[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 197 (Thursday, October 10, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54644-54645]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-22186]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment And Training Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; 
Workforce Information Grants to States (WIGS)

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor's (DOL's), Employment and Training 
Administration (ETA) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed 
revision for the authority to conduct the information collection 
request (ICR) titled, ``Workforce Information Grants to States 
(WIGS).'' This comment request is part of continuing Departmental 
efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).

DATES: Consideration will be given to all written comments received by 
December 9, 2019.

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 by 
contacting Donald Haughton by telephone at 202-693-2784, TTY 877-889-
5627, (these are not toll-free numbers) or by email at 
[email protected].

[[Page 54645]]

    Submit written comments about, or requests for a copy of, this ICR 
by mail or courier to the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and 
Training Administration, Office of Workforce Investment, 200 
Constitution Avenue NW, Room C-4510, Washington DC, 20210; by email: 
[email protected]; or by Fax 202-693-3015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald Haughton by telephone at 202-
693-2784 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOL, as part of continuing efforts to reduce 
paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation 
program to provide the general public and Federal agencies an 
opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of 
information before submitting them to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for final approval. This program helps to ensure 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 can be properly 
assessed.
    WIOA Section 308 requires the Secretary of Labor to oversee the 
development, maintenance, and continuous improvement of a nationwide 
Workforce and Labor Market Information System (workforce information) 
system; and to evaluate the performance of the system and recommend 
needed improvements, taking into consideration customer consultation 
results, with particular attention given to improvements needed at the 
state, regional and local levels. The WIGS information collection 
ensures the Secretary of Labor meets WIOA requirements, and the states 
complete grant deliverables such as state economic analyses or special 
workforce information/economic studies, and the annual performance 
report.
    The ETA makes use of the information collected from WIGS grantees 
primarily to serve four customer groups: (1) The public (including job 
seekers and employers); (2) labor market intermediaries who help 
individuals find a job or make career decisions (such as employment and 
school counselors, case managers at American Job Centers, and 
community-based organizations); (3) policymakers and employment and 
economic program planners and operators; and (4) miscellaneous other 
customers, including researchers, commercial data providers, and the 
news media. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Section 
308 (29 U.S.C. 491-2), and 20 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 
651 and 652 authorizes this information collection.
    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 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.
    Interested parties are encouraged to provide comments to the 
contact shown in the ADDRESSES section. Comments must be written to 
receive consideration, and they will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval of the final ICR. In order to help ensure 
appropriate consideration, comments should mention Workforce 
Information Grants to States (WIGS), OMB control number 1205-0417.
    Submitted comments will also be a matter of public record for this 
ICR and posted on the internet, without redaction. The DOL encourages 
commenters not to include personally identifiable information, 
confidential business data, or other sensitive statements/information 
in any comments.
    The DOL 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.
    Type of Review: Revision.
    Title of Collection: Workforce Information Grants to States (WIGS).
    Form: N/A.
    OMB Control Number: 1205-0417.
    Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 54.
    Frequency: Once.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 162.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: 578 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 31,228 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Cost Burden: $0.

(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

John Pallasch,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training.
[FR Doc. 2019-22186 Filed 10-9-19; 8:45 am]
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