Comment Request for Proposed Information Collection for Employment and Training Administration Financial Report Form #9130 (OMB Control No. 1205-0461), Extension With Changes

AGENCY:

Employment and Training Administration (ETA), 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 collections 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. Currently, the Employment and Training Administration is soliciting comments concerning the collection of data for quarterly financial reporting on federally funded programs, on Form ETA-9130 (currently due to expire December 31, 2015).

A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addressee section of this notice.

DATES:

Submit written comments to the office listed in the addresses section below on or before October 5, 2015.

ADDRESSES:

Send written comments to Maggie Ewell, Division of Policy, Review, and Resolution, Office of Grants Management, Room N-4716, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210. Telephone number: 202-693-3160 (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). Fax: 202-693-2705. Email: Ewell.Maggie@dol.gov. To obtain a copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR), please contact the person listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

ETA awards approximately $8 billion in formula and discretionary grants each year to an average of 1,000 recipients. Financial reports for each of these grants must be submitted quarterly on the financial report form ETA-9130. Recipients include but are not limited to: State Employment Security Agencies which are comprised of three components: Wagner Peyser Employment Service, Unemployment Insurance program, and Trade Program Grant Agreements; as well as Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth, Adult, and Dislocated Worker programs; National Dislocated Worker Grants; National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP); Indian and Native American programs; the Senior Community Service Employment Program; Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act discretionary grants; and H-1B Job Training Grants.

Financial reporting requirements for Federal programs prescribed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) have changed with the implementation of the Uniform Guidance, which went into effect on December 26, 2014, replacing numerous previously applicable Circulars. These changes affect both the ETA-9130 reporting form and its instructions. However, they do not affect the collection burden, but instead only update certain key terms and definitions.

Additionally, with the passage of WIOA, there are numerous new statutory requirements that impact financial reporting, including but not limited to new and/or revised limitations and baselines that require the addition of new and modification of existing reporting line items on ETA-9130 Financial Reports, as outlined in this TEGL. Other reporting line items have been added and removed in an effort to streamline Federal financial reporting and make form ETA-9130 more closely resemble the SF-425 (OMB 0348-0061), which is the standard financial reporting form for Federal grant recipients.

ETA has utilized the data collected to assess the effectiveness of ETA programs and to monitor and analyze the financial activity of its grantees. Grantees are provided with pre-designed software to reflect the requirements of ETA Form 9130 so that the required data will be reported electronically. ETA strives to reduce reporting time for our recipients. Several sections of the 9130 have pre-filled line items or automatically calculated line items, which is convenient and time saving for our recipients.

This data collection format permits ETA to evaluate program effectiveness and to monitor and analyze financial activity, while complying with OMB efforts to streamline Federal financial reporting.

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: Revised collection.

Title: US DOL Employment and Training Administration Financial Reporting Form, ETA 9130.

OMB Number: 1205-0461.

Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments.

Estimated Total Annual Respondents: 1,000.

Estimated Total Annual Responses: 20,000.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 15,000.

Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: $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.