[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 78 (Thursday, April 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 22744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-09479]



[[Page 22744]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

[OMB 1205-0490]


Comment Request for Information Collection: Self-Employment 
Assistance for Unemployment Insurance Claimants, Extension With 
Revisions

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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

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 Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) activities, expiring 
October 31, 2015.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addresses section below on or before June 22, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Lidia Fiore, Office of 
Unemployment Insurance, Room S-4524, Employment and Training 
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20210. Telephone number: 202-693-3029 (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), please contact the person above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Noncitizen Benefit Clarification and Other Technical Amendments 
Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-306) permanently authorized the SEA 
program, which is a reemployment program that helps Unemployment 
Insurance (UI) claimants start their own businesses, and Public Law 
112-96, the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Act) 
expanded the SEA program to provide states the opportunity to allow UI 
claimants receiving Extended Benefits to participate in the SEA 
program. 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.
    Previously such information was collected for participants eligible 
for Emergency Unemployment Compensation, however that program has 
expired and authorization for that portion of this data collection is 
no longer necessary.

 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 with revision
    Title: Self-Employment Assistance for UI Claimants, ETA 9161.
    OMB Number: 1205-0490.
    Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies, SEA participants.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondents: 1,607.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 1,607 respondents x 4 quarterly 
reports = 6,428 responses.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,456 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Cost Burden: There are no other costs 
associated with this collection of information.
    We will summarize and/or include in the request for OMB approval of 
the ICR, the comments received in response to this comment request; 
they will also become a matter of public record.

Portia Wu,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Labor.
[FR Doc. 2015-09479 Filed 4-22-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-FW-P