[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 16, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66667-66668]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29956]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5284-N-02]


Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Comment Request; 
Federal Labor Standards Payee Verification and Payment Processing

AGENCY: Office of Departmental Operations and Coordination, Office of 
Labor Relations, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement described 
below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department 
is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

DATES: Comments Due Date: February 16, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposal. Comments should refer to

[[Page 66668]]

the proposal by name and/or OMB control number and should be sent to: 
Lillian Deitzer, Reports Management Officer, Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Room 4178, Washington, DC 20410 
or [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jade Banks, Senior Policy Advisor, 
Office of Labor Relations, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 
451 7th Street, SW., Room 2102, Washington, DC 20410 or 
[email protected], telephone (202) 402-5475 (this is not a toll-free 
number) for additional information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department is submitting the proposed 
information collection to OMB for review, as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended).
    This Notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and 
affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information to: 
(1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (2) Evaluate the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (4) Minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond; including the 
use of appropriate automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of 
responses.
    This Notice also lists the following information:
    Title of Proposal: Federal Labor Standards Payee Verification and 
Payment Processing.
    OMB Control Number, if applicable: 2501-0021.
    Description of the need for this information and proposed use: HUD, 
and State, local, and Tribal agencies administering HUD-assisted 
programs must enforce Federal labor standards requirements, including 
the payment of prevailing wage rates to laborers and mechanics employed 
on HUD-assisted construction and maintenance work that is covered by 
these requirements. Enforcement activities include securing funds to 
ensure the payment of wage restitution that has been or may be found 
due to laborers and mechanics who were employed on HUD-assisted 
projects, and the payment of liquidated damages that may be assessed 
for violations of Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (CWHSSA) 
overtime violations. Ultimately, these funds are deposited to an 
account in the U.S. Treasury. If the labor standards discrepancies are 
resolved, HUD refunds associated amounts to the depositor. As underpaid 
laborers and mechanics are located, HUD sends wage restitution payments 
to the affected workers. Liquidated damages assessed for CWHSSA 
overtime violations are retained by HUD.
    In order to make refunds and wage restitution payments, HUD must 
verify the identity of the payee to ensure that the refund is made to 
the correct depositor or wage restitution to the correct worker before 
payment is made. In order to complete these verifications, HUD will 
request information such as the depositor's or payee's tax 
identification number (i.e., employer identification number or Social 
Security Number); the project name or number; and/or the worker's 
employer's name.
    All refunds from labor standards deposit accounts are made, 
electronically. Depositors entitled to a refund must provide to HUD the 
name, address, and the account information for the banking institution 
to which the depositor wants the refund sent. Wage restitution payments 
may be made by check or electronically, at the payee's choice. HUD must 
collect either the payee's mailing address, so that a check may be sent 
to them, or banking information for an electronic payment.
    Agency form numbers: HUD-4734, Labor Standards Deposit Voucher. 
This form is completed by HUD staff after depositor or payee 
verification and the collection of payment processing information, 
i.e., banking details or mailing address.
    Members of affected public: Developers and prime contractors 
engaged on HUD-assisted construction or maintenance work subject to 
Federal labor standards requirements; construction and maintenance 
laborers and mechanics employed on HUD-assisted projects subject to 
Federal labor standards requirements that are entitled to wage 
restitution.
    Estimation of the total numbers of hours needed to prepare the 
information collection including number of respondents, frequency of 
responses, and hours of response: The estimated number of respondents 
is 50 per year. The estimated number of hours needed per respondent is 
.1 hours. The total public burden is estimated to be 5 hours per year. 
Payees do not need to complete a form; the information may be collected 
by HUD in person, by telephone, or in writing, at the payee's option.
    Status: Extension of a currently approved collection.

    Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35, as amended.

    Dated: December 8, 2009.
Waite H. Madison,
Director, Office of Labor Relations.
[FR Doc. E9-29956 Filed 12-15-09; 8:45 am]
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