[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]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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require that all monies withdrawn from the UTF be used solely for the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