[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 101 (Thursday, May 24, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31042-31043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12624]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Comment Request for Information Collection for Veterans' 
Retraining Assistance Program, Extension Without Changes

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL), as part of its continuing 
effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a 
preclearance consultation program to provide the 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 [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps 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, ETA is soliciting comments concerning extension of 
approval for the collection of applicant data for the Veterans' 
Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP), which is part of the VOW to Hire 
Heroes Act of 2011 (Pub. L. 112-56). VRAP is a new training program for 
eligible veterans, funded by the Veterans' Administration. To determine 
eligibility, the Act directs ETA to collect the following information 
from veteran applicants: Age, employment status, status in a Federal or 
state job training program within 180 days of the application, and date 
of application.
    This information collection follows an emergency review that was 
conducted in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 5 
CFR 1320.13. OMB approved the emergency request on April 11, 2012. 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 
addresses section below on or before July 23, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Andrew Ridgeway, Office of 
Workforce Investment, Room S-4209, Employment and Training 
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20210. Telephone number: 202-693-3536 (this is not a 
toll-free number). Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may 
access the telephone number above via TTY by calling the toll-free 
Federal Information Relay Service at 1-877-889-5627 (TTY/TDD). Fax: 
202-693-3817. Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    ETA seeks a regular extension of OMB's approval to collect 
individual applicant data for the Veterans Retraining Assistance 
Program (VRAP) as part of the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 (Pub. L. 
112-56), enacted November 21, 2011. The Act directs the Department of 
Veterans Affairs (VA), in cooperation with the DOL, to pay for up to 12 
months of a training program in a high demand occupation for unemployed 
eligible veterans. The program is to serve up to 45,000 veterans in 
Fiscal Year (FY) 2012, beginning July 1, 2012, and up to 54,000 
veterans from October 1, 2012, through March 31, 2014.
    The VRAP provides the benefit to veterans who fulfill the following 
eligibility criteria: As of date of application, is at least 35 years 
old and less than 60; discharged from active duty under conditions 
other than dishonorable; is unemployed as of date of application; is 
not eligible to receive other educational assistance from the VA; is 
not in receipt of compensation for a service-connected disability rated 
totally disabling by reason of unemployability; was not and is not 
enrolled in any Federal or state job training program within the 
previous 180 days; and, the application must be submitted not later 
than October 1, 2013.
    The VA is responsible for determining the following eligibility 
criteria: Discharged from active duty under conditions other than 
dishonorable; is not eligible to receive other educational assistance 
from the VA; is not in receipt of compensation for a service-connected 
disability rated totally disabling by reason of unemployability. The VA 
will be collecting information required for their eligibility criteria 
through the ``Application for VA Educational Benefits'' (OMB Control 
Number 2900-0154, VA Form 22-1990). The DOL is required to determine 
whether each veteran applying for the program is between 35 and 60 
years old, is unemployed as of the date of the application, has not and 
is not enrolled in a Federal or state job training program within 180 
days of the application, and has applied for the program no later than 
October 1, 2013. The DOL is proposing to determine its eligibility 
requirements by collecting individual applicant data. The data will be 
linked to the VA's Veterans On-Line Application (VONAPP, VA Form 22-
1990) to complete the application. The VA will transmit reports to the 
DOL about the completion status of the veterans, so that the DOL can 
make contact with the veteran to offer employment services.

II. Review Focus

    The Department is particularly interested in comments which:

[[Page 31043]]

     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.

III. Current Actions

    Type of Review: Extension Without Changes.
    Title: Veterans' Retraining Assistance Program.
    OMB Number: 1205-0491.
    Affected Public: Veteran Program Applicants.
    Form(s): Intake Application.
    Total Annual Respondents: 100,000.
    Annual Frequency: Once.
    Total Annual Responses: 100,000.
    Average Time per Response: Five (5) minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 8,333.
    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 OMB approval of the ICR; 
they will also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: Signed in Washington, DC, on this 16th day of May, 2012.
Jane Oates,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Labor.
[FR Doc. 2012-12624 Filed 5-23-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-FN-P