Comment Request for Information Collection for OMB 1205-0028, Weekly Initial and Continued Claims (ETA 538 and ETA 539); Extension Without Revision

AGENCY:

Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Labor.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor (Department), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps ensure that 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 on respondents can be properly assessed.

Currently, ETA is soliciting comments concerning the collection of data about the Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims data collection, which expires October 31, 2015.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the ADDRESSES section below on or before May 26, 2015.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments to Thomas Stengle, Office of Unemployment Insurance, RoomS-4524, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210. Telephone number: 202-693-3029 (this is not a toll-free number). Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may access the telephone number above via TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Information Relay Service at 1-877-889-5627 (TTY/TDD). Email: Stengle.Thomas@dol.gov. To obtain a copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR), please contact the person listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The ETA 538 and ETA 539 reports are weekly reports which contain information on initial claims and continued weeks claimed. These figures are important economic indicators. The ETA 538 provides information that allows unemployment claims information to be released to the public five days after the close of the reference period. The ETA 539 contains more detailed weekly claims information and the state's 13-week insured unemployment rate which is used to determine eligibility for the Extended Benefits program.

II. Review Focus

The Department is particularly interested in comments which:

• 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 submissions of responses.

III. Current Actions

Type of Review: Extension without revision.

Title: Weekly Initial and Continued Claims, ETA 538 and ETA 539.

OMB Number: 1205-0028.

Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies.

Estimated Total Annual Responses: 104 (52 weekly responses for each of the two reports).

Average Time per Response: 30 minutes per submittal for the ETA 538, 50 minutes per submittal for the ETA 539.

Estimated Total Burden Hours:

ETA 538—53 States × 52 reports × 30 min. = 1,378 hours.

ETA 539—53 States × 52 reports × 50 min. = 2,297 hours.

Total Burden = 3,675 hours.

Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $0.

We will summarize and/or include in the request for OMB approval of the ICR, the comments received in response to this comment request; they will also become a matter of public record.