Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations; ETA 218, Benefit Rights and Experience

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 proposed extension of the ETA 218, Benefits Rights and Experience. 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.

DATES:

Submit comments on or before April 27, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments to: Thomas Stengle, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Room S-4231, 200 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20210. Phone number: 202-693-2991. (This is not a toll free number.) E-mail: stengle.thomas@dol.gov. Fax: 202-693-3229.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

Attachment to the labor force, usually measured as amount of past wages earned, is used to determine eligibility for state unemployment compensation programs. The data in the ETA 218, Benefit Rights and Experience Report, includes numbers of individuals who were and were not monetarily eligible, those eligible for the maximum benefits, those eligible based on classification by potential duration categories, and those exhausting their full entitlement as classified by actual duration categories. These data are used by the National Office in solvency studies, cost estimating and modeling, and assessment of State benefit formulas.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

Currently, the Department of Labor is soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension for the collection of the ETA 218, Benefit Rights and Experience report. Comments are requested to:

• 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.

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

Current Actions

Type of Review: Extension without change.

Agency: Employment and Training Administration, Office of Workforce Security.

Title: Benefit Rights and Experience.

OMB Number: 1205-0177.

Agency Number: ETA 218.

Recordkeeping: 3 year record retention.

Affected Public: State governments.

Cite/Reference/Form/etc: Social Security Act, section 303(a)(6).

Total Respondents: 53.

Frequency: Quarterly.

Total Responses: 216.

Average Time per Response: .5 hour.

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.