[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 121 (Friday, June 22, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37715-37716]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-15216]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Comment Request for Information Collection for Self-Employment 
Assistance (SEA) for UI Claimants, 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 SEA activities, expiring 09/30/2012.

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 Scott Gibbons, Office of 
Unemployment Insurance, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. 
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210. 
Telephone number: 202-693-3008 (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). Email: [email protected]. A 
copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be 
obtained by contacting Mr. Gibbons.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Public Law 112-96, the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act 
of 2012, provides states with the opportunity to allow Unemployment 
Insurance (UI) claimants in the Federal Emergency Unemployment 
Compensation program of 2008 (EUC08) to participate in a reemployment 
program that helps them start their own businesses known as SEA. 
Currently, a handful of states use this reemployment program, for which 
a minor amount of information (claimants entering the program, and 
weeks and amounts of dollars paid) is collected under OMB Control 
Number 1205-0010.
    In accordance with statutory requirements and to assist states in 
establishing, improving, and administering SEA programs (section 
2183(a)), the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) uses the ETA 
9161 to collect information specific to the SEA program.
    Section 2183(b)(1) of the 2012 Act directs the Secretary of Labor 
to establish reporting requirements for States that have established 
SEA programs, which shall include reporting on--(A) The total number of 
individuals who received unemployment compensation and--(i) Were 
referred to a SEA program; (ii) participated in such program; and (iii) 
received an allowance under such program; (B) the total amount of 
allowances provided to individuals participating in a SEA program; (C) 
the total income (as determined by survey or other appropriate method) 
for businesses that have been established by individuals participating 
in a SEA program, as well as the total number of individuals employed 
through such businesses; and (D) any additional information, as 
determined appropriate by the Secretary. ETA currently uses Form ETA-
9161 as an electronic reporting mechanism to collect this required 
information. In addition to Public Law 112-96, collection of data is 
used for oversight of the program as authorized under Section 303(a)(6) 
of the Social Security Act.

 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 submissions of responses.

III. Current Actions

    Type of Review: Extension without changes.
    Title: Self-Employment Assistance for UI Claimants.
    OMB Number: 1205-0490.
    Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies.
    Form(s): ETA 9161.
    Total Annual Respondents: 26.
    Annual Frequency: Quarterly for three different reports.

[[Page 37716]]

    Total Annual Responses: 26 respondents x 4 quarterly reports x 3 
programs = 312 responses.
    Average Time per Response: 2 hours per report.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 26 respondents x 4 quarterly 
reports x 3 programs x 2 hours per report = 624 hours.
    Total Annual Burden Cost for Respondents: There are no other costs 
associated with this collection of information.
    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. 2012-15216 Filed 6-21-12; 8:45 am]
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