[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 227 (Tuesday, November 24, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75039-75040]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-25937]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of Disability Employment Policy


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Center 
for Advancing Policy on Employment for Youth (CAPE-Youth) Data 
Collection

AGENCY: Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), United States 
Department of Labor (DOL).

ACTION: Notice of information collections and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
DOL is soliciting public comments regarding this ODEP-sponsored 
information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review and approval.

DATES: Comments pertaining to this information collection are due on or 
before January 25, 2021.

ADDRESSES: 
    Electronic submission: You may submit comments and attachments 
electronically at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments.
    Mail submission: 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Room S-5315, Washington, 
DC 2020.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the DOL, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) if 
the information will be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) the 
accuracy of the DOL's estimates of the burden and cost of the 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used; (4) ways to enhance the quality, utility and 
clarity of the information collection; and (5) ways to minimize the 
burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Trombley, Senior Policy 
Advisor, ODEP, by telephone at 202-693-7845 (this is not a toll-free 
number) or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In FY 2019 DOL's ODEP funded a four-year 
cooperative agreement for CAPE-Youth. CAPE-Youth is focused on 
supporting state efforts to align state workforce systems to establish 
pathways toward careers and financial self-sufficiency for youth and 
young adults with disabilities (Y&YAD). The ultimate goal of CAPE-Youth 
is to improve transition and employment related outcomes for Y&YAD 
through the identification and dissemination of evidence-based 
practices. To achieve this goal, CAPE-Youth is implementing a rapid 
cycle research strategy with three primary steps: (a) Identify the 
needs of workforce systems; (b) conduct research and policy analysis 
that will help address those problems; and (c) based on the findings of 
research and analysis, develop and disseminate resources to 
policymakers and key stakeholders.
    CAPE-Youth is supporting Y&YAD in three main focus areas:
    1. Youth and adult workforce systems collaboration;
    2. Professional development for youth workforce practitioners; and
    3. Career pathways and work-based learning such as apprenticeships 
programs for Y&YAD.

[[Page 75040]]

    In order to support the needs of state policy makers as they work 
to implement the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and 
improve employment outcomes for Y&YAD, CAPE-Youth will be conducting 
several studies, which will require data collection through surveys, 
focus groups, and interviews. They are as follows:
    A. State Collaboration Research--This study uses a mixed method 
approach to understand collaboration across WIOA partners serving 
transitioning youth in 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of 
Columbia. In Phase 1, state and local agencies serving youth and young 
adults will provide data through an on-line survey tool. In Phase 2, up 
to 10 purposively selected states with a focus on WIOA partners 
including state systems that support developmental disabilities (DD), 
mental health, juvenile justice, Foster Care, education, and other 
impacted systems will participate in 48 focus groups to provide 
detailed qualitative information on collaboration practices.
    B. Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) Implementation 
Study--This study also uses a mixed method approach. During Phase 1 of 
this study, Directors of State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies 
under WIOA in 50 states, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, American 
Samoa, Guam, the Northern Marianas and the District of Columbia will 
provide data on the implementation of Pre-ETS for youth using an on-
line survey. In Phase 2 of this study, 25 total State VR staff in up to 
5 purposively selected States will participate in .5 hour qualitative 
interviews to provide detailed qualitative information on the 
implementation of Pre-ETS for youth with mental health conditions.
    C. Study of Professional Development for Youth Workforce 
Practitioners--This study also will utilize a mixed-methods approach 
including a survey and focus groups. ODEP will survey a purposeful 
sample of 300 youth workforce practitioners throughout the country that 
serve youth and young adults with disabilities. This data from this 
survey will help identify key topics for discussion in 10 focus groups 
with 10 youth workforce practitioners. These focus groups will help 
gather the perceptions of core competencies required to effectively 
support youth and young adults with disabilities to obtain employment 
and how to implement meaningful professional development for 
practitioners.
    ODEP will use the data collected through these research efforts to 
identify how states are implementing aforementioned provisions of WIOA, 
challenges associated with implementation, and promising practices. 
CAPE-Youth will disseminate this research through briefs, reports, 
tools, and technical assistance to state policy makers focused on 
improving employment outcomes for youth and young adults with 
disabilities.
    This information collection is subject to the Paperwork Reduction 
Act (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 the OMB approves it 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 OMB Control Number. See 5 CFR 
1320.5(a) and 1320.6.
    The DOL seeks PRA authorization for this information collection for 
three (3) years. OMB authorization for an Information Collection Review 
cannot be for more than three (3) years without renewal. The DOL notes 
that currently approved information collection requirements submitted 
to the OMB receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo 
review.
    Agency: DOL-ODEP.
    Title of Collection: Center for Advancing Policy on Employment for 
Youth (CAPE Youth) Data Collection.
    OMB Control Number: 1230-0NEW.
    Affected Public: State and Local Governments.
    Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,623.
    Total Estimated Number of Responses: 1,623.
    Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 486.3 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

   Estimated Hours of Burden to Participant Data Collection--Years 1-3
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                                             Number of        Hours/
                  Study                     respondents      response
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State Collaboration Research............            1120            0.76
Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-             103            0.35
 ETS) Implementation Study..............
Professional Development for Youth                   400            1.44
 Workforce Practitioners................
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                                            Respondents    Burden hours
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year 1 Total............................            1623         1463.25
Year 2-3 Totals.........................               0               0
Three-year Total........................            1623         1463.25
Three-year Average......................             541          487.75
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    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A).

    Dated: November 18, 2020.
Jennifer Sheehy,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Disability Employment Policy.
[FR Doc. 2020-25937 Filed 11-23-20; 8:45 am]
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