[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 247 (Tuesday, December 24, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77718-77719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30639]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Comment Request for Information Collection for Information 
Collection for the Data Validation Requirement for Employment and 
Training Programs; 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 validation information for the following employment and training 
programs: Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Title IB, Wagner-Peyser, Trade 
Adjustment Assistance (TAA), National Farmworkers Jobs Program (NFJP), 
and Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). The current 
expiration date is May 31, 2014.
    Please note that the data submission processes within the new data 
validation software for Wagner-Peyser and WIA Title IB were implemented 
in Program Year (PY) 2012 and PY 2013 for reporting and the underlying 
data validation methodology is not being modified. However, the system 
is still coming online and the data element validation functionality in 
the new enterprise data validation and reporting system will not be 
implemented by the current expiration date for this data collection 
(May 31, 2014). ETA believes the software will be completed and states 
will have experience with using it by the end of 2014. At that time, 
ETA will report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on the 
results, per the OMB Notice of Action in 2012 approving the 
implementation of the software.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addresses section below on or before February 24, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the U.S. Department of Labor, 
Employment and Training Administration, Office of Policy Development 
and Research, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room N-5641, Washington, DC 
20210, Attention: Karen A. Staha. Telephone number: (202) 693-2917 
(this is not a toll-free number). Fax: (202) 693-3490. Email: 
[email protected] A copy of the proposed information collection 
request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the person listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The accuracy and reliability of program reports submitted by States 
and grantees using Federal funds are fundamental elements of good 
public administration and are necessary tools for maintaining and 
demonstrating system integrity. States and grantees receiving funding 
under WIA Title IB, Wagner-Peyser Act, TAA, and the Older Americans Act 
are required to maintain and report accurate program and financial 
information (WIA section 185 (29 U.S.C. 2935) and WIA Regulations 20 
CFR 667.300(e)(2); Wagner-Peyser Act section 10 (29 U.S.C. 49i), Older 
Americans Act section 503(f)(3) and (4) (42 U.S.C. 3056a(f)(3) and 
(4)), and TAA Regulations 20 CFR 617.57).
    Data Validation. The data validation requirement for employment and 
training programs strengthens the workforce system by ensuring that 
accurate and reliable information on program activities and outcomes is 
available. Data validation is intended to accomplish the following 
goals:
     Ensure that critical performance data are valid and 
accurate.
     Detect and identify specific problems with a State's or 
grantee's reporting processes, including the software used for 
compiling this information, to enable the State or grantee to correct 
any problems.
     Help States and grantees analyze the causes of performance 
successes and failures by displaying participant data organized by 
performance outcomes. In addition, the process enables States and 
grantees to calculate error rates by means of randomly selected 
validation subsamples of the complete set of records.
    Data validation consists of two parts:
    1. Report validation ensures the validity of aggregate reports 
submitted to ETA by requiring that States use the data validation 
software to calculate the reports in a uniform and consistent manner. 
Report validation is conducted by processing each State's complete file 
of participant records and automatically generating the reports 
submitted by the State or grantee. States and grantees are required to 
certify the accuracy of the reports generated by the software before 
they can be accepted by ETA.
    2. Data element validation assesses the accuracy of participant 
data records. Data element validation is conducted via comprehensive 
manual reviews of sampled participant records against source 
documentation in order to ensure accuracy and compliance with Federal 
definitions.

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;
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and

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     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 revisions.
    Title: Data Validation Requirement for Employment and Training 
Programs.
    OMB Number: 1205-0448.
    Affected Public: State, local and tribal government entities and 
private non-profit organizations.
    Form(s): Workforce Investment Act Enterprise Data Reporting and 
Validation System (EDRVS) User Handbook, Labor Exchange EDRVS Software 
Users Guide, NFJP Data Validation Handbook, TAA Data Validation 
Handbook.
    Total Annual Respondents: 179 (53 states, 52 NFJP and 74 SCSEP 
grantees).
    Annual Frequency: Complete data validation annually.
    Total Annual Responses: 285 (3 responses each for the 53 states, 1 
response for each of the 52 NFJP grantees, and 1 response for each of 
the 74 SCSEP grantees).
    Average Time per Response: 218 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 62,174.
    Total Additional Annual Burden Cost for Respondents: $0.
    Total Estimated Additional Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.
    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.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 12th day of December, 2013
Eric Seleznow,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training, Labor.
[FR Doc. 2013-30639 Filed 12-23-13; 8:45 am]
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