Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Experience Rating Report; Extension Without Change

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training Administration, is soliciting comments concerning a proposed extension for the authority to conduct the information collection request (ICR) titled, “Experience Rating Report.” 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 February 26, 2018.

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 Edward M. Dullaghan by telephone at (202)-693-2927, TTY 1-877-889-5627 (these are not toll-free numbers) or by email at dullaghan.edward@dol.gov.

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, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Francis Perkins Building, Room S-4524, Washington, DC 20210; or by Fax (202) 696-3975.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Robert Pavosevich by telephone at (202) 693-2935 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at pavosevich.robert@dol.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The 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 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.

The data submitted annually on the ETA 204 report enables the Employment and Training Administration to project revenues for the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program on a state-by-state basis and to measure the variations in assigned contribution rates which result from different experience rating systems. Used in conjunction with other data, the ETA 204 assists in determining the effects of certain factors (e.g., stabilization, expansion, or contraction in employment, etc.) on the unemployment experience of various groups of employers. The data also provide an early signal for potential solvency problems and are useful in analyzing factors which give rise to these potential problems and permit an evaluation of the effectiveness of the various approaches available to correct the detected problems. The report collects annual information about the taxation efforts in states relative to both taxable and total wages and allows comparison between states. Further, the data are key components to the Significant Tax Measures Report. The Significant Tax Measures Report provides the information necessary to evaluate and compare state UI tax systems. 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A) 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 the 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 1205-0164.

Submitted comments will also be a matter of public record for this ICR and posted on the internet, without redaction. The DOL encourages commenters not to include personally identifiable information, confidential business data, or other sensitive statements/information in any comments.

The 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: Extension without change.

Title of Collection: Experience Rating Report.

Form: ETA-204.

OMB Control Number: 1205-0164.

Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 53.

Frequency: Annual.

Total Estimated Annual Responses: 53.

Estimated Average Time per Response: 30 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 27 hours.

Total Estimated Annual Other Cost Burden: $0.

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