from the UTF be used solely for the 
payment of unemployment compensation, exclusive of the expenses of 
administration. This is the ``limited withdrawal'' standard.
    Federal law (Section 303(a)(6) of the SSA) gives the Secretary of 
Labor the authority to require the reporting of information deemed 
necessary to assure state compliance with the provisions of the SSA.
    Under this authority, the Secretary of Labor requires the following 
reports to monitor state compliance with the immediate deposit and 
limited withdrawal standards:
    ETA 2112: UI Financial Transactions Summary, Unemployment Fund;
    ETA 8401: Monthly Analysis of Benefit Payment Account;
    ETA 8405: Monthly Analysis of Clearing Account;
    ETA 8413: Income--Expense Analysis UC Fund, Benefit Payment 
Account;
    ETA 8414: Income--Expense Analysis UC Fund, Clearing Account;
    ETA 8403: Summary of Financial Transactions--Title IX Funds.
    These reports are submitted to the Office of Workforce Security 
(OWS) within the Employment and Training Administration which uses them 
to:
     Monitor cash flows into and out of the UTF to determine 
state compliance with the immediate deposit and limited withdrawal 
standards.
     Assure proper accounting for unemployment funds, an 
integral part of preparing the Department's consolidated financial 
statements, required by the Chief Financial Officer Act of 1990. The 
UTF is the single largest asset and liability on the statements.
     Reconcile the Department's records with the U.S. Treasury 
records.
     Develop UI research and actuarial reports, especially to 
monitor the solvency of the UTF.
    The Department seeks renewal of this collection since the reports 
are essential to the Department's financial statements and program 
oversight responsibilities.
    II. Desired Focus of Comments: Currently, the Employment and 
Training Administration is soliciting comments concerning the proposed 
extension collection of these reports. Comments are requested to:
    * 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

[[Page 73959]]

    * Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
are to respond, including 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: The continued collection of these financial 
data are necessary for the purposes of monitoring and evaluating state 
financial transactions for proper oversight and administration of the 
UI system.
    Type of Review: Extension without change.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration (ETA).
    Title: Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund Activities Reports.
    OMB Number: 1205-0154.
    Agency Number: ETA 2112, 8401, 8405, 8413, 8414, 8403.
    Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies.
    Total Respondents: 53.
    Frequency: ETA 2112, 8401, 8405, 8413, 8414: Monthly.
    Total Responses: 53 states x 12 months = 636 responses.
    Average Time per Response: The ETA 2112, 8401, 8405, 8413, 8414 are 
all submitted on a monthly basis. We estimate the state burden to be: 
636 total responses x 2.5 hours for all 5 reports (.5 hours for each 
report) = 1,590 hours. The ETA 8403 is submitted only when there is 
activity requiring update of the state's Reed Act account. We estimate 
the state burden to be: 53 states x 6 annual responses x 30 minutes per 
response = 159 reporting hours.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,749 hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice 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: November 12, 2008.
Cheryl Atkinson,
Administrator, Office of Workforce Security.
 [FR Doc. E8-28709 Filed 12-3-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-FW-P