[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 39 (Monday, March 2, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 9108]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4279]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Submission for OMB Emergency Review: Comment Request

February 24, 2009.
    The Department of Labor has submitted the following information 
collection request (ICR), utilizing emergency review procedures, to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35) and 5 CFR 1320.13. OMB approval has been requested 
by March 10, 2009. A copy of this ICR, with applicable supporting 
documentation; including among other things a description of the likely 
respondents, proposed frequency of response, and estimated total burden 
may be obtained from the RegInfo.gov Web site at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain or by contacting Darrin King on 202-
693-4129 (this is not a toll-free number)/e-mail: [email protected]. Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to 
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk 
Officer for the Department of Labor--ETA, Office of Management and 
Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Telephone: 202-395-7316/Fax: 
202-395-6974 (these are not toll-free numbers), E-mail: [email protected]. Comments and questions about the ICR listed 
below should be received 5 days prior to the requested OMB approval 
date.
    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 clarify 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.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title of Collection: Recovery Act--Applications for Unemployment 
Insurance Modernization Incentive Payments.
    OMB Control Number: Pending.
    Frequency of Collection: One time collection.
    Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 53.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 424.
    Total Estimated Annual Costs Burden (other than hourly costs): $0.
    Description: Section 2003(f) of the American Recovery and 
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provides for unemployment insurance 
(UI) ``modernization incentive payments'' to be made from the 
Unemployment Trust Fund (UTF) to the states. The total amount available 
for all states is $7 billion dollars. To obtain its share, the state 
must make an application to the Department of Labor demonstrating that 
its UI law contains certain benefit eligibility provisions. The last 
date on which an incentive distribution may be made is September 30, 
2011. When applying for a share of the UI modernization incentive 
payments, a state must document that the provisions of its law meet the 
requirements for obtaining an incentive payment. The state is also 
required to describe how it intends to use any incentive payment to 
improve or strengthen its UI program.
    Why are we requesting Emergency Processing? If DOL were to comply 
with standard PRA clearance procedures, it would not be able to comply 
with the ARRA-mandated payment schedule because procedures for these 
payments must be in place immediately. The statute provides that states 
need the means to access the funds as soon as possible. Otherwise, harm 
to the nation's economic recovery could ensue. Finally, in preparing 
the guidelines, the Department has taken all necessary steps to consult 
with state workforce agencies in order to minimize the burden of 
collecting the information while adhering to ARRA payment and 
monitoring provisions.

Darrin A. King,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-4279 Filed 2-27-09; 8:45 am]
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