Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), Program Operating Forms

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), Program Operating Forms

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 proposed one year extension of previous

approval by OMB of the attached DUA Program Operating Forms (ETA 81,

ETA 81A, ETA 82, ETA 83 and ETA 84). 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 July 22, 1996.

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 clarify of the

information to be collected; and

[[Page 25899]]

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.

ADDRESSEE: Mary Ann Wyrsch, Director, Unemployment Insurance Service,

Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room

S4231, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210, telephone

number (202) 219-7831 (this is not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

Public Law 100-707 (Sections 410 and 423) provide for benefit

assistance to ``any individual unemployed as a result of a major

disaster.'' SESA's, through agreements between the States and the

Secretary of Labor, act as agents of the Secretary for the purpose of

providing assistance to applicants in the various States who are

unemployed as a result of a major disaster. The forms in Chapters III

through VII of the Disaster Unemployment Assistance Handbook are used

in connection with the provision of this benefit assistance.

(Previously cleared for use thru OMB by ETA under OMB No. 1205-0051.)

Form ETA 81 is an application form which is required to be

completed by every applicant for Disaster Unemployment Assistance

(DUA); DUA Form ETA 81A is a supplemental form to be completed by self-

employed (or self employed prior to the disaster) applicants only; Form

ETA 82 is used by the State agency in making a determination of each

applicant's entitlement to DUA and to notify the applicant of the

determination; Section A of Form ETA 83 is completed by the applicant

each time (weekly or bi-weekly) he/she continues to request assistance

to ensure continued entitlement, and Section B is completed by the

State agency to notify the applicant of his/her current eligibility

status; and Form ETA 84 is used by the State agency to notify overdrawn

participants in the DUA program of the weeks and the cause of

overpayment. These forms are prescribed by the Secretary under 20 CFR

625.8 and 625.9 and are all necessary to the operation of the program.

II. Current Actions

The forms (described above) are used by SESA's in operating the

program and are not reports per se. The continuation of this existing

use of these forms by SESA's is essential to the operation of the DUA

program. Because time is of the essence in making benefit payments due

as a result of a major disaster, application data relating to the

disaster are requested by State agencies through a number of

appropriate forms. As previously indicated, if data were requested less

frequently, determinations as to eligibility would be much more

erratic, and the overall monitoring of the program as required by the

Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, in

order to insure adequate administration--yet expeditious

administration--would be greatly impaired. Effective accounting of

disaster unemployment assistance benefits and other emergency

expenditures would also be hampered.

Type of Review: Extension.

Agency: Employment and Training Administration.

Title: Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) Program Operating

Forms.

OMB Number: 1205-0051.

Agency Number(s): ETA 81, ETA 81A, ETA 82, ETA 83, and ETA 84.

Affected Public: Individuals/State Government.

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Average time

Cite/reference Total Frequency Total per response Burden in hours

respondents responses (hours)

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ETA 81.......................................... 11,000 Annually........................... 11,000 \1/3\ 3,666

ETA 81A......................................... 3,800 Annually........................... 3,800 \1/4\ 950

ETA 82.......................................... 11,000 Annually........................... 11,000 \1/4\ 2,750

ETA 83.......................................... 11,000 Annually........................... 66,000 \1/4\ 16,500

ETA 84.......................................... 235 Annually........................... 235 \1/2\ 117

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Totals...................................... 11,000 ................................... 92,035 .............. 23,983

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Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.00.

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $148,922.

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: May 15, 1996.

Mary Ann Wyrsch,

Director, Unemployment Insurance Service, Employment and Training

Administration.

[FR Doc. 96-13008 Filed 5-22-96; 8:45 am]

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