Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Institutional Analysis of American Job Centers Study

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the information collection request (ICR) proposal titled, “Institutional Analysis of American Job Centers,” to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for use in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES:

The OMB will consider all written comments that agency receives on or before January 27, 2016.

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 of charge from the RegInfo.gov Web site at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201506-1225-001 (this link will only become active on the day following publication of this notice) or by contacting Seleda Perryman by telephone at 202-693-4131 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov.

Submit comments about this request by mail or courier to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for DOL-DM, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503; by Fax: 202-395-5806 (this is not a toll-free number); or by email: OIRA_submission@omb.eop.gov. Commenters are encouraged, but not required, to send a courtesy copy of any comments by mail or courier to the U.S. Department of Labor-OASAM, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Attn: Departmental Information Compliance Management Program, Room N1301, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210; or by email: DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Contact Seleda Perryman by telephone at 202-693-4131 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov.

Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This ICR seeks PRA authority for the Institutional Analysis of American Job Centers (AJCs) Study information collection. The DOL, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy is sponsoring a comprehensive study to better understand the spectrum of institutional features that shape AJC day-to-day operations and customer experiences in order systematically to document key institutional characteristics of AJCs; present a comprehensive description of AJC funding, organization, administration and management, and service delivery structures and processes; and develop typologies of AJCs that capture the institutional variations documented. To achieve these goals, an in-depth institutional analysis will be conducted that documents AJC operations across 10 research domains: (1) Administrative structure; (2) partnerships; (3) performance and strategic management; (4) staffing; (5) physical environment; (6) Management Information System capacity and the use of technology— including electronic tools and resources; (7) service delivery structure and linkages; (8) the program and service mix provided; (9) outreach; and (10) funding. In addition, the study will consider external factors that are particularly important for understanding AJC structure, operations, policies, and processes. These include LWIBs and state-level workforce agencies that have administrative and oversight responsibilities over AJCs.

This ICR seeks clearance for (1) site visits to AJCs; (2) telephone interviews with state workforce administrators in states where site visits are conducted; and (3) a network analysis survey of selected study AJC partner organizations. To select AJCs for site visits, the study team will employ a two-stage sampling approach that will yield a purposive sample of AJCs. This approach aims to capture geographic diversity and variation in the types of administrative entities that operate AJCs. In the first stage of site selection, the study team will randomly select 80 comprehensive AJCs. In the second stage, the study team will select AJCs using purposive sampling based on variation in the types of administrative entities that manage AJC operations, geographic location, and urbanity.

This proposed 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 if the collection of information does not display a valid Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6. For additional information, see the related notice published in the Federal Register on August 1, 2014.

Interested parties are encouraged to send comments to the OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the address shown in the ADDRESSES section within thirty (30) days of publication of this notice in the Federal Register. In order to help ensure appropriate consideration, comments should mention OMB ICR Reference Number 1225-001. The OMB 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-DM.

Title of Collection: Institutional Analysis of American Job Centers Study.

OMB ICR Reference Number: 1225-001.

Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments and Private Sector—businesses or other for-profits and not-for-profit institutions.

Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 2459.

Total Estimated Number of Responses: 2459.

Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 2978 hours.

Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.