[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 3, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11470-11471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-04357]


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

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Veterans' Employment and Training Service


Agency Information Collection Activities; Continued Collection; 
Comment Request: Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Chapter 31) 
Tracking Report (VETS 201) Extension Without Revisions.

AGENCY: Veterans' Employment and Training Service, U.S. Department of 
Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) is 
announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed 
collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish 
notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of 
information and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the 
notice. This notice solicits comments on one (1) collection of 
information: VETS 201 entitled ``Vocational Rehabilitation and 
Employment (Chapter 31) Tracking Report'' and identified by VETS ICR 
No. 1293-0009 and OMB Control No. 1293-0009. The information collection 
contained in this notice is an extension without revision. VETS is 
soliciting comments on the continuation of the approved information 
collections.

DATES: Submit written or electronic comments on the collection of 
information by May 4, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments on this collection of information by any of 
the following methods:
    [ssquf] By mail to: Joel H. Delofsky, Office of National Programs, 
U.S. Department of Labor, VETS, 230 South Dearborn, Suite 1064, 
Chicago, Illinois 60604-1777.
    [ssquf] Electronically to: [email protected].
    [ssquf] By fax to: (312) 353-4943 (not a toll free number).
    All comments should be identified with the OMB Control Number 1293-
0009. Written comments should be limited to 10 pages or fewer. Receipt 
of comments will not be acknowledged but the sender may request 
confirmation that a submission has been received by telephoning VETS at 
(312) 353-4942 or via fax at (312) 353-4943.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joel H. Delofsky, Office of National 
Programs, U.S. Department of Labor, VETS, 230 South Dearborn, Suite 
1064, Chicago, Illinois 60604-1777, by email at [email protected] 
or by phone at (312) 353-4942. Copies of the proposed data collection 
instruments can be obtained from the contact listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    I. With respect to the continuation of the approved collection of 
information, VETS is particularly interested in comments on these 
topics:
    (1) Whether the continued collection of information is necessary 
for the proper performance and oversight of the Jobs for Veterans State 
Grant, including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) The accuracy of the VETS' estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information;
    (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (4) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques, when appropriate and other forms of information technology.
    II. Comments are requested on the following ICR:
    (1) Title: Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Chapter 31) 
Tracking Report (VETS 201)
    ICR numbers: VETS ICR No. 1293-0009, OMB Control No. 1293-0009
    ICR status: This ICR is for a continued information collection 
activity. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for VETS 
information collections are displayed on the applicable data collection 
instrument.
    Abstract: VETS and the Department of Veterans Affairs Vocational 
Rehabilitation and Employment (VA VR&E) share a mutual responsibility 
for the successful readjustment of disabled veterans into the civilian 
workforce. Since August, 1995, the two Federal Agencies have worked 
together under a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate and 
coordinate services provided to veterans and transitioning service 
members referred to or completing a program of vocational 
rehabilitation authorized under title 31, United States Code 
(hereinafter referred to as the Chapter 31 program).
    To help Congress understand the extent to which federal agencies 
coordinate programs and the performance of this coordination, the 
Government Accountability Office (GAO) conducted a study and released 
Report Number GAO-13-29: Veterans' Employment and Training--Better

[[Page 11471]]

Targeting, Coordinating, and Reporting Needed to Enhance Program 
Effectives. One of the findings encouraged the two agencies ``to 
determine the extent to which veterans' employment outcomes result from 
program participation. . .''
    As a result of the GAO recommendations, a Joint Work Group was 
directed to establish and standardize processes to ensure disabled 
veterans participating in the Chapter 31 program achieve the ultimate 
goal of successful career transition and suitable employment after the 
provision of Labor Market Information and employment services from the 
Jobs for Veterans State Grant recipients. The Joint Work Group refined 
processes and strengthened the team approach to serving these disabled 
veterans.
    The Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (Chapter 31) Tracking 
Report (VETS 201) is designed to respond to the GAO finding by 
compiling information on disabled veterans jointly served by the VA, 
VETS and Jobs for Veterans State Grant recipients. All partners agree 
to share information exclusively to facilitate job development and 
placement services for participating veterans. The information is 
collected only with documented consent from veterans in accordance with 
the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable regulations and each 
agency will provide practical and appropriate safeguards to protect 
Personally Identifiable Information in accordance with applicable 
regulations and laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 
1990, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and reauthorizations, and title 
VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
    The information is collected by the Jobs for Veterans State grant 
recipient and submitted to the state Director for Veterans' Employment 
and Training (DVET) once per Federal fiscal quarter. The results are 
shared between VETS and VA VR&E.
    Estimated Annual Burden: VETS 201: 456 Hours.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: VETS 201 (Proposed): 2 
Hours, Range 1-3 Hours.
    Frequency of Response: Quarterly.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: VETS 201: 57.
    Total Annualized Capital/startup costs: $0.
    Total Initial Annual Costs: $0.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the agency's request for OMB approval of the 
information collection request. Comments will become a matter of public 
record.

    Dated in Washington, DC, this 23rd day of February 2015.
Ralph Charlip,
Deputy Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-04357 Filed 3-2-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-79-P