[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 216 (Thursday, November 7, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60114-60115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24260]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Pre-
Implementation Planning Checklist for State Unemployment Insurance 
Information Technology Modernization Projects

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 ``Pre-Implementation Planning Checklist for State 
Unemployment Insurance Information Technology Modernization Projects.'' 
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 
January 6, 2020.

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 Jagruti Patel by telephone at (202) 693-3059 (this is not a 
toll-free number), TTY 1-877-889-5627 (this is not a toll-free number), 
or by email at [email protected].
    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 Unemployment Insurance, Room S-4524, 
200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210; by email: 
[email protected]; or by Fax at (202) 693-3975.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Jagruti Patel by telephone at (202) 
693-3059 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at 
[email protected].

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

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.
    Building on lessons learned from previous state implementations of 
modernized Unemployment Insurance (UI) Information Technology (IT) 
systems, ETA facilitated the development of a UI IT Modernization Pre-
Implementation Planning Checklist for states to use prior to ``going 
live'' with a new system. In 2017, ETA implemented the Pre-
Implementation Planning Checklist for State UI IT Modernization 
Projects, ETA 9177 report. Subsequently, ETA received comments from 
State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) and other entities recommending 
additional items to be included in the checklist and seeking 
clarification on the instructions for using the report. In addition, 
the Bureau of Labor Statistics recommended an eleventh project category 
to address labor market information (LMI) Federal reporting functions. 
ETA has enhanced the ETA 9177 report and the accompanying instructions 
to address these comments. This enhanced version of the ETA 9177 report 
improves the document's structure, provides additional clarity on the 
verification steps for the ten existing project categories, and adds a 
new category to address verification steps for LMI Federal reporting 
functions. Like the original 2017 implementation, the updated checklist 
will validate that all necessary system functions are available and/or 
that alternative workarounds are developed prior to the production 
launch of a new UI IT system to help states avoid major disruption of 
services to UI customers and to prevent delays in making UI benefit 
payments when due.
    This comprehensive checklist denotes critical functional areas that 
states must verify prior to launching new UI IT systems including, but 
not limited to, technical IT functions and UI business processes that 
interface with the new system.
    The list of critical areas identified in the checklist includes:
     Functionality and Workarounds;
     External Alternate Access Options and Usability Issues 
Addressed;
     Policies and Procedures;
     Technical Preparation for System Implementation;
     Call Center/Customer Service Operations;
     Business Process;
     Help Desk;
     Management Oversight;
     Vendor Support/Communications;
     Communication Processes and Procedures; and
     Labor Market Information Federal Reporting Functions.
    This information will include the UI IT Modernization project title 
(e.g. State project or Consortium name) and the associated report on 
Pre-Implementation Planning Checklist results. For each sub-element 
identified in the ETA 9177 report, the SWA is to provide:
     An overall status report;
     A brief report explaining the status of the project as it 
relates to the particular sub-element;
     Attached explanations of any workarounds concerning the 
processes in the sub-element;
     Attached explanations if implementation of the new system 
concerning specific processes for the sub-element will be delayed or 
deferred;
     Attached explanations for added clarity and/or to support 
a narrative;
     Mitigation proposals for addressing any problems;
     New project timelines if applicable; and/or
     Any discussion of identified technical assistance needs 
for the successful completion of the project.
    ETA requires the use of this checklist report to help SWAs ensure 
the

[[Page 60115]]

availability of mission critical functions as the state prepares for 
the launch of a new system and following the launch of a new system. In 
addition, the collection will enable ETA to identify and provide 
appropriate technical assistance on issues in the checklist and ensure 
SWAs have plans for addressing critical issues prior to launching a new 
UI IT system. Section 303(a)(6) of the Social Security Act, codified at 
42 U.S.C. 503(a)(6), 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 OMB control number 
1205-0527.
    Submitted comments will also be a matter of public record for this 
ICR and posted on the internet, without redaction. DOL encourages 
commenters not to include personally identifiable information, 
confidential business data, or other sensitive statements/information 
in any comments.
    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: Pre-Implementation Planning Checklist for 
State Unemployment Insurance Information Technology Modernization 
Projects.
    Form: ETA 9177.
    OMB Control Number: 1205-0527.
    Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 24.
    Frequency: Once per incident.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 3.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: Varies.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 576 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Cost Burden: $0

John Pallasch,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training.
[FR Doc. 2019-24260 Filed 11-6-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-FW-P