[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 171 (Friday, September 2, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54792-54793]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22577]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Comment Request for Information Collection for the Workforce 
Investment Act Streamlined Performance Reporting (WISPR) Data 
Collection System; Extension With Revisions

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (Department), 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 (ETA) is 
soliciting comments concerning the WISPR system. The current expiration 
date is October 31, 2011. A copy of the proposed information collection 
request 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 
addresses section below on or before November 1, 2011.

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 N-5641, Washington, DC 
20210, Attention: Karen A. Staha. Telephone number: (202) 693-2917 
(this is not a toll-free number). Fax: (202)693-2766. E-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    In July 2004, ETA solicited comments from the general public on the 
establishment of a single, streamlined reporting and recordkeeping 
system, formally called the ETA Management Information and Longitudinal 
Evaluation (EMILE) reporting system. The notice of 60-day public 
comment on the proposed EMILE reporting system was published in the 
Federal Register on July 16, 2004 (69 FR 42777). The proposed EMILE 
reporting system was designed to streamline 12 ETA program reporting 
systems into one comprehensive reporting structure that would allow for 
consistent, comparable analysis across ETA funded employment and 
training programs, using the definitions for a set of common 
performance measures initially specified in Training and Employment 
Guidance Letter (TEGL) 15-03, Common Measures Policy, and subsequently 
revised by TEGL 17-05, (note TEGLs 17-05 change 1, and 17-05 Change 2 
provide additional revisions), Common Measures Policy for the 
Employment and Training Administration's (ETA) Performance 
Accountability System and Related Performance Issues.
    ETA received comments from 161 unique entities, including State 
workforce agencies and boards, local workforce investment areas, non-
profit organizations and national associations, Native American and 
other Tribal organizations, public interest and advocacy groups, and 
other private citizens and stakeholders. Due to the large volume of 
comments submitted by each entity, ETA worked during calendar year 2005 
to organize and analyze the public comments, make appropriate revisions 
to agency policy guidance on the common measures, and assess the 
feasibility of implementing the proposed EMILE reporting requirements 
in several States.
    ETA reconciled the public comments and made appropriate revisions 
to the original EMILE proposal, which was re-named the WISPR System. 
This system replaced the existing quarterly reporting requirements for 
the following seven ETA activities: Wagner-Peyser Act, Jobs for 
Veterans' State Grants, the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Adult, WIA 
Dislocated Worker, WIA Youth, Trade Adjustment Assistance Act programs, 
and National Emergency Grants.
    The WISPR system was piloted in two States (Pennsylvania and Texas) 
and both States have successfully implemented WISPR. At its foundation, 
the WISPR system organizes customer information, which is maintained by 
States in order to run their day-to-day operations. It includes the 
minimum level of information collection necessary to comply with Equal 
Opportunity requirements, hold States and grantees appropriately 
accountable for the Federal funds they receive, and allow the 
Department to fulfill its oversight and management responsibilities.
    The WISPR system features a set of aggregate quarterly reports for 
capturing services to employer and job seeker customers, including a 
special aggregate report on services to the nation's eligible veterans 
and transitioning service members. A standardized set of participant 
data that includes information on demographics, types of services 
received, and performance outcomes based on a set of common measures 
defined consistently across programs is a key component of this 
reporting system. The WISPR system also incorporates provisions to 
ensure the integrity of reported data and resolve data collection and 
reliability issues raised by the Office of the Inspector General and 
the Government Accountability Office regarding the Department's ability 
to accurately evaluate program performance.
    The implementation of WISPR was put on hold in March 2009 as ETA 
focused its available resources on implementing the American Recovery 
and Reinvestment Act. The current request for information seeks to 
obtain comments regarding the extension of the current WISPR system. To 
date, the system has been fully implemented in Pennsylvania and Texas 
but could potentially be implemented in additional States.

II. Review Focus

    The Department 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,

[[Page 54793]]

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 with changes.
    Title: Workforce Investment Act Streamlined Performance Reporting 
(WISPR) data collection system.
    OMB Number: 1205-0469.
    Affected Public: State, local and Tribal government entities and 
private non-profit organizations.
    Form(s): ETA-9131, ETA-9132, ETA 9133, WISRD Record Layout, WISPR 
Data Preparation and Reporting Handbook 2011.
    Total Annual Respondents: 254.
    Annual Frequency: Quarterly.
    Total Annual Responses: 864 (4 responses for each of the 54 States/
territories on a quarterly basis)
    Average Time per Response: 1,120 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 968,438.
    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: August 29, 2011.
Jane Oates,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training.
[FR Doc. 2011-22577 Filed 9-1-11; 8:45 am]
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