[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70577-70578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28330]


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

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Employer Survey of the Short Time Compensation 
Program

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employment and 
Training Administration (ETA) sponsored information collection request 
(ICR) proposal titled, ``Employer Survey of the Short Time Compensation 
Program,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and 
approval for use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

DATES: Submit comments on or before December 26, 2013.

ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation; 
including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency 
of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained free of charge 
from the RegInfo.gov Web site at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201310-1205-001 (this link will only become active 
on the day following publication of this notice) or by contacting 
Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-4129 (this is not a toll-free 
number) or sending an email to [email protected].
    Submit comments about this request by mail or courier to the Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL-
ETA, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20503; by Fax: 202-395-6881 (this is not a toll-free 
number); or by email: [email protected]. Commenters are 
encouraged, but not required, to send a courtesy copy of any comments 
by mail or courier to the U.S. Department of Labor--OASAM, Office

[[Page 70578]]

of the Chief Information Officer, Attn: Information Policy and 
Assessment Program, Room N1301, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20210; or by email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michel Smyth by telephone at 202-693-
4129 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at [email protected].
    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This ICR seeks PRA authorization for the ETA 
to conduct the Employer Survey of Short-Time Compensation (STC). The 
STC Program provides an opportunity for employers to reduce layoffs by 
temporarily reducing work hours of some employees. STC provides pro-
rated unemployment insurance benefits for workers whose hours of work 
have been temporarily reduced. Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation 
Act of 2012 section 2164 requires the Secretary of Labor to survey 
employers in all States to determine employers' level of interest in 
participating in the STC Program. This proposed information collection 
activity will help satisfy this requirement. More specifically, the 
study this survey supports will examine employers' experiences, 
awareness, and perspectives of the STC Program in four states that have 
an active STC program. Employers who have used the STC program and 
employers who have not used the program will be surveyed. The study 
will focus on the following four research areas: (1) Characteristics of 
employers participating in the STC Program; (2) extent of employer 
participation in the STC Program; (3) employers' awareness, 
experiences, and views of the STC Program; and (4) employers' opinion 
about workers' view of STC.
    This proposed information collection is subject to the PRA. A 
Federal agency generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of 
information, and the public is generally not required to respond to an 
information collection, unless it is approved by the OMB under the PRA 
and displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, 
notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no person shall generally 
be subject to penalty for failing to comply with a collection of 
information if the collection of information does not display a valid 
Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. For additional 
information, see the related notice published in the Federal Register 
on August 7, 2013 (78 FR 48199).
    Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in 
the ADDRESSES section within 30 days of publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate 
consideration, comments should mention OMB ICR Reference Number 201310-
1205-01. The OMB is particularly interested in comments that:
     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.
    Agency: DOL-ETA.
    Title of Collection: Employer Survey of the Short Time Compensation 
Program.
    OMB ICR Reference Number: 201310-1205-001.
    Affected Public: Private Sector--businesses or other for-profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,200.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 3,200.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 1,280.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

    Dated: November 20, 2013.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-28330 Filed 11-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-FN-P