Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Reentry Employment Opportunity (REO) Evaluation

ACTION:

Notice of availability; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Chief Evaluation Office (CEO)-sponsored information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

DATES:

The OMB will consider all written comments that agency receives on or before August 16, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function.

Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) if the information will be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden and cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (4) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (5) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Crystal Rennie by telephone at 202-693-0456 or by email at DOL_PRA_PUBLIC@dol.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The overall aim of the evaluation is to determine whether the REO programs improve employment outcomes and workforce readiness for young adults and adults with previous involvement in the criminal justice system. CEO contracted with Mathematica and its subcontractor, Social Policy Research Associates, to conduct this evaluation. The evaluation will include an implementation study and an impact study. This package requests clearance for four data collection instruments: Grantee survey, Semistructured interview protocol, Participant focus group protocol and Employer focus group protocol. For additional substantive information about this ICR, see the related notice published in the Federal Register on March 6, 2019 (84 FR 8117). To better assess the program, the current data collection instruments include a number of additional questions about COVID-19 and how the program adapted during the pandemic. All other questions remain the same.

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 the OMB approves it 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 OMB Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.

DOL seeks PRA authorization for this information collection for three (3) years. OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than three (3) years without renewal. The DOL notes that information collection requirements submitted to the OMB for existing ICRs receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo review.

Agency: DOL-CEO.

Title of Collection: Reentry Employment Opportunity Evaluation.

OMB Control Number: 1290-0NEW.

Affected Public: Individuals or Household.

Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 470.

Total Estimated Number of Responses: 470.

Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: 631 hours.

Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $0.

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