Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations; Extension of the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Title XII Advances Process

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

Proposed Information Collection Request Submitted for Public

Comment and Recommendations; Extension of the Unemployment Insurance

(UI) Title XII Advances Process

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL), 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 extension of the process for

requesting advances from the Federal Unemployment Account (FUA) and

repayment of such advances under Title XII of the Social Security

Act(SSA). Technically, there is no request for information. There is,

however, a paperwork burden on States because they must prepare and

transmit formal requests for the authority to request advances and the

repayment of said advances.

A copy of the proposed procedure can be obtained by contacting the

addressee listed below.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before November 12,

1999.

ADDRESSES: Office of Workforce Security, Employment and Training

Administration, Department of Labor, Room C 4514, 200 Constitution Ave,

NW., Washington, DC 20210; 202 219-7831 (this is not a toll-free

number).

[[Page 49513]]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James E. Herbert 202-219-5653,

[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

Title XII section 1201 of the SSA provides for advances to States

from the FUA. The law further sets out specific requirements to be met

by a State requesting an advance:

The Governor must apply for the advance;

The application must cover a three month period and the

Secretary of Labor must be furnished with estimates of the amounts

needed in each month of the three month period;

An application for an advance shall be made on such forms

and shall contain such information and data (fiscal and otherwise)

concerning the operation and administration of the State unemployment

compensation law as the Secretary of Labor deems necessary or relevant

to the performance of his duties under this title;

The amount required by any State for the payment of

compensation in any month shall be determined with due allowance for

contingencies and taking into account all other amounts that will be

available in the State's unemployment fund for the payment of

compensation in such month;

The term ``compensation'' means cash benefits payable to

individuals with respect to their unemployment exclusive of expenses of

administration.

Section 1202(a) of the SSA provides that the Governor of any State

may at any time request that funds be transferred from the account of

such State to the FUA in repayment of part or all of the balance of

advances made to such State under section 1201. These applications and

repayments may be requested by an individual designated for that

authority in writing by the Governor. The DOL proposes to extend this

procedure through September, 2002.

II. Review Focus

The DOL is particularly interested in comments which:

Evaluate whether the proposed extension of the current

procedure 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 extension of the current procedure, including

the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the

procedure; and

Minimize the burden of the procedure 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 submission of

responses.

III. Current Actions

This action is requested to maintain the continuity of current

procedures which have succeeded in the orderly application and

repayment operations at both the State and Federal levels. This is not

a data collection process.

Agency: Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor

Title: Governor's requests for advances from the Federal

unemployment account or requests for voluntary repayment of such

advances.

OMB Number: 1205-0199.

Affected Public: State governments (State Employment Security

Agencies).

Total Respondents: 50 States, Washington, DC, the Virgin Islands,

and Puerto Rico are covered by this process. The DOL estimates that no

State will be requesting advances and making repayments in FY 2000,

2001, and 2002. However, in the event of a recession, that estimate may

be revised, and that contingency must be accommodated. In the last

recession, six States requested advances.

Frequency: As needed, based on a State's discretion.

Total Responses: 0.

Average Time Per Response: 1 hour.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: None under current forecasts. This

estimate may change as a result of economic recession.

Estimated Total Burden Cost: None under current forecasts. This

estimate may change as a result of economic recession.

Comments submitted in response to this notice 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: September 3, 1999.

Cheryl Atkinson,

Deputy Director, Unemployment Insurance Service.

[FR Doc. 99-23688 Filed 9-10-99; 8:45 am]

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