[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 121 (Friday, June 22, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37714-37715]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-15215]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Comment Request for Information Collection for Unemployment 
Insurance (UI) Trust Fund Activity Reports, Extension Without Revisions

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration (ETA), 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 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 the collection of 
data about UI Trust Fund Activity Reporting, expiring 10/31/2012.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section below on or before August 21, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Joe Williams, U.S. Department of 
Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Office of Workforce 
Security, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Frances Perkins Bldg., Room S-
4524, Washington, DC 20210, telephone number (202) 693-2928 (this is 
not a toll-free number) or by email: [email protected]. 
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). A copy of the proposed information 
collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office 
listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Section 303(a)(4) of the Social Security Act (SSA) and Section 
3304(a)(3) of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) require that all 
monies received in the unemployment fund of a state be paid immediately 
to the Secretary of Treasury to the credit of the Unemployment Trust 
Fund (UTF). This is the ``immediate deposit'' standard.
    Section 303(a)(5) of the SSA and Section 3304(a)(4) of the FUTA 
require that all monies withdrawn from the UTF be used solely for the 
payment of unemployment compensation, exclusive of the expenses of 
administration. This is the ``limited withdrawal'' standard.
    Federal law (Section 303(a)(6) of the SSA) gives the Secretary of 
Labor the authority to require the reporting of information deemed 
necessary to assure state compliance with the provisions of the SSA.
    Under this authority, the Secretary of Labor requires the following 
reports to monitor state compliance with the immediate deposit and 
limited withdrawal standards:

ETA 2112: UI Financial Transactions Summary, Unemployment Fund
ETA 8401: Monthly Analysis of Benefit Payment Account
ETA 8403: Summary of Financial Transactions--Title IX Funds
ETA 8403A: Spending Plans for Special Distributions
ETA 8405: Monthly Analysis of Clearing Account
ETA 8413: Income--Expense Analysis UC Fund, Benefit Payment Account
ETA 8414: Income--Expense Analysis UC Fund, Clearing Account

    These reports are submitted to the Office of Unemployment Insurance 
(OUI) within ETA which uses them to:
     Monitor cash flows into and out of the UTF to determine 
state compliance with the immediate deposit and limited withdrawal 
standards.
     Assure proper accounting for unemployment funds, an 
integral part of preparing the Department's consolidated financial 
statements required by the Chief Financial Officer Act of 1990. The UTF 
is the single largest asset and liability on the statements.
     Reconcile the Department's records with the U.S. Treasury 
records.
     Support UI research and actuarial reports analyzing the 
solvency of the UTF.

II. Review Focus

    The Department seeks renewal of this collection since the reports 
are essential to the Department's financial statements and program 
oversight responsibilities. 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 submissions of responses.

III. Current Actions

    Type of Review: Extension without changes.
    Title: Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust Fund Activities Reports.
    OMB Number: 1205-0154.
    Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies.
    Form(s): ETA 2112, 8401, 8405, 8413, 8414, 8403, 8403A.

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                                                                                   Average time
    Data collection activity        Number of       Frequency          Total       per response    Burden hours
                                   respondents                       responses      (in hours)
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Reporting of ETA 2112..........              53  Monthly........             636             0.5             318
Reporting of ETA 8401..........              53  Monthly........             636             0.5             318
Reporting of ETA 8405..........              53  Monthly........             636             0.5             318

[[Page 37715]]

 
Reporting of ETA 8413..........              53  Monthly........             636             0.5             318
Reporting of ETA 8414..........              53  Monthly........             636             0.5             318
Reporting of ETA 8403..........              53  As Needed......             318             0.5             159
Reporting of ETA 8403A.........              53  As Needed......             106             0.5              53
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    Total......................  ..............  ...............           3,604  ..............           1,802
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    Total Annual Burden Cost for Respondents: There are no annualized 
costs to respondents.
    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, this 15th day of June, 2012.
Jane Oates,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Labor.
[FR Doc. 2012-15215 Filed 6-21-12; 8:45 am]
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