[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 79 (Monday, April 25, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 24131]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09571]



[[Page 24131]]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Comment Request for Information Collection for the Ready to Work 
Partnership Grants Evaluation, New Collection

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Chief Evaluation 
Office, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance 
consultation program to provide the general 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 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to 
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 is properly assessed.
    A copy of the proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) can be 
obtained by contacting the office listed in the addressee section of 
this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee's section below on or before June 24, 2016.

ADDRESSES:  You may submit comments by either one of the following 
methods: Email: [email protected]">Chief[email protected]; Mail or Courier: Molly 
Irwin, U.S. Department of Labor, Room S-2312, 200 Constitution Avenue 
NW., Washington, DC 20210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Molly Irwin by telephone at 202-693-
5091 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at [email protected]">Chief[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is proposing a data collection 
activity as part of the H-1B Ready to Work Partnership Grants 
Evaluation Impact Study. The goal of the evaluation is determine the 
effectiveness of the H-1B grant-funded program in improving the labor 
market and other outcomes of program participants. For selected 
grantees, the impact study will randomly assign individuals to a group 
that can receive grant-funded programs or to a group that cannot access 
these services but who can participate in other services available in 
the community. The impact study will compare the employment and 
earnings and other outcomes of the groups to determine effectiveness of 
the H1-B Ready to Work training grants. The evaluation also includes an 
implementation study will describe services participants receive 
through the grantee programs, as well as provide operational lessons.
    Data collection efforts previously approved for the H-1B Impact 
Study under OMB Control Number 1205-0507 include: Data collection 
activities for the implementation study, a study consent form, and a 
baseline information form for study participants. These collection 
activities will continue under the previously approved request.
    This Federal Register Notice provides the opportunity to comment on 
a proposed new information collection activity for the H-1B Ready to 
Work Impact Study: A follow-up survey of sample members in the H-1B 
Ready to Work Impact Study, conducted approximately eighteen months 
after random assignment. The purposes of the study are to understand 
and document the: (1) Receipt of training and training-related 
supports; (2) educational attainment, including credential receipt; (3) 
factors that affect the ability to work (4) employment status, 
including job characteristics; (5) household composition; and (6) 
income and public benefits receipt.

II. Review Focus

    DOL is soliciting comments concerning the above data collection for 
the H-1B Ready to Work Partnership Grants Evaluation. DOL is 
particularly interested in comments that do the following:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's burden estimate of 
the proposed information collection, 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 (for example, 
permitting electronic submissions of responses).

III. Current Actions

    DOL is requesting clearance for the follow-up survey of sample 
members in the H-1B Ready to Work Impact Study.
    Type of Review: New collection.
    Title: Ready to Work Partnership Grants Evaluation.
    OMB Number: OMB Control Number 1205-0NEW.

                                                              Estimated Total Burden Hours
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                                                           Total number                      Number of        Average
                        Activity                                of         Annual number   responses per   burden hours    Total burden    Annual burden
                                                            respondents   of respondents    respondent     per response        hours           hours
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18-month follow-up survey...............................         * 4,016            1339               1             .67            2691             897
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...............................................  ..............            1339  ..............  ..............  ..............             897
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* Assumes a sample of 5,020 with an 80 percent response rate.

    Affected Public: Participants applying for the Ready to Work 
Partnership Grant programs.
    Form(s): 18-Month Follow-Up Survey.
    Total respondents: 4,016.
    Annual Frequency: One time.
    Comments submitted in response to this comment request will be 
summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and 
Budget approval of the information collection request; they will also 
become a matter of public record.

Sharon Block,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, U.S. Department of 
Labor.
[FR Doc. 2016-09571 Filed 4-22-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-HX-P