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,

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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 2, 1999.

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-4522, Frances Perkins Building, 200

Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20210, telephone (202) 219-7301

ext 189 (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 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 individual'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. 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

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 76,647 UCX claims were filed in

FY 1998 and a proposed inventory of 66,126 UCX claims will be reported

for FY 1999 reflecting a significant decrease of 10,521 from the

previous fiscal year resulting in a reduction of -789 hours towards

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.'' 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

the 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 and ETA 843.

Total Respondents: 66,126.

Frequency: As needed.

Total Responses: 66,126.

Average Time per Response: 1.5 min.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,708 hrs.

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Average time

Cite/Reference Total Frequency Total per response Burden (hrs.)

respondents responses (min.)

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ETA 841...................... 66,126 As needed........ 66,126 1.5 1,653

ETA 843...................... 3,306 As needed........ 3,306 1.0 55

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Totals................... .............. ................. 69,432 .............. 1,708

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Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 0.

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $1,526,952.

Comments submitted in response to this comment request will be

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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 30, 1999.

Cheryl Atkinson,

Deputy Director, Unemployment Insurance Service.

[FR Doc. 99-23014 Filed 9-2-99; 8:45 am]

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