[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 167 (Friday, August 28, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52339-52340]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21364]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Demonstration and Evaluation of the Short-Time 
Compensation Program

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the information 
collection request (ICR) proposal titled, ``Demonstration and 
Evaluation 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.). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES: The OMB will consider all written comments that agency receives 
on or before September 28, 2015.

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=201504-1291-002 (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 by email at [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-
OASAM, Office of Management and

[[Page 52340]]

Budget, Room 10235, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503; by Fax: 
202-395-5806 (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 of the Chief Information 
Officer, Attn: Departmental Information Compliance Management 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 authority for the 
Demonstration and Evaluation of the Short-Time Compensation Program 
(STC) information collection. The STC program is an option within the 
Unemployment Insurance (UI) system that allows an employer to reduce 
the hours of workers, while permitting workers to receive partial UI 
benefits for the non-worked hours. The objective of STC is to avoid 
layoffs during periods of reduced labor demand and, thereby, allow 
businesses to maintain their operations, retain valued employees, and 
prevent company morale from deteriorating. The DOL seeks to conduct a 
rigorous demonstration and impact evaluation of STC programs in two 
states in order better to understand the reasons for low take-up of STC 
and to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions designed to increase 
employer use. More specifically, the DOL seeks OMB approval under the 
PRA for an information collection to conduct (1) in-depth interviews 
with state agency officials and employers and (2) employer surveys. 
These information collections are essential elements of the 
implementation study and the rigorous impact evaluation of the 
demonstration of the STC program. Middle Class Tax Relief and Job 
Creation Act of 2012 section 2166 authorizes this information 
collection. See 26 U.S.C. 3304 note.
    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 March 23, 2015 (80 FR 15252).
    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 thirty (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 201204-
1291-002. 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-OASAM.
    Title of Collection: Demonstration and Evaluation of the Short-Time 
Compensation Program.
    OMB ICR Reference Number: 201404-1291-002.
    Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments; Private 
Sector--businesses or other for-profits.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,830.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 2,858.
    Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 270 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

     Dated: August 21, 2015.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-21364 Filed 8-27-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-23-P