[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 87 (Thursday, May 5, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25710-25711]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-10937]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Comment Request for Information Collection for Employment and 
Training (ET) Handbook 336, 18th Edition: ``Unemployment Insurance (UI) 
State Quality Service Plan Planning (SQSP) and Reporting Guidelines,'' 
Extension of Current Collection

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor Department.

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 
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 about the proposed extension 
to ET Handbook 336, 18th Edition: ``Unemployment Insurance (UI) State 
Quality Service Plan Planning (SQSP) and Reporting Guidelines'' which 
expires August 31, 2011. S:OUI\OMB\1205-0132\2011\1205-0132SQSP 60 day 
FRN.doc 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.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee's section below on or before July 5, 2011.

ADDRESSES:  Submit written comments to the Employment and Training 
Administration, Office of Unemployment Insurance, 200 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Room S4220, Washington, DC 20210, Attention: Delores 
Mackall. Telephone number: 202-693-3183 (this is not a toll-free 
number). Fax: 202-693-3975. E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The SQSP represents an approach to the unemployment insurance 
performance management and planning process that allows for an exchange 
of

[[Page 25711]]

information between the federal and state partners to enhance the 
ability of the program to reflect the joint commitment to performance 
excellence and client-centered services. As part of UI Performs, a 
comprehensive performance management system implemented in 1995 for the 
UI program, the SQSP is the principal vehicle that state UI agencies 
use to plan, record and manage program improvement efforts as they 
strive for excellence in service. The SQSP, which serves as the State 
Plan for the UI program, also serves as the grant document through 
which states receive federal UI administrative funding. The statutory 
basis for the SQSP is Title III, Section 302 of the Social Security 
Act, which authorizes the Secretary of Labor to provide funds to 
administer the UI programs, and Sections 303 (a) (8) and (9) which 
govern the expenditures of those funds. The SQSP represents an approach 
to tie program performance with the budget and planning process.

II. Review Focus

    The Department of Labor 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 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.
    ETA proposes to extend this information collection. The 
Department's information collection authority for SQSP is under Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) number 1205-0132. Currently, the 
Employment and Training Administration is soliciting comments 
concerning the extension of and modification to the ET Handbook No. 
336.
    States will continue to use the State Plan Narrative to provide a 
general summary of the UI program in the state. Additionally, states 
are to include in the Narrative: (1) Performance in comparison to the 
Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) goals; (2) results of 
customer satisfaction surveys (optional); and (3) actions planned to 
correct deficiencies regarding UI programs and reporting requirements. 
Actions planned to correct deficiencies for Secretary Standards, Core 
Measures, and the Data Validation (DV) program are expected to be 
addressed in corrective action plans.
    On April 13, 2011, OMB approved a non-substantive change to 1205-
0132, requiring that all states include in their SQSP submissions a 
corrective action plan to reduce and recover improper payments. Comment 
is encouraged on this recent change as well as on the 1205-0132 data 
requirements in general.
    The Department will provide each state workforce agency with its 
state-specific root causes for its improper payments, based on BAM 
survey results. The SQSP Handbook No. 336 includes an action plan for 
each state to complete. The state action plan will include the 
following items:
     Strategies to reduce root causes, including recovery of 
these improper payments;
     Timeline, expected targets and measures; and
     Type and source of resources dedicated to accomplish the 
action plan.

III. Current Actions

    Type of Review: extension of current collection.
    Title: Unemployment Insurance State Quality Service Plan (SQSP).
    OMB Number: 1205-0132.
    Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies.
    Total Annual Respondents: 53.
    Reporting Frequency: 13 annual reports and 4 quarterly reports per 
year per respondent.
    Total Annual Responses: 901.
    Average Time per Response: 3.37 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3036 hours.
    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.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 29th day of April 2011.
Jane Oates,
Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011-10937 Filed 5-4-11; 8:45 am]
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