[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 186 (Monday, September 27, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59294-59296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-24052]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Comment Request for Information Collection for The Data 
Validation Requirement for Employment and Training Programs (OMB 
Control No. 1205-0448): extension With No Changes

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

[[Page 59295]]

and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or 
continuing collections 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. 
Currently, the Employment and Training Administration is soliciting 
comments concerning the collection of data validation for the following 
employment and training programs: Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Title 
IB, Wagner-Peyser, Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), National 
Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) and Senior Community Service Employment 
Program (SCSEP). The current expiration date is February 28, 2011.
    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.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee's section below on or before November 26, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the U.S. Department of Labor, 
Employment and Training Administration, Office of Policy Development 
and Research, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room S-5206, Washington, DC 
20210, Attention: Karen A. Staha. Telephone number: (202) 693-2917 
(this is not a toll-free number). Fax: (202) 693-3490. E-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The accuracy and reliability of program reports submitted by States 
and grantees using Federal funds are fundamental elements of good 
public administration and are necessary tools for maintaining and 
demonstrating system integrity. States and grantees receiving funding 
under WIA Title IB, Wagner-Peyser Act, TAA, and the Older Americans Act 
are required to maintain and report accurate program and financial 
information (WIA section 185 (29 U.S.C. 2935) and WIA Regulations 20 
CFR 667.300(e)(2); Wagner-Peyser Act section 10 (29 U.S.C. 49i), Older 
Americans Act section 503(f)(3) and (4) (42 U.S.C. 3056a(f)(3) and 
(4)), and TAA Regulations 20 CFR 617.57).
    Data Validation. The data validation requirement for employment and 
training programs strengthens the workforce system by ensuring that 
accurate and reliable information on program activities and outcomes is 
available. Data validation is intended to accomplish the following 
goals:
     Ensure that critical performance data are valid and 
accurate.
     Detect and identify specific problems with a State's or 
grantee's reporting processes, including the software used for 
compiling this information, to enable the State or grantee to correct 
any problems.
     Help States and grantees analyze the causes of performance 
successes and failures by displaying participant data organized by 
performance outcomes. In addition, the process enables States and 
grantees to calculate error rates by means of randomly selected 
validation subsamples of the complete set of records.
    Data validation consists of two parts:
    1. Report validation evaluates the validity of aggregate reports 
submitted to ETA by externally verifying the accuracy of the reporting 
software used to calculate the reports. Report validation is conducted 
by separately processing the complete file of participant records and 
comparing the validation results to those reported by the State or 
grantee.
    2. Data element validation assesses the accuracy of participant 
data records. Data element validation is conducted via comprehensive 
manual reviews sampled participant records against source documentation 
in order to ensure accuracy and compliance with Federal definitions.
    Data Validation Background. In response to an Office of Inspector 
General (OIG) finding that programmatic performance data submitted to 
ETA by the State grantees lacked adequate systematic and independent 
verification, ETA began the current Data Validation Initiative in 2003. 
This initiative utilizes a comprehensive data validation methodology 
embedded in specific Data Validation software for gauging the accuracy 
and validity of the aggregate State-level reports submitted annually to 
ETA, as well as the individual participant-level data underlying these 
aggregate reports. ETA programs that have implemented Data Validation 
include: WIA Title IB, Wagner-Peyser, TAA, NFJP and SCSEP. States 
received training prior to beginning validation and receive ongoing 
training and technical assistance from ETA's data validation contractor 
throughout the validation process.
    Resources. The requirement to perform validation originates from 
States' and grantees' responsibility to provide accurate information on 
program activities and outcomes to ETA. States and grantees are 
expected to provide resources for conducting validation from their 
administrative funds. Validation of program performance is a basic 
responsibility of grantees, who are required to report on program 
performance, in accordance with statutory provisions and Department of 
Labor regulations (29 CFR 95.51 and 97.40).
    Data Validation Tools. In an effort to minimize the costs of 
implementing data validation, ETA developed standardized software and 
user handbooks that States and grantees can use to conduct data 
validation.
     Software developed by ETA generates samples, worksheets, 
and reports on data accuracy. For report validation, the software 
validates the accuracy of aggregate reports that are generated by the 
State's or grantee's reporting software and produces an error rate for 
each reported count. For data element validation, the software 
generates a sample of the participant records and data elements for the 
State or grantee to validate. The software produces worksheets on which 
the validator records information after checking the source 
documentation in the sampled case files. The software calculates error 
rates for each data element, with confidence intervals of 3.5 percent 
for large States/grantees and 4 percent for small States/grantees.
     User handbooks provide detailed information on software 
installation, building and importing a validation file, and completing 
report and data element validation. The handbooks also explain the 
validation methodology, including sampling specifications and data 
element validation instructions for each data element to be validated.
    Data Recording and Reports. States and grantees submit their 
validation results electronically to ETA in the same manner as other 
reports. The results are stored in a data base in ETA's headquarters in 
Washington, DC.
    Training and Technical Assistance. ETA has provided data validation 
training and technical assistance to States in regional sessions on an 
ongoing basis since its inception. States and grantees may obtain 
technical assistance on validation procedures and the use of the 
validation tools by contacting ETA's data validation contractor.

II. Review Focus

    The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments 
which:

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    * Evaluate whether the proposed continuation of the collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information has considerable 
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 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.

III. Current Actions

    Type of Review: Extension without changes.
    Title: The Data Validation Requirement for Employment and Training 
Programs.
    OMB Number: 1205-0448.
    Affected Public: State, local and tribal government entities and 
private non-profit organizations.
    Form(s): Workforce Investment Act Data Reporting and Validation 
System (DRVS) User Handbook, Labor Exchange DRVS Software Users Guide, 
NFJP Data Validation Handbook, TAA Data Validation Handbook.
    Total Annual Respondents: 179 (53 States, 52 NFJP and 74 SCSEP 
grantees).
    Annual Frequency: Complete data validation annually.
    Total Annual Responses: 285 (3 responses each for the 53 States, 1 
response for each of the 52 NFJP grantees and 1 response for each of 
the 74 SCSEP grantees).
    Average Time per Response: 347 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 62,174.
    Total Annual Burden Cost for Respondents: $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this comment request 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: September 21, 2010.
Jane Oates,
Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration.
[FR Doc. 2010-24052 Filed 9-24-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-FN-P