[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 14 (Monday, January 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 3287]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-1224]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Proposed Information Collection of the Tax Performance System 
Handbook ETA 407; Extension Without Change

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. 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 (ETA) is 
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of the Tax 
Performance System (TPS). A copy of the proposed information collection 
request can be obtained by contacting the employee listed below in the 
contact 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 
address below on or before March 23, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Eve MacDonald, Office of Unemployment 
Insurance, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of 
Labor, Room S 4522, 200 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20210; 
(202) 693-3028 (this is not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Since 1987, states have been required by regulation at 20 CFR part 
602 to operate a program to assess their Unemployment Insurance (UI) 
tax and benefit programs. TPS is designed to assess the major internal 
UI tax functions by utilizing several methodologies: Computed Measures, 
which are indicators of timeliness and completeness based on data 
automatically generated via the existing ETA 581, Contribution 
Operations Report (Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval 
number 1205-0178, expiring 01/31/2012, and currently under review for 
extension at OMB); and Program Reviews which assess accuracy through a 
two-fold examination. This examination involves: (a) ``Systems 
Reviews'' which examine tax systems for the existence of internal 
controls; and (b) extraction of small samples of those systems' 
transactions which are then examined to verify the effectiveness of 
controls.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    Currently, the Employment and Training Administration is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed extension of TPS Handbook 407. 
Comments are requested to:
     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 submission of responses.

III. Current Actions

    It is important that approval of the TPS Handbook 407 be extended 
because this report is the only vehicle for collection of information 
on the quality and timeliness of state UI tax operations. If TPS 
Handbook 407 data were not collected, there would be no basis for 
determining and measuring state UI tax performance and effectiveness.
    Type of Review: Extension without change.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Tax Performance System Handbook 407.
    OMB Number: 1205-0332.
    Agency Number: ETA Handbook 407.
    Recordkeeping: Respondent is expected to maintain data which 
support the reported data for three years.
    Affected Public: State government.
    Total Respondents: 52.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Total Responses: 52.
    Average time per response: 1739 hours.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 90,428.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $4,543,637.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the extension of the 
information collection request; they will also become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: January 18, 2012.
Jane Oates,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training.
[FR Doc. 2012-1224 Filed 1-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-FW-P