[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 53 (Friday, March 18, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14995-14996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6427]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Comment Request for Information Collection for Work-Flex Plan
Submission and Reporting Requirements; Extension With Revisions
AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, DOL.
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 is soliciting
comments concerning the collection of data about the Work Flex Plan
Submission and Reporting Requirements.
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's section below on or before May 17, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Kimberly Vitelli, Division of
Workforce System Support, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution
Avenue, NW., Room C-4510, Washington, DC 20210, Telephone number: 202-
693-3045 (this is not a toll-free number). Fax: 202-693-3015. E-mail:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section 192 of the Workforce Investment Act (Pub. L. 105-220,
August 7, 1998) permits states to apply for a workforce flexibility
(Work-Flex) waiver authority to implement reforms to their workforce
investment systems in exchange for program improvements. The Act
provides that the Secretary may grant Work-Flex waiver authority for up
to five years pursuant to a Work-Flex Plan submitted by a state. Under
Work-Flex, governors are granted the authority to approve requests
submitted by their local areas to waive certain statutory and
regulatory provisions of WIA Title I programs. States may also request
waivers from the Secretary of certain requirements of the Wagner-Peyser
Act (Sections 8-10) as well as certain provisions of the Older
Americans Act for state agencies that administer the Senior Community
Service Employment Program (SCSEP). The intent of the Work-Flex
provision is to provide states and local areas with operational
flexibility to improve employment and training program productivity for
adult, dislocated, and youth populations. One of the underlying
principles for granting Work-Flex waivers is that the waivers will
result in improved performance outcomes for persons served and that
waiver authority will be granted in consideration of improved
performance.
The proposed Work-Flex Quarterly Reporting instructions are
slightly different than the currently approved collection. The
Department of Labor proposes to eliminate four questions requesting
States to provide sums of waivers granted, and replaces it with a
question asking States to explain any conditions it imposes on local
areas granted a waiver under the Work-Flex authority.
Work-Flex Plan Instructions
States requesting designation as a Work-Flex state must submit a
Work-Flex Plan which includes descriptions of:
a. The process by which local areas in the state may submit and
obtain approval by the state of applications for waivers of
requirements applicable under Title I of WIA, including provisions for
public review and comment on local area waiver applications.
b. The statutory and regulatory requirements of Title I that are
likely to be waived by the state under the plan.
c. The requirements applicable under Sections 8-10 of the Wagner-
Peyser Act that are proposed to be waived, if any.
d. The statutory and regulatory requirements of the Older Americans
Act of 1965 applicable to state agencies on aging with respect to
administration of the Senior Community Service Employment Program
(SCSEP) that are proposed to be waived, if any.
e. The outcomes to be achieved by the waiver authority including,
where appropriate, revisions to adjusted levels of performance included
in the State or Local Plan under Title I of WIA.
f. Special administrative measures (in addition to current
procedures) to be taken to ensure appropriate accountability for
Federal funds in connection with the waivers.
g. Prior to submitting a Work-Flex plan, the state must provide all
interested parties and the general public adequate notice and a
reasonable opportunity for comment on the waivers proposed to be
implemented. The plan should describe the process used for ensuring
meaningful public comment, including a description of the
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Governor's and the state Workforce Investment Board's involvement in
drafting, reviewing and commenting.
Work-Flex Quarterly Report: Instructions
Report for each waiver granted:
1. Waiver (assigned by State)
2. Date received
3. Date granted
4. Local Area(s) requesting waiver
5. Purpose (brief statement)
6. Regulation/statute affected.
7. State-imposed conditions of waiver use, as appropriate.
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 with minor revisions.
Title: Work-Flex Plan Submission and Reporting Requirements.
OMB Number: 1205-0432.
Affected Public: State and local governments.
Form: See above instructions. There is no form.
Total Estimated Annual Respondents: 5.
Estimates Annual Frequency: 5 state plans annually; 20 quarterly
reports.
Average Time per Response: 38.4 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 960.
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.
Signed at Washington, DC, this 14th day of March 2011.
Jane Oates,
Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011-6427 Filed 3-17-11; 8:45 am]
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