[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 119 (Thursday, June 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51903-51905]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-13436]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; DOL-
Only Performance Accountability, Information, and Reporting

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor's (DOL) Employment and Training 
Administration (ETA) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed 
revision for the authority to conduct the information collection 
request (ICR) titled, ``DOL-only Performance

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Accountability, Information, and Reporting.'' 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 
August 19, 2024.

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 Kellen Grode by telephone at (202) 693-3534 (this is not a 
toll-free number), or by email at [email protected]. For persons 
with a hearing or speech disability who need assistance to use the 
telephone system, please dial 711 to access telecommunications relay 
services.
    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 Policy Development and Research, 200 
Constitution Ave. NW, Room N-5641, Washington, DC 20210; by email: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kellen Grode by telephone at (202) 
693-3534, (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.
    As a part of this revision request, ETA has made changes to the 
Participant Individual Record Layout (ETA-9172), (Program) Performance 
Report (ETA-9173) that include: (1) adding new program-specific 
versions of the ETA-9173 Quarterly Performance Reports (QPRs)--INAP 
Youth, and NFJP Housing, and 508 compliant versions for each template. 
(2) adding data elements needed by program offices, (new elements, and 
checks/unchecks); and (3) revising element names, definitions/
instructions, and code fields to enhance the clarity of the collection. 
DOL is also proposing updates in this collection to adhere to the new 
requirements in OMB's Statistical Policy Directive No. 15 on Race and 
Ethnicity. Until the Department of Education is able to update its 
corresponding ICRs, the Joint ICR (OMB Control No. 1205-0526) will 
continue to use the same categories for Race and Ethnicity as 
previously approved. During the transition period, DOL will combine the 
Race categories for ``White'' and ``Middle Eastern or North African'' 
into a single ``White'' category in the joint ICR for the WIOA 
Statewide Performance Report (ETA-9169). Similarly, DOL will continue 
to calculate ``More than one Race'' according to the Joint ICR for the 
WIOA Statewide Performance Report (ETA-9169), while using ``Multiracial 
and/or Multiethnic'' in the DOL-only Quarterly Performance Reports 
(ETA-9173).
    These revisions do not add burden to the collection. The added 
templates accommodate data collection that has previously been 
collected using different approved templates associated with this 
collection.
    Section 116 of WIOA (29 U.S.C. 3141) authorizes this information 
collection. The Department of Labor's (DOL)'s Employment and Training 
Administration (ETA) developed the (Program) Performance Report (ETA-
9173) and the Pay-for-Performance Report (ETA-9174) to facilitate State 
performance reporting. In order to collect the participant level data 
that will be aggregated and displayed in the (Program) Performance 
Report (ETA-9173) quarterly and the Pay-for-Performance Report (ETA-
9174) annual reports, States will use a standardized individual record 
file for program participants, called the DOL Participant Individual 
Record Layout (PIRL, ETA-9172). The PIRL provides a standardized set of 
data elements, definitions, and reporting instructions that will be 
used to describe the characteristics, activities, and outcomes of WIOA 
and DOL partner program participants. States and grantees will be 
required to collect participant information that corresponds with the 
data elements and descriptions delineated within the PIRL. Once 
collected, this information will then be aggregated according to the 
conditions outlined in the specifications found within the Program 
Performance Report spreadsheet. This document details the common data 
elements and technical specifications necessary for calculation of 
reporting elements under all the DOL programs listed in the paragraph 
below. Once aggregated, the outcomes of the PIRL data will be submitted 
by the States and grantees to ETA and then displayed according to the 
framework within the (Program) Performance Report. Each program 
mentioned in this supporting statement will generate a program specific 
report that mirrors the construct of the (Program) Performance Report. 
DOL requires States and grantees to certify and submit the (Program) 
Performance Report to ETA on a quarterly basis.
    This ICR is the product of a joint effort among the DOL offices 
that administer the following programs: WIOA Adult, WIOA Dislocated 
Worker, WIOA Youth, National Dislocated Worker Grants, Dislocated 
Worker Projects authorized under WIOA sec. 169(c), Wagner-Peyser 
Employment Service, National Farmworker Jobs Program, Job Corps, 
YouthBuild, Indian and Native American Program, as well as non-WIOA 
covered programs, including Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), REO, H-
1B discretionary grants, Senior Community Service Employment Program 
(SCSEP), Apprenticeship grants, and the Jobs for Veterans' State Grants 
Programs. While H-1B grants, TAA, SCSEP, Apprenticeship grants and the 
REO programs are not authorized under WIOA, these programs utilize the 
data element definitions and reporting templates in this ICR.
    The accuracy, reliability, and comparability of program reports 
submitted by States and grantees using Federal funds are fundamental 
elements of good public administration and are necessary tools for 
maintaining and demonstrating system integrity. The use of a standard 
set of data elements, definitions, and specifications at all levels of 
the workforce system helps states to coordinate funding and leverage 
resources available to create a more efficient and effective system to 
improve the quality of the performance information that is received by 
DOL.
    The set of primary indicators of performance represents the key 
results that ETA strives to achieve for their customers, and that ETA 
and Congress are interested in measuring. Using this set of primary 
indicators affords ETA the ability to describe, in a similar manner, 
the core purposes of the workforce system--through the program services 
received, how many people found jobs; what were their earnings; and 
what skill gains they achieved. They are an integral part of ETA's 
performance accountability system, and through the Workforce 
Performance Accountability, Information, and Reporting System, ETA will 
continue to collect from States and grantees the data on program 
activities, participants, and outcomes that are necessary for program 
management and to convey full and

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accurate information on the performance of workforce programs to 
policymakers and stakeholders.
    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 DOL Only 1205-0521.
    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: DOL-only Performance Accountability, 
Information, and Reporting System.
    Forms: DOL Participant Individual Record Layout (PIRL, ETA-9172); 
(Program). Performance Report (ETA-9173); Pay-for Performance Report 
(ETA-9174).
    OMB Control Number: 1205-0521.
    Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 22,687,331.
    Frequency: Varies.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 46,167,618.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: Varies.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 11,735,522.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Cost Burden: $9,491,287.
    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A).

Jos[eacute] Javier Rodr[iacute]guez,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Labor.
[FR Doc. 2024-13436 Filed 6-18-24; 8:45 am]
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