[Federal Register: March 31, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 60)]
[Notices]               
[Page 14581]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31mr09-93]                         


[[Page 14581]]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

 
Proposed Information Collection Request for ETA Handbook No. 391, 
Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees; Comment Request for 
Extension Without Change

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 collection 
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.
    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 or by accessing: http://www.doleta.gov/OMBCN/
OMBControlNumber.cfm.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before June 1, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Quinn Watt, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and 
Training Administration, Room S-4231, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20210, Phone: (202) 693-3483 (This is not a toll-free 
number), Fax: (202) 693-3975, e-mail: Watt.Quinn@dol.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Chapter 5 U.S.C. 8506 states that ``Each agency of the United 
States and each wholly or partially owned instrumentality of the United 
States shall make available to State agencies which have agreements, or 
the Secretary of Labor, as the case may be, such information concerning 
the Federal service and Federal wages of a Federal employee as the 
Secretary considers practicable and necessary for the determination of 
the entitlement of the Federal employee to compensation under this 
subchapter.'' The information shall include the findings of the 
employing agency concerning--
    (1) Whether or not the Federal employee has performed Federal 
service;
    (2) The periods of Federal Service;
    (3) The amount of Federal wages; and
    (4) The reasons for termination of Federal service.
    The law (5 U.S.C. 8501, et seq.) requires State Workforce Agencies 
(SWA's) to administer the UCFE (Unemployment Compensation for Federal 
Employees) program in accordance with the same terms and provisions of 
the paying State's unemployment insurance law which apply to unemployed 
claimants who worked in the private sector. SWA's must be able to 
obtain certain information (wage, separation data) about each claimant 
filing claims for UCFE benefits to enable them to determine his/her 
eligibility for benefits. The Department of Labor has prescribed forms 
to enable SWAs to obtain this necessary information from the 
individual's Federal employing agency. Each of these forms is essential 
to the UCFE claims process and the frequency of use varies depending 
upon the circumstances involved. The UCFE forms are: ETA-931, ETA-931A, 
ETA-933, ETA-934, ETA-935, ETA-936, ETA-939, and ETA 8-32.

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

    Type of Review: Extension without change.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration (ETA).
    Title: ETA Handbook No. 391 (Unemployment Compensation for Federal 
Employees).
    OMB Number: 1205-0179.
    Agency Number: ETA Handbook No. 391.
    Affected Public: State Governments.
    Total Respondents: 53.
    Frequency: While all UCFE claims require an ETA 931 and ETA 935, 
the other forms are used as needed.
    Total Responses: 131,142 responses.
    Average Time per Response: 3 seconds per response.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 111 hours.
    Total Burden Cost (Capital/Startup): $0.
    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.

    Dated: March 25, 2009.
Cheryl Atkinson,
Administrator, Office of Workforce Security.
[FR Doc. E9-7121 Filed 3-30-09; 8:45 am]

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