Proposed Collection of the ETA 539, Weekly Claims and Extended Benefits Trigger Data and the ETA 538, Advance Weekly Initial and Continued Claims Report; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

Proposed Collection of the ETA 539, Weekly Claims and Extended

Benefits Trigger Data and the ETA 538, Advance Weekly Initial and

Continued Claims Report; 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

collection of the ETA 538, Advance Weekly Initial and Continued Claims

Report and the ETA 539, Weekly Claims and Extended Benefits Trigger.

The proposed change is to the reported initial claims figure on the ETA

538. With the advent of increased direct telephone claims taking of

interstate initial claims, to have the most accurate and timely data

requires the interstate component of this item be changed to the sum of

all agent and liable interstate claims taken directly by the State in

the report. 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 February 25, 1997.

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 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.

ADDRESSES: Cynthia Ambler, Unemployment Insurance Service, Employment

and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, room S-4231, 200

Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC, 20210; telephone number (202)

219-9204; fax (202) 219-8506 (these are not toll free numbers) or e-

mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The ETA 538 and ETA 539 reports contain information on initial

claims and continued weeks claimed. These figures are important

economic indicators. The ETA 538 is a quick look that allows U.S.

figures to be released to the public five days after the close of the

period. The ETA 539 contains more refined economic indicators that are

publishable on a State level as well as information of the Extended

Benefits trigger level and the background data supporting it. Several

States have begun using the telephone for interstate claimants to file

directly with liable States, by-passing the agent State. This trend

will continue. It is necessary to change what is being reported as

initial claims on the ETA 538 so that claims are not double counted or

missed entirely. Therefore the definition of interstate claims to be

reported on the ETA 538 has been changed to all those claims received

directly from the claimant by the reporting State, whether in an agent

or liable capacity, during the report week.

II. Current Actions

The ETA 538 and ETA 539 reports continue to be needed to verify the

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trigger for the Extended Benefits program and to allow publication of

timely and accurate economic indicators for the nation.

Type of review: Extension with change.

Agency: Employment and Training Administration.

Title: Weekly Claims and Extended Benefits Trigger Data Advance

Weekly Initial and Continued Claims Report.

OMB Number: 1205-0028.

Agency Number: ETA 538 and ETA 539.

Affected Public: State Government.

Cite/Reference/Form/etc: ETA 538 and ETA 539.

Total Respondents: 53.

Frequency: Weekly.

Total Responses: 5,512.

Average Time per Response: 20 minutes.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 3,675.

Total Burden Cost (capital/start): Estimated at $110,240 which is

an allowable cost under the administrative grants awarded to States by

the Federal Government.

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: December 18, 1996.

Mary Ann Wyrsch,

Director, Unemployment Insurance Service.

[FR Doc. 96-33024 Filed 12-26-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-30-M