[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 61 (Friday, March 31, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16062-16063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06373]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Benefits Timeliness and Quality Review System

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: On March 31, 2017, the Department of Labor (DOL) will submit 
the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) sponsored information 
collection request (ICR) titled, ``Benefits Timeliness and Quality 
Review System,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review and approval for continued use, without change, in accordance 
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the 
ICR are invited.

DATES: The OMB will consider all written comments that agency receives 
on or before May 1, 2017.

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=201702-1205-003 (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, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are 
not toll-free numbers) 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-
ETA, Office of Management and 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, TTY 202-693-8064, (these are not toll-free numbers) or by email 
at [email protected].

    Authority:  44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This ICR seeks to extend PRA authority for 
the Benefits Timeliness and Quality (BTQ) Review System information 
collection. The Secretary of Labor has a legal responsibility under 
Social Security Act (SSA) section 303(a)(1) to reimburse a State 
Workforce Agency (SWA) the necessary costs of proper and efficient 
administration of State unemployment insurance (UI) laws. The Secretary 
must establish a means of measuring a SWA's

[[Page 16063]]

proper and efficient administration in order to certify a State 
payment. Among other duties, the Secretary must also ensure that State 
laws conform to Federal law and the State complies with them, in order 
for a subject employer within the State to be allowed to receive offset 
credit under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act. The BTQ Program is one 
of the ways in which the ETA collects program operating information to 
meet this obligation. Furthermore, these reports provide data necessary 
to monitor state performance in UI administration, as mandated by the 
Secretary of Labor. Social Security Act section 503(a)(6) authorizes 
this information collection. See 42 U.S.C. 503(a)(6).
    This 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 that 
does not display a valid Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 
1320.6. The DOL obtains OMB approval for this information collection 
under Control Number 1205-0359.
    OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than three (3) 
years without renewal, and the current approval for this collection is 
scheduled to expire on March 31, 2017. The DOL seeks to extend PRA 
authorization for this information collection for three (3) more years, 
without any change to existing requirements. The DOL notes that 
existing information collection requirements submitted to the OMB 
receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review. For 
additional substantive information about this ICR, see the related 
notice published in the Federal Register on September 6, 2017 (81 FR 
61254).
    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 Control Number 1205-0359. 
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-ETA.
    Title of Collection: Benefits Timeliness and Quality Review System.
    OMB Control Number: 1205-0359.
    Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 53.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 28,356.
    Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 37,812 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

     Dated: March 27, 2017.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-06373 Filed 3-30-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-FW-P