[Federal Register: December 10, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 236)]
[Notices]               
[Page 69648-69649]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10de07-47]                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

 
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. chapter 35).
    Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
    Title: Government Employment Forms.
    OMB Control Number: 0607-0452.
    Form Number(s): E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4, E-5, E-6, E-7, E-9.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Burden Hours: 14,733.
    Number of Respondents: 18,160.
    Average Hours Per Response: 49 minutes.
    Needs and Uses: This information collection request covers the 
questionnaires needed to conduct the public employment program for the 
2008 and 2009 Annual Survey of Government Employment.
    The questionnaires for collecting the data are described below. 
There are eight survey forms used to collect data on government 
employment, pay, and hours. Since there are many different types and 
sizes of governments, each form is tailored to the unique 
characteristics of the type and size of government or government agency 
to be surveyed.

E-1 State agencies, excluding state colleges and universities
E-2 State colleges and universities
E-3 Dependent agencies of local governments, Single function special 
district governments
E-4 County governments, Municipal and township governments with 
populations of 1,000 or more
E-5 Municipalities and Townships (A shortened version of the E-4 form 
to be completed by Municipalities and Townships with a population of <  
1,000)
E-6 Elementary and secondary school systems, Local government operated 
institutions of higher education
E-7 Multifunction dependent agencies and fire protection agencies, 
Multifunction special district governments
E-9 State police, County Sheriff departments

    The type of employment and pay data collected by the public 
employment program in the 2008 and 2009 Annual Survey of Government 
Employment is identical to data collected in recent annual surveys of 
government employment. By state, the 2008 and 2009 Employment sample 
supports estimates of total local government employment and payrolls by 
type of government and government function.
    Statistics compiled from data gathered using these forms are used 
in several important Federal government programs. Economists at the 
Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) use the statistics in two ways for 
developing the National Income and Product Accounts. First, the 
employment data are used in developing price deflators for the 
government sector components of the gross domestic product accounts. 
Secondly, the employment and payroll data are used in developing the 
government sector components for the national and sub-national personal 
income accounts and tables.
    The regional BEA program uses the Census of governments and the 
Annual Survey of Government Employment to derive state-level estimates 
of the employment and wages and salaries of students and their spouses 
who are employed by public institutions of higher education in which 
the students are enrolled. There is no other national or state source 
for information on student workers at state institutions of higher 
education.
    The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) determines 
the allocation of operating subsidies to local housing authorities 
based on these survey data. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) used 
these data in its benchmarking procedures for state and local 
government components of the BLS monthly employment and earnings 
statistics.
    The employment data are used for two other data collection efforts 
currently conducted by the Census Bureau. The Medical Expenditures 
Panel Survey (MEPS) collects data for the Department of Health and 
Human Services (HHS) on health plans offered to state and local 
government employees. The MEPS sample of public employees is drawn from 
the Census of Governments Employment file. The Criminal Justice 
Employment and Expenditure Survey (CJEE) uses employment data to 
provide employee and payroll statistics on police protection and 
correctional activities.
    State and local government officials use these data to analyze and 
assess individual government labor force and wage levels. Both 
management and labor consult these data during wage and salary 
negotiations.
    Public interest groups of many types produce analyses of public 
sector activities using these data. User organizations representing 
state and local government include the Council of State Governments, 
National Conference of State Legislatures, Government Research 
Association, Conference of Mayors, National Association of Counties, 
National League of Cities, and the International City/County Management 
Association. A third category, having a more specific focus on 
government activities, includes organizations such as the Tax 
Foundation, Michigan Taxpayers Association, National Sheriffs 
Association, and the Government Research Association.
    A variety of other organizations and individuals make use of these 
data. Notable research organizations include the American Enterprise 
Institute, The Brookings Institution, the Rand Corporation, the Cato 
Institute, the Hudson Institute, and the Rockefeller Institute of 
Government. The instructors, researchers, and students in schools of 
public administration, political science, management, and industrial 
relations as well as other members of the public also use these data.
    Affected Public: State, local or Tribal government.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Sections 161 and 182.
    OMB Desk Officer: Brian Harris-Kojetin, (202) 395-7314.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0266, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
dhynek@doc.gov).

    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this

[[Page 69649]]

notice to Brian Harris-Kojetin, OMB Desk Officer either by fax (202-
395-7245) or e-mail (bharrisk@omb.eop.gov).

    Dated: December 4, 2007.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
 [FR Doc. E7-23866 Filed 12-7-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-07-P