Proposed Information Collection Request for Unemployment Insurance (UI) Title XII Advances and Voluntary Repayment Process; Comment Request for Extension Without Change

AGENCY:

Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collection of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps to 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.

A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the ADDRESSES section of this notice or by accessing: http://www.doleta.gov/OMBCN/OMBControlNumber.cfm.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the ADDRESSES section below on or before July 21, 2009.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments to Scott Gibbons, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Office of Workforce Security, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Frances Perkins Bldg., Room S-4231, Washington, DC 20210, telephone number (202) 693-3008 (this is not a toll-free number) or by e-mail: gibbons.scott@dol.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

Title XII Section 1201 of the SSA provides for advances to States from the Federal Unemployment Account. The law further sets out specific requirements to be met by a State requesting an advance:

○ The Governor must apply for the advance;

○ The application must cover a three month period and the Secretary of Labor must be furnished with estimates of the amounts needed in each month of the three month period;

○ The application must be made on such forms and shall contain such information and data (fiscal and otherwise) concerning the operation and administration of the State unemployment compensation law as the Secretary of Labor deems necessary or relevant to the performance of his or her duties under this title;

○ The amount required by any State for the payment of compensation in any month shall be determined with due allowance for contingencies and taking into account all other amounts that will be available in the State's unemployment fund for the payment of compensation in such month;

○ The term “compensation” means cash benefits payable to individuals with respect to their unemployment exclusive of expenses of administration.

Section 1202(a) of the SSA provides that the Governor of any State may at any time request that funds be transferred from the account of such State to the FUA in repayment of part or all of the balance of advances made to such State under section 1201. These applications and repayments may be requested by an individual designated for that authority in writing by the Governor. DOL proposes to extend this procedure through August 2012.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

Currently, the Employment and Training Administration is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of this collection. Comments are requested to:

* Evaluate whether the proposed extension of the current procedure 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 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 change.

Agency: Employment and Training Administration (ETA).

Title: Unemployment Insurance (UI) Title XII Advances and Voluntary Repayment Process.

OMB Number: 1205-0199.

Agency Number: Not applicable.

Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies.

Total Respondents: Up to 53.

Frequency: As needed, based on a State's discretion.

Total Responses: DOL currently projects that on average, 27 States could borrow during each calendar year from 2010 through 2012. Although it's impossible to know the exact number of responses, the maximum would be 4 requests for advances and 4 requests for voluntary repayments per State each year. This will result in 648 total responses over the three year window or an average of 216 responses per year.

Average Time per Response: 1 hour.

Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 216.

Total Burden Cost (Capital/Startup): $0.

Total Burden Cost (Operating/Maintaining): $0.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the information collection request; they will also become a matter of public record.