[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 188 (Thursday, September 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59420-59421]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23810]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Comment Request for Information Collection; Pell Grants and the 
Payment of Unemployment Benefits to Individuals in Approved Training; 
Extension Without Change

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 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 [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This 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 
collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. 
Currently, ETA is soliciting comments on the renewal of the information 
collection required for state notification to individuals about the 
opportunity for Pell Grants and the payment of unemployment benefits to 
individuals in approved training.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee's section below on or before November 26, 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

    To enable more individuals to obtain job training while receiving 
unemployment benefits so they can develop their skills while the 
economy recovers, states are strongly encouraged to widen their 
definitions of the types of training and the conditions under which 
education or training are considered ``approved training'' for purposes 
of the state's UI law.
    States are also encouraged to notify unemployed individuals of 
their potential eligibility for Pell Grants and to assist individuals 
with applications. Pell Grants are awarded based on financial need and 
other factors. Many Unemployment Insurance (UI) beneficiaries are 
potentially eligible for

[[Page 59421]]

Pell Grants, and the Department of Education is currently undertaking a 
major effort to encourage student financial aid administrators to use 
the discretion available to them in determining if UI beneficiaries are 
eligible for Pell Grants. Through information dissemination, the 
Department is encouraging state UI agencies to notify UI beneficiaries 
that they may qualify for Pell Grants and to give them information 
about how to apply. States are strongly encouraged to determine if 
their approved training requirements are appropriate to the current 
economy. Post-secondary education and training are increasingly 
important for success in the job market. Periods of unemployment, 
particularly in the current economic climate, provide opportunities for 
laid-off workers to develop new skills, so that employers will benefit 
from a skilled workforce when the economy recovers. In particular, 
states are asked to consider approval of courses at community colleges 
with significant job skills components, courses leading to general 
equivalency degrees, courses in adult basic education, language 
courses, or other courses of study, including degree and certificate 
courses that are likely to increase the individual's long-term 
employability.

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: Pell Grants and the Payment of Unemployment Benefits to 
Individuals in Approved Training
    OMB Number: 1205-0473
    Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies.
    Total Respondents: 53
    Frequency of Collection: Once per year
    Total Responses: 53
    Average Time per Respondent: 40 hours
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 2120
    Total Annual Costs Burden: $0
    Comments submitted in response to this comment request will be 
summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and 
Budget approval of the information collection request; they will also 
become a matter of public record.

    Dated: Signed in Washington, DC, this 20th day of September, 
2012.
Jane Oates,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Labor.
[FR Doc. 2012-23810 Filed 9-26-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-FN-P