[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 33 (Friday, February 17, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9701-9702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3719]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Emergency Review: Comment Request; Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund 
Activity

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) has submitted the Employment and 
Training Administration (ETA) sponsored information collection

[[Page 9702]]

request (ICR) revision titled, ``Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund 
Activity,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and 
clearance utilizing emergency processing procedures in accordance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 
35) and regulations 5 CFR 1320.13.

DATES: OMB approval has been requested by March 2, 2012. Submit 
comments on or before February 29, 2012.

ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR, with applicable supporting 
documentation; including a description of the likely respondents, 
proposed frequency of response, and estimated total burden may be 
obtained from the RegInfo.gov Web site, http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain or by contacting Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129 
(this is not a toll-free number) or sending an email to [email protected].
    Submit comments about this request to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for the Department of Labor, 
Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Office of Management and 
Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Telephone: 202-395-6929/Fax: 
202-395-6881 (these are not toll-free numbers), email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-
4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 
of 2009, Public Law 111-5, provided incentive funds for states to 
modernize their unemployment compensation laws. Additionally it 
provided for a special transfer of $500 million to the states' accounts 
in the Unemployment Trust Fund (UTF) to be used for certain 
administrative purposes (including implementing and administering the 
modernization provisions).
    Based on the permitted uses of these funds, it is clear Congress, 
recognizing the increased workload on the unemployment compensation 
system resulting from the recent economic recession, intended these 
funds be used during the recession to expedite the delivery of 
services, reduce improper payments, and improve tax operations. These 
funds were transferred to states' accounts in the UTF on February 27, 
2009. Based on a subsequent audit of these funds (Audit Report No. 18-
10-012-03-315), the DOL Inspector General (OIG) determined:
    At least $399 million of the states' funds remains unexpended, with 
a significant number of states planning multi-year systems 
improvements. Some states did not have plans in place for spending 
these funds.
    The OIG report recommended the ETA obtain more information from 
states on their plans to expend their share of the administrative grant 
and provide technical assistance to states in developing spending 
plans. The OMB echoed this sentiment in Memorandum M-11-34: 
Accelerating Spending of Remaining Funds from the American Recovery and 
Reinvestment Act for Discretionary Grant Programs.
    To ensure compliance with Congressional intent and OMB guidance, 
the ETA is asking states to review the amount of unexpended special 
administrative funds, develop spending plans outlining their 
anticipated use of these funds, and provide the spending plans to the 
ETA.
    The ETA currently collects data on administrative activity 
involving Title IX funds from the state's Unemployment Trust Fund on 
Form ETA-8403. This report is one of many within a large container 
collection of financial reports approved under OMB Control Number 1205-
0154. There is currently no capacity to gather narratives describing 
plans for future obligation and expenditures of remaining funds. The 
ETA believes the collection of this information is necessary to ensure 
that the Secretary can provide accurate updates to the OIG and OMB on 
the status of the expenditure of these funds. The ETA plans to request 
all states to provide an update on the status and future plans for the 
administrative funds including:
     Amount obligated but not expended to date, as well as the 
goods and services obtained from the funds expended.
     Amount of obligated by unexpended funds, as well as the 
goods and services expected to be obtained from the funds.
     If there are no plans to spend the unexpended funds, a 
plan to expend the funds along with a timeline for their liquidation 
and the goods and services expected to be obtained from the funds.
    This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency 
generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and 
the public is generally not required to respond to an information 
collection, unless it is approved by the OMB under the PRA and displays 
a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any 
other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to 
penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if the 
collection of information does not display a valid OMB Control Number. 
See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. The ETA seeks to clear this ICR using 
emergency processing procedures, because of the OIG recommendation and 
recent OMB guidance.
    Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in 
the ADDRESSES section so they are received no later than February 29, 
2012. In order to help ensure appropriate consideration, comments 
should reference OMB Control Number 1205-0154. The OMB is particularly 
interested in comments that:
     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.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration (ETA).
    Title of Collection: Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund Activity.
    OMB Control Number: 1205-0154.
    Requested Duration of Authorization: Six (6) months.
    Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 53.
    Frequency of Collection: Various.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 3,710.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.5 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 1,855.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

    Dated: February 10, 2012.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-3719 Filed 2-16-12; 8:45 am]
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