[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 98 (Friday, May 22, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24041-24042]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-11993]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Proposed Information Collection Request for Unemployment 
Insurance (UI) Title XII Advances and Voluntary Repayment Process; 
Comment Request for Extension Without Change

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 ADDRESSES 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 
ADDRESSES section below on or before July 21, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Scott Gibbons, 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) 693-3008 (this is not a 
toll-free number) or by e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Title XII Section 1201 of the SSA provides for advances to States 
from the Federal Unemployment Account. The law further sets out 
specific requirements to be met by a State requesting an advance:
    [cir] The Governor must apply for the advance;
    [cir] The application must cover a three month period and the 
Secretary of Labor must be furnished with estimates of the amounts 
needed in each month of the three month period;
    [cir] The application must be made on such forms and shall contain 
such information and data (fiscal and otherwise) concerning the 
operation and administration of the State unemployment compensation law 
as the Secretary of Labor deems necessary or relevant to the 
performance of his or her duties under this title;
    [cir] The amount required by any State for the payment of 
compensation in any month shall be determined with due allowance for 
contingencies and taking into account all other amounts that will be 
available in the State's unemployment fund for the payment of 
compensation in such month;
    [cir] The term ``compensation'' means cash benefits payable to 
individuals with respect to their unemployment exclusive of expenses of 
administration.
    Section 1202(a) of the SSA provides that the Governor of any State 
may at any time request that funds be transferred from the account of 
such State to the FUA in repayment of part or all of the balance of 
advances made to such State under section 1201. These applications and 
repayments may be requested by an individual designated for that 
authority in writing by the Governor. DOL proposes to extend this 
procedure through August 2012.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    Currently, the Employment and Training Administration is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed extension of this collection. Comments 
are requested to:
    * Evaluate whether the proposed extension of the current procedure 
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 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 change.

[[Page 24042]]

    Agency: Employment and Training Administration (ETA).
    Title: Unemployment Insurance (UI) Title XII Advances and Voluntary 
Repayment Process.
    OMB Number: 1205-0199.
    Agency Number: Not applicable.
    Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies.
    Total Respondents: Up to 53.
    Frequency: As needed, based on a State's discretion.
    Total Responses: DOL currently projects that on average, 27 States 
could borrow during each calendar year from 2010 through 2012. Although 
it's impossible to know the exact number of responses, the maximum 
would be 4 requests for advances and 4 requests for voluntary 
repayments per State each year. This will result in 648 total responses 
over the three year window or an average of 216 responses per year.
    Average Time per Response: 1 hour.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 216.
    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: Friday, May 15, 2009.
Cheryl Atkinson,
Administrator, Office of Workforce Security.
 [FR Doc. E9-11993 Filed 5-21-09; 8:45 am]
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