[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37070-37072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14921]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Proposed Collection of Information for the Evaluation of the 
Self-Employment Training Demonstration; New Collection

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (Department or DOL), as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a 
pre-clearance 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 (PRA) [44 U.S.C. 3505(c)(2)(A)]. The 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 the 
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed.
    The proposed application package, follow-up survey, site visit data 
collection, and case study interviews are for an evaluation of the 
Self-Employment Training (SET) Demonstration. This demonstration and 
its evaluation are sponsored by ETA to understand whether providing 
dislocated workers access to self-employment training and counseling 
services increases their likelihood of reemployment, their earnings, 
and their propensity to enter into self-employment.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee's section below on or before August 20, 2012.

ADDRESSES: A copy of this proposed information collection request may 
be obtained by contacting Janet Javar at 202-693-3677 (this is not a 
toll-free number) or email: [email protected]. Comments are to be 
submitted to Department of Labor/Employment and Training 
Administration, Attn: Janet Javar, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room N-
5641, Washington, DC 20210. Written comments may be transmitted by 
facsimile to 202-693-2766 (this is not a toll-free number) or emailed 
to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    ETA seeks to implement and rigorously evaluate the effectiveness of 
innovative strategies for promoting employment based on the authority 
granted to the agency under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act. 
The SET Demonstration focuses specifically on self-employment as a 
reemployment strategy for dislocated workers. The demonstration is 
premised on the hypotheses that: (1) Self-employment could be a viable 
strategy for dislocated workers to become reemployed; (2) starting a 
small business is difficult, especially for individuals who lack 
business expertise or access to start-up capital; and (3) dislocated 
workers might experience difficulties locating and accessing training 
and counseling services that could effectively prepare them for self-
employment via the existing workforce infrastructure.
    The SET Demonstration will implement a new service delivery model 
that seeks to better connect dislocated workers to self-employment 
services. This approach differs from previous large-scale demonstration 
programs, which have provided mixed evidence on the effectiveness of 
self-employment services on earnings and employment, because the SET 
Demonstration will: (1) Rely on self-employment advisors to offer more 
intensive business development counseling services than prior 
demonstrations have offered; and (2) concentrate on dislocated workers 
who have fairly limited traditional employment prospects but are well-
positioned to benefit from self-employment counseling and training. The 
SET Evaluation will assess the effectiveness of the SET Demonstration 
model.

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, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses.

III. Current Actions

    This proposed information collection will involve collecting data 
from participants of the SET Demonstration.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Type of Review: New Collection.
    Title of Collection: Information and Survey Collection for the 
Self-Employment Training Demonstration.
    OMB Control Number: 1205-0NEW.
    Affected Public: Applicants and participants (dislocated workers), 
One-Stop Career Center (OSCC)

[[Page 37071]]

administrators and staff, and participating providers' self-employment 
advisors and other staff providing support for the demonstration.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 5,449.
    Estimated Total Burden Cost: $107,530.

For Consent and Application Forms

    Number of Respondents: 4,000 applicants.\1\
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    \1\ This pool of 4,000 applicants is expected to be self-
selected from a larger pool of dislocated workers after 
participating in online SET Demonstration orientation sessions. (No 
information will be collected in these orientation sessions.) It is 
anticipated that approximately 3,000 applicants will meet the 
demonstration's eligibility requirements; these successful 
applicants will be assigned with equal probability to the program 
and control groups.
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    Frequency: Once.
    Average Time per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Burden Hours: 2,000 hours [ = 4,000 x (20/60) ].
    Estimated Burden Cost: $33,260 [ = 2,000 x $16.63 ].\2\
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    \2\ Hourly wage rates were calculated using the Project GATE 
public use dataset based on members of the control group who were 
(1) unemployed at baseline and (2) had collected UI benefits in the 
12 months prior to applying to the program. (Project GATE files are 
available from ETA at: http://www.doleta.gov/reports/projectgate/.) 
This subgroup of the GATE study sample is likely to most closely 
resemble the pool of dislocated workers who will apply to the SET 
Demonstration. At the six-month follow-up survey (the midpoint of 
which was April, 2005), the average wage rate among employed members 
of this sub-group was $14.15. At the eighteen month follow-up, this 
average was $14.62. Adjusting for inflation, these wage rates 
translate to $16.62 and $16.64, respectively, in 2012 dollars. Given 
the similarity between these figures, a wage rate of $16.63 per hour 
is used for potential SET Demonstration applicants and participants.
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For Program Participation Records

     Participant Tracking Data
    Number of Respondents: 24 self-employment advisors at the 
demonstration's microdevelopment organizations (MDO) partner providers 
(on behalf of 1,500 program group members, each active for 
approximately 10 months).
    Frequency: Monthly during two-year implementation period.
    Number of Responses: 15,000 [ 10 monthly responses x 1,500 
cases].\3\
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    \3\ It is expected that most of the 1,500 program group members 
will remain active in the SET Demonstration for the entire one-year 
service period. However, some may become ``inactive'' before the end 
of the program. Specifically, it is assumed that 5 percent of the 
program group will drop out of the demonstration within the first 
month and another 15 percent will have their services terminated by 
the business development counselor within the first four months of 
participation. As a result, the average program group member will 
remain active for approximately 10 person-months.
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    Average Time per Response: 3 minutes.
    Estimated Burden Hours: 750 hours [ = 15,000 x (3/60) ].
    Estimated Burden Cost: $25,403 [ = 750 x $33.87 ].\4\
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    \4\ Based on the May 2011 National Occupational Employment and 
Wage Estimates maintained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm), the average wage for 
``Business Operations Specialists, All Other'' was $32.21, which 
corresponds to $33.87 in 2012 dollars.
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     Service Termination Information
    Number of Respondents: 24 self-employment advisors at the SET 
Demonstration's microdevelopment organizations (MDO) partner providers 
(on behalf of each participant exiting the SET Demonstration before the 
end of the one-year service period).
    Frequency: Once per case.
    Number of responses: 225 [ 0.15 x 1,500 cases].
    Average Time per Response: 20 minutes.
    Estimated Burden Hours: 75 hours [ = 225 x (20/60) ].
    Estimated Burden Cost: $2,450 [ = 75 x $33.87 ].
    Subtotal of Estimated Burden Hours, Program Participation Records: 
885 hours.
    Subtotal of Estimated Burden Cost, Program Participation Records: 
$27,493.

For the 12-Month Follow-Up Survey

    Number of Respondents: 2,400 study members.\5\
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    \5\ It is assumed that the follow-up survey will achieve a 
response rate of 80 percent among individuals who were randomly 
assigned to the program and control groups.
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    Frequency: Once.
    Average Time per Response: 60 minutes.
    Estimated Burden Hours: 2,400 hours [ = 2,400 x (60/60) ].
    Estimated Burden Cost: $39,912 [ = 2,400 x $16.63 ].

For Site Visit Data Collection

    Number of Respondents: 64 individuals, which includes 24 self-
employment advisors at MDO partner providers, 16 OSCC administrators 
and staff, 24 additional staff members at organizations providing 
support for the demonstration.
    Frequency: Twice.
    Number of responses: 128 [ = 2 x (24 + 16 + 24) ].
    Average Time per Response: 90 minutes.
    Estimated Burden Hours: 192 hours [ = 128 x (90/60) ].
    Estimated Burden Cost: $5,883 [ = 192 x ($33.87 x (24/64) + $28.70 
x (40/64)) ].\6\
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    \6\ According to the May 2011 National Occupational Employment 
and Wage Estimates maintained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics 
(http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm), the average wage for 
``Training and Development Specialists'' was $28.14, which 
corresponds to $28.70 in 2012 dollars. This wage rate is used for 
OSCC staff and additional staff members (other than the program's 
self-employment advisors) at organizations providing support for the 
demonstration.
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For Case Study Interviews

    Number of Respondents: 32 selected members of the program group.
    Frequency: Once.
    Average Time per Response: 60 minutes.
    Estimated Burden Hours: 32 hours [ = 32 x (60/60) ].
    Estimated Burden Cost: $532 [ = 32 x $16.63 ].

                      Table 1--Burden Estimates for SET Evaluation Data Collection Efforts
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                                   Number of
                                  responses/       Frequency of    Average  time      Burden        Burden cost
         Respondents             instances  of      collection     per  response      (hours)           \a\
                                  collection                         (minutes)
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Consent and Application
 Forms:
    Applicants to the program  4,000 \b\.......  Once...........              30           2,000         $33,260
Program Participation
 Records:
Participant Tracking Data:
    Self-employment advisors.  24 respondents    10 monthly                    3             750          25,403
                                with 1,500        responses per
                                total cases \c\   case,
                                                  submitted over
                                                  a two-year
                                                  period \d\
Service Termination
 Information:

[[Page 37072]]

 
    Self-employment advisors.  24 respondents    Once...........              20              75           2,540
                                with 225 total
                                cases \e\.
      Total for Program                                                                      825          27,943
       Participation Records.
12-Month Follow-Up Survey:
    Successful applicants who  2,400 \f\.......  Once...........              60           2,400          39,912
     went through random
     assignment.
Site Visits: \g\
    Self-employment advisors   24..............  Twice..........              90              72           2,439
     and other staff at SET
     Demonstration partner
     providers.
    OSCC administrators and    16..............  Twice..........              90              48           1,378
     case managers.
    Other staff at             24..............  Twice..........              90              72           2,066
     organizations providing
     support for the
     demonstration.
      Total for Site Visits..  ................  ...............  ..............             192           5,883
Case Study Interviews:
    Selected members of the    32..............  Once...........              60              32             532
     program group completing
     follow-up surveys.
                                                                                 -------------------------------
        Total Burden.........  ................  ...............  ..............           5,549         107,530
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\a\ As noted in the main text, burden cost calculations assume wage rates of (1) $16.63 per hour among potential
  applicants and participants in the SET Demonstration; (2) $33.87 per hour among self-employment advisors; and
  (3) $28.70 per hour among staff at OSCCs and other staff at organizations providing support for the
  demonstration.
\b\ Although eligibility criteria will be explicitly outlined in publicity materials and orientation sessions
  for the program, it is assumed that approximately one in four applicants will be determined to be ineligible
  and, therefore, screened out. Thus, it is anticipated that 4,000 applications will be collected in order to
  enroll 3,000 study members.
\c\ Each of the 1,500 members of program group will be tracked by one of 24 self-employment advisors.
\d\ Given a one-year service period, it is expected that 10 monthly tracking reports per case, on average, will
  be received based on the following assumptions: (1) 5 percent of the program group will drop out of the
  demonstration within the first month after random assignment, and (2) another 15 percent will have services
  terminated and be referred back to an OSCC by SET self-employment advisors within the first four months after
  random assignment.
\e\ An expected total of 225 service terminations will be initiated by one of 24 self-employment advisors.
\f\ This figure assumes that the follow-up survey will achieve a response rate of 80 percent.
\g\ The burden estimates for each site visit respondent include (1) time coordinating with the study team and
  preparing for the interview and (2) participating in the on-site meeting.

    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and may be included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the final information collection request. The comments will 
become a matter of public record.

    Signed in Washington, DC this Tuesday of June 12, 2012.
Jane Oates,
Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-14921 Filed 6-19-12; 8:45 am]
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