[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 26 (Tuesday, February 9, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6891-6893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02420]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Comment Request for Information Collection for the Workforce 
Investment Act (WIA) Management Information and Reporting System (OMB 
Control No. 1205-0420), Extension With Minor 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 revisions to 
the WIA Management Information and Reporting System data collection 
supporting statement to update the burden estimate to account for 
annual changes in hourly rates for respondents and remove any outdated 
language referencing updates made to the WIA reporting system prior to 
its 2013 renewal. No other revisions were made to the package.
    On July 22, 2015, the Department issued an information collection 
request (ICR) for implementing WIOA performance requirements in 
accordance with section 116. Section 136 of WIA will remain in place 
until the performance requirements under WIOA have been fully 
implemented. Because we are using WIA performance measures, we are 
referring to the reports collected under this collection as ``WIA 
Reports.'' Generally, WIOA took effect on July 1, 2015 (See WIOA sec. 
506(a.)). Sec. 116 of WIOA, which outlines the performance 
accountability requirements, including the indicators of performance, 
does not take effect until July 1, 2016 (See WIOA sec. 506(b)(1)). 
Under the Department's transition authority, in order to provide for an 
orderly transition from WIA to WIOA, we will require the states to use 
the WIA performance metrics in WIA sec. 136 to report on WIOA 
participants for one program year. This means that WIOA participants 
who became WIOA participants after July 1, 2015, are being measured 
according to the WIA section 136 performance measures. Once the 
Department has fully implemented WIOA's performance system, and all 
reporting requirements under WIA are met, the WIA reporting system will 
be discontinued. ETA seeks extension and approval of WIA reporting 
requirements during this transition period. Provisions will cover both 
individuals who were participants under WIA and new participants who 
enter the workforce system prior to full implementation of WIOA. For 
convenience we have included references to both the WIA statute and 
their corresponding updated sections within WIOA.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addresses section below on or before April 11, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Karen Staha, Office of Policy 
Development and Research, Room N-5641, Employment and Training 
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20210. Telephone number: 202-693-2917 (this is not a 
toll-free number). Fax: 202-693-2766. Email: [email protected]. A 
copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be 
obtained by contacting the office listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Luke Murren at 202-693-3733 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The accuracy, reliability, and comparability of program reports 
submitted by States using Federal funds are fundamental elements of 
good public administration, and are necessary tools for maintaining and 
demonstrating system integrity. The use of a standard set of data 
elements, definitions, and specifications at all levels of the 
workforce system helps improve the quality of performance information 
that is received by the Department of Labor. The common performance 
measures are an integral part of ETA's performance accountability 
system, and ETA will continue to collect from grantees the data on 
program activities, participants, and outcomes that are necessary for 
program management and to convey full and accurate information on the 
performance of workforce programs to policymakers and stakeholders.
    This WIA reporting structure includes quarterly (ETA 9090) and 
annual (ETA 9091) reports as well as a standardized individual record 
file for program participants, called the Workforce Investment Act 
Standardized Record Data (WIASRD). The WIASRD is submitted by the 
States to ETA and includes participant level information on customer 
demographics, type of services received, and statutorily defined 
measures of outcomes. This reporting structure will remain in place 
until the Department of Labor transitions to performance reporting 
under section 116 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
(WIOA).
    High quality program performance requires the submission of timely, 
accurate, and high quality data on the characteristics, services 
received, and outcomes of program participants. Together, the 9091, 
9090, and WIASRD comprise the data collected on WIA participants. As 
such, these data are necessary for tracking and reporting to 
stakeholders, information on the usage, services provided, and 
performance of these programs. These data are used to monitor the core 
purpose of the programs--mainly, tracking how many people found jobs; 
did people stay employed; and what were their earnings.
    This information collection has been classified as a revision with 
only minor edits made to the supporting statement to account for 
adjustment in burden estimates based on annual changes in hourly rates 
for respondents and to

[[Page 6892]]

remove all outdated language referencing updates made to the WIA 
reporting system prior to its 2013 renewal. The remainder of the 
collection remains unchanged.
    Information is collected under the authority of WIA sections 136 
\1\ and WIA/WIOA sections 169 (172 under WIA), 185, and 189. Section 
136 specifically addresses performance and accountability for the WIA 
Adult, Dislocated Worker (DW), and Youth programs. Sections 169, 185, 
and 189 provide broad authority to the Secretary of Labor to address 
performance and accountability issues for all programs authorized under 
title I.
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    \1\ Although WIOA took effect July 1, 2015, under section 
506(b)(1), reporting under section 136 of WIA continues until July 
1, 2016. Under the Department's transition authority, in order to 
provide for an orderly transition from WIA to WIOA, we will require 
the states to use the WIA performance metrics in WIA sec. 136 to 
report on WIOA participants. This means that WIOA participants who 
became WIOA participants after July 1, 2015 are being measured 
according to the WIA section 136 performance measures. Because we 
are using WIA performance measures, we are referring to the reports 
collected under this collection as ``WIA Reports.'' Once the 
Department has fully implemented WIOA's performance system and all 
WIA reporting requirements have been completed, these WIA Reports 
will be discontinued.
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    WIA section 136 establishes a comprehensive performance 
accountability system, comprised of the activities described in this 
section, to assess the effectiveness of States and local areas in 
achieving continuous improvement of workforce investment activities 
funded under this subtitle, in order to optimize the return on 
investment of Federal funds in statewide and local workforce investment 
activities (WIA section 136(a)).
    Further, WIA section 136(d) outlines the minimum requirements for 
the WIA annual reports that States must submit to DOL. The annual 
reports must reflect:
     The progress of the State in achieving State performance 
measures, including information on the levels of performance achieved 
by the State with respect to the core indicators of performance and the 
customer satisfaction indicator;
     The progress of local areas in the State in achieving 
local performance measures, including information on the levels of 
performance achieved by the areas with respect to the core indicators 
of performance and the customer satisfaction indicator;
     Information on the entry by participants who have 
completed training services provided under WIA section 134(d)(4) 
(superseded by WIOA section134(c)(3)) into unsubsidized employment 
related to the training received;
     Data on the wages at entry into employment for 
participants in workforce investment activities who entered 
unsubsidized employment, including the rate of wage replacement for 
such participants who are dislocated workers;
     Information on the retention and earnings received in 
unsubsidized employment 12 months after entry into employment;
     A description of performance with respect to the 
indicators of performance specified in WIA section 136(b)(2)(A) (core 
indicators of performance) of participants in workforce investment 
activities who received the training services compared with the 
performance of participants in workforce investment activities who 
received only services other than the training services (excluding 
participants who received only self-service and informational 
activities); and
     A summary of performance with respect to the indicators of 
performance specified in WIA section 136(b)(2)(A) (core indicators of 
performance) of recipients of public assistance, out-of-school youth, 
veterans, individuals with disabilities, displaced homemakers, and 
older individuals.
    WIOA section 169 (WIA section 172) directs the Secretary to provide 
for the continuing evaluation of programs and activities authorized 
under WIA/WIOA title I, including demonstration grants. WIOA section 
169(a) (WIA section 172(a)) specifies that the evaluations must 
address:
     General effectiveness of such programs and activities in 
relation to their cost, including the extent to which the programs and 
activities improve the employment competencies of participants in 
comparison to comparably-situated individuals who did not participate 
in such programs and activities and, to the extent feasible, increase 
the level of total employment over the level that would have existed in 
the absence of such programs and activities;
     Effectiveness of the performance measures relating to such 
programs and activities;
     Effectiveness of the structure and mechanisms for delivery 
of services through such programs and activities;
     Impact of the programs and activities on the community and 
participants involved;
     Impact of such programs and activities on related programs 
and activities;
     Extent to which such programs and activities meet the 
needs of various demographic groups; and
     Such other factors as may be appropriate.
    WIA/WIOA section 185 broadly addresses reports, recordkeeping, and 
investigations across programs authorized under title I of the Act. The 
provisions of section 185:
     Require the Secretary to ensure that all elements of the 
information required for reports be defined and reported uniformly 
(WIA/WIOA section 185(d)(2));
     Direct each State, each local board, and each recipient 
(other than a sub-recipient, sub-grantee, or contractor of a recipient) 
to prescribe and maintain comparable management information systems, in 
accordance with the guidelines that shall be prescribed by the 
Secretary designed to facilitate the uniform compilation, cross 
tabulation, and analysis of programmatic, participant, and financial 
data, on statewide, local area, and other appropriate bases necessary 
for reporting, monitoring, and evaluating purposes, including data 
necessary to comply with WIA/WIOA section 188 (WIA/WIOA section 
185(c)(2));
     Require that recipients of funds under title I of WIA/WIOA 
shall maintain such records and submit such reports in such form and 
containing such information as the Secretary may require regarding the 
performance of programs and activities carried out under title I of 
WIA/WIOA (section 185(a)(2));
     Compel States to submit to the Secretary on a quarterly 
basis, a summary of the reports submitted to the Governor under WIA/
WIOA sections 185(e)(1) and 185(e)(2);
     Specify that the reports shall include information about 
programs and activities carried out under title I of WIA/WIOA 
pertaining to:

--Relevant demographic characteristics (including race, ethnicity, sex, 
and age) and other related information regarding participants;
--Programs and activities in which participants are enrolled, and the 
length of time that participants are engaged in such programs and 
activities;
--Outcomes of the programs and activities for participants, including 
the occupations of participants and placement for participants in 
nontraditional employment;
--Specified costs of the programs and activities; and
--Information necessary to prepare reports to comply with WIA/WIOA

[[Page 6893]]

section 188 and 29 CFR part 38 (WIA/WIOA sections 185(d)(1) and (a-e)).

    WIA/WIOA section 189 requires the Secretary to prepare and submit 
to Congress an annual report regarding the programs and activities 
carried out under title I of WIA/WIOA. The report must include:
     A summary of the achievements, failures, and problems of 
the programs and activities in meeting the objectives of WIA/WIOA title 
I;
     A summary of major findings from research, evaluations, 
pilot projects, and experiments conducted under WIA/WIOA title I in the 
fiscal year prior to the submission of the report;
     Recommendations for modifications in the programs and 
activities based on analysis of such findings; and
     Such other recommendations for legislative or 
administrative action as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

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 minor revisions.
    Title: WIA Management Information and Reporting System.
    OMB Number: 1205-0420.
    Affected Public: State governments.
    Form(s): ETA-9090 and ETA-9091.
    Total Annual Respondents: 53.
    Annual Frequency: Quarterly.
    Total Annual Responses: 424.
    Average Time per Response: 36 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 619,430.
    Total Annual Burden Cost for Respondents: $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.

Portia Wu,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Labor.
[FR Doc. 2016-02420 Filed 2-8-16; 8:45 am]
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