Proposed Collection; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Proposed Collection; 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 (ETA) is

soliciting comments concerning a proposed revision to Form ETA 581,

Contribution Operations. A copy of the entire 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 June 4, 1999.

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.

ADDRESSES: Constance I. Peterkin, Room S-4522, 200 Constitution Avenue,

NW, Washington, DC 20210; telephone number: (202) 219-5615, extension

198 (this is not a toll-free number); internet address;

[email protected]; facsimile number: (202) 219-8506.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The Unemployment Insurance Service (UIS) of the Employment and

Training Administration (ETA) has three programs which evaluate the

separate functions within the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program. The

Benefit Accuracy Measurement (BAM) program assesses the accuracy of

paying UI benefits. The Benefit Timeliness and Quality (BTQ) program

assesses the quality and timeliness of UI benefit functions; while the

Tax Performance System (TPS) evaluates the employer-related functions

or tax operations of the UI program. The Contribution Operations report

(Form ETA 581), is a comprehensive report of each state's UI tax

operations and is essential in providing quarterly tax performance data

to DOL/ETA/UIS, the source of grants funding authority. ETA 581 data is

the basis for determining the adequacy of funding States' UI tax

operations and measuring the performance and effectiveness of such

operations. These are required Federal functions under the Federal-

State UI program.

Using ETA 581 data, the TPS program measures performance, accuracy,

and promptness in employer registration (status determination), report

delinquency, collections (accounts receivable), and the audit function.

II. Current Actions

A new item, ``Number of Employees Misclassified as Independent

Contractors'' (discovered through audits of employers), is being added.

Misclassification of employees as independent contractors represent

lost revenues to State unemployment funds from taxes based on the wages

of such employees and lower UI benefit recipiency rates upon their

unemployment. The collection of this new information will provide an

indication of the extent of misclassification and eliminate the need

for periodic surveys requesting such information. As a result of adding

this new item, the average response time is estimated to increase by

0.5 hours.

The ETA 581 report is the only vehicle for collection of

information on States' UI tax operations required under the TPS

program. If ETA 581 data were not collected, there would be no basis

for determining the adequacy of funding for States' UI tax operations,

making projections and forecasts in conjunction with the budgetary

process, nor measuring program performance and effectiveness. The ETA

581 accounts receivable data are necessary in the preparation of

complete and accurate financial statements for the unemployment Trust

Fund (UTF) and the maintenance of a modified accrual system for UTF

accounting.

Type of Review: Revision.

Agency: Employment and Training Administration.

Title: Contribution Operations.

OMB Number: 1205-0178.

Agency Number: ETA 581.

[[Page 16486]]

Affected Public: State Government.

Cite/Reference/Form/etc: ETA 581.

Total Respondents: 53.

Frequency: Quarterly.

Total Responses: 212.

Average Time per Response: 8.5 hours.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,802.

Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $45,050.

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: March 29, 1999.

Grace A. Kilbane,

Director, Unemployment Insurance Service.

[FR Doc. 99-8295 Filed 4-2-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-30-M