[Federal Register: April 10, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 69)]
[Notices]
[Page 17677-17678]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10ap03-135]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Proposed Collection; Comment Request
AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Notice.
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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 (ETA) is
soliciting comments concerning the proposed extension of data
collection using the ETA Form 9023, Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA)/
North American Free Trade Agreement Transitional Adjustment Assistance
(NAFTA-TAA) Program Financial Status Report/Request for Funds (1205-
0275, expires 4/31/2003). Efforts are currently underway to transition
financial reporting on the TAA and NAFTA-TAA programs to the Standard
Form 269. This transition will make financial reporting uniform across
all ETA programs. It should be noted that the ETA-9023 will continue to
be used by States to request supplemental funding for both the TAA and
NAFTA-TAA programs.
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: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the
addressee section below on or before June 9, 2003.
ADDRESSEE: Edward A. Tomchick, Director, Division of Trade Adjustment
Assistance, Room C-5311, 200 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC
20210. Phone (202) 693-3577 (this is not a toll-free number), fax (202)
693-3584, e-mail etomchick@doleta.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002 consolidated the
Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and North American Free Trade
Agreement--Transitional Adjustment Assistance (NAFTA-TAA) programs into
one program for trade affected workers. However; earlier amendments to
the Trade Act of 1974, contained in the Omnibus Trade and
Competitiveness Act (OTCA) of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-418) and Title 5 of the
North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (Pub. L. 103-
182) of 1993 made some significant changes and additions to the way
worker adjustment assistance programs for trade-affected workers are
funded and administered. These changes made enrollment in training an
entitlement for workers adversely affected by imports (TAA program) or
by imports from Canada or Mexico (NAFTA-TAA program). The TAA and
NAFTA-TAA trade programs provide monies for trade readjustment
allowances, job search allowances, job relocation allowances and
training. In order for workers to receive trade readjustment allowances
for the maximum amount of time permitted, they must be enrolled in a
training program approved by the Secretary of Labor (section 423 of
OTCA) for the TAA program and (section 250 of the NAFTA Implementation
Act) for the NAFTA-TAA program. Although training becomes an
entitlement under both programs if certain regulatory criteria are met,
the OTCA imposed a training cap in section 236 of the TAA program and
under subchapter D for the NAFTA-TAA program. Under the Trade
Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002, the statutory cap for
training dollars is $220 million. The purpose of the collection of this
information on the form ETA-9023 is to be able to monitor
[[Page 17678]]
expenditures for training and related activities for both programs to
ensure that the statutory ceiling is not exceeded. Tracking of
expenditures for the NAFTA-TAA program will occur until all funds have
been expended or the State submits a final report--at which time the
NAFTA-TAA program will be phased out in accordance with the Trade
Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002. Additionally, the Secretary
of Labor is responsible for ensuring that resources are equitably
distributed to the States. This form enables the ETA to evaluate a
State's need for resources and to distribute resources among States as
necessary.
II. Review Focus
The Department of Labor 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
The ETA-9023 has been successfully utilized by the ETA and the
States with only minor modifications since Fiscal Year 1989. The
Federal Register Notice requests an extension of the ETA-9023 for both
the reformed TAA program and the NAFTA-TAA program--the latter only
until monies for it expire. Overall, States have done a commendable job
in completing the form with relatively minor problems or questions
raised by the States on the form. The ETA-9023 has been extremely
important to the ETA over the last several years because the entire
funding available, under the statutory cap for the Trade program for
training was allocated to the States. The ETA-9023 report was critical
in allowing ETA to be able to distribute resources equitably among
States so the maximum number of eligible participants seeking training
could obtain it.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
Title: Trade Adjustment Assistance/NAFTA Financial Status Report/
Request for Funds.
OMB Number: 1205-0275.
Agency Number: ETA-9023.
Affected Public: State Governments, State Workforce Agencies.
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Average
Total Total time per Total
Cite/Reference respondents/ Frequency responses response requested
responses (hours) burden
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TAA Reporting..................................... 50 5 250 2 500
NAFTA Reporting................................... 50 5 250 2 500
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Totals........................................ ............ .......... 500 .......... 1,000
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The total costs is $26.00 x 100 hours = $26,000. Comments submitted
in response to this comment request 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.
Dated: April 4, 2003.
Shirley Smith,
Administrator, Employment and Training Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-8842 Filed 4-9-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P