Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers (UCX) Handbook; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers (UCX) Handbook;

Comment Request

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 revision and extension of the

Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers (UCX) Handbook.

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

addresses section below on or before November 4, 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 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.

[[Page 46667]]

ADDRESSES: Written comments on this notice may be mailed or delivered

to Charles E. Longus, Jr., Unemployment Insurance Service, U.S.

Department of Labor, Room S-4231, Frances Perkins Building, 200

Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20210, telephone (202) 219-5340

ext 16 (this is not a toll-free number), fax number (202) 219-8506.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The UCX law (5 U.S.C. 8521-8523) requires State employment security

agencies to administer the UCX program in accordance with the same

terms and conditions of the paying State's unemployment insurance law

which apply to unemployed claimants who worked in the private sector.

Each State agency must be able to obtain certain military service

information from each claimant filing claims for UCX benefits to enable

them to determine his/her eligibility for benefits. The State agencies

record or obtain required UCX information on forms developed by the

Department of Labor, ETA 841, ETA 842 and ETA 843. The use of each of

these forms is essential to the UCX claims process.

Information pertaining to the UCX claimant can only be obtained

from the individuals's military discharge papers, the appropriate

branch of military service or the Department of Veterans Affairs

(formerly the Veterans Administration). If the claimant does not have

this information available, the most feasible and effective way to

obtain this information is by use of the forms prescribed by the

Department of Labor for State agency use. Without this information, we

could not adequately determine the eligibility of ex-servicemembers and

would not be able to properly administer the program.

II. Current Actions

This is a request for OMB approval under the Paperwork Reduction

Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) of an extension to an existing

collection of information previously approved and assigned OMB control

No. 1205-0176. A current inventory of 255,000 UCX claims were filed in

FY 1994 and a proposed inventory of 138,573 UCX claims will be reported

for FY 1995 reflecting a significant decrease of 116,427 from the

previous fiscal year resulting in a reduction of -3,009 hours toward

ETA's Information Collection Budget.

Fifty-three (53) SESAs fill out these forms. Form ETA 841 is

completed by SESAs whenever an ex-servicemember files: (1) A ``first

claim'' (UCX) for unemployment compensation, whereby an assignment of

Federal military service is recorded; or (2) a request for

determination of entitlement to UCX benefits, whether or not such

request results in a ``first claim.'' Form ETA 842 is very rarely used

under current legislation so our estimate is zero burden. ETA 843 is

used by SESAs only when it is necessary to obtain additional clarifying

information from the military pertaining to the UCX claimant or to

obtain a copy of DD Form 214 that was not issued to the claimant when

separated from military service. Accordingly, the ETA 843 is used for

only 5% of the UCX ``first claims.'' This is then sent to any one of

the four branches of military service (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force),

the Coast Guard, or the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration

(they are considered branches of military service for UCX purposes but

are not under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense).

Type of Review: Revision.

Agency: Employment and Training Administration.

Title: Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers (UCX)

Handbook.

OMB Number: 1205-0176.

Recordkeeping: The Department of Labor (DOL) does not maintain a

system of records for the UCX program. UCX records are maintained by

the SESAs acting as agents for the Federal Government in the

administration of the UCX program. The DOL procedures permit the SESAs,

upon request, to dispose of UCX records according to State law

provisions, 3 years after final action (including appeals or court

action) on the claim, or such records may be transferred in less than

3-year period if microphotographed in accordance with appropriate

microphotography standards.

Affected Public: State governments (State employment security

agencies).

Cite/Reference/Form/etc: Forms ETA 841, ETA 842 and ETA 843

Total Respondents: 138,573

Frequency: As needed

Total Responses: 138,573

Average Time per Response: 1.5 min.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 3,579 hrs. or chart for multiple

forms/information collections.

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Average

Total Total time per Burden

Cite/reference respondents Frequency responses response (hrs.)

(min.)

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ETA 841............................... 138,573 As needed.................. 138,573 1.5 3,464

ETA 842............................... 0 As needed.................. 0 0 0

ETA 843............................... 6,929 As needed.................. 6,929 1.0 115

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Totals.......................... ........... ........................... 145,502 .......... 3,579

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Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 0.

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $3,201,036.

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: August 28, 1996.

Mary Ann Wyrsch,

Director, Unemployment Insurance Service.

[FR Doc. 96-22511 Filed 9-3-96; 8:45 am]

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