80 FR 15252 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Demonstration and Evaluation of the Short-Time Compensation (STC) Program (STC) Grants Program
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of the Secretary Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 55 (March 23, 2015)
Office of the Secretary
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 55 (March 23, 2015)
| Page Range | 15252-15253 | |
| FR Document | 2015-06494 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 55 (Monday, March 23, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 15252-15253] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-06494] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Office of the Secretary Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Demonstration and Evaluation of the Short-Time Compensation (STC) Program (STC) Grants Program AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Chief Evaluation Office, Department of Labor. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 required 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. A copy of the proposed Information Collection Request 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 May 22, 2015. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either one of the following methods: Email: [email protected]; Mail or Courier: Christina Yancey, Chief Evaluation Office, U.S. Department of Labor, Room S-2312, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210. Instructions: Please submit one copy of your comments by only one method. All submissions received must include the agency name and OMB Control Number identified above for this information collection. Because we continue to experience delays in receiving mail in the Washington, DC area, commenters are strongly encouraged to transmit their comments electronically via email or to submit them by mail early. Comments, including any personal information provided, become a matter of public record. They will also be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the information collection request. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christina Yancey by email at [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 was signed into law on February 22, 2012. Subtitle D of Title II of the Act contains several provisions concerning the STC program, including Section 2166 requiring the Secretary of Labor to submit a final report to Congress on the implementation of the provisions of Subtitle D no later than four years after the date of enactment. The STC program is an option within the Unemployment Insurance (UI) system that allows employers to reduce the hours of workers, while permitting workers to receive partial UI benefits for the non-worked hours. The objective of STC is to avoid layoffs during periods of reduced labor demand and thereby allow businesses to maintain their operations, retain valued employees, and prevent company morale from deteriorating. The program was first initiated California in 1978 and a temporary national STC program was adopted in 1982 under the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA, P.L. 97-248). The STC program became permanent in Federal law in 1992, when states were permitted to adopt their own STC programs as part of State UI laws. Under Section 303(a)(5) of the Social Security Act and Section 3304(a)(4) of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, the Unemployment Trust Fund can pay for STC. Each state has an account within the Fund from which its pays UI benefits. The Employment and Training Administration's Office of Unemployment Insurance has oversight responsibility for the STC program. The Chief Evaluation Office of the Department of Labor (DOL) is conducting a rigorous demonstration and impact evaluation of the STC [[Page 15253]] programs in two states, Iowa and Oregon, to better understand the reasons for low take-up of STC and to evaluate the effectiveness of strategies to increase employer use. DOL is requesting clearance for two aspects of information collection: (1) To conduct in-depth interviews with state agency officials and employers, and (2) to survey employers on STC program awareness and participation. These data collections are essential elements of the implementation study and the rigorous impact evaluation of the demonstration of the STC program. II. Desired Focus of Comments Currently, the Department of Labor is soliciting comments concerning the above data collection for the demonstration and evaluation of the short-term compensation program. Comments are requested to: * 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 information collection 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. III. Current Actions At this time, the Department of Labor is requesting clearance for data collection for the demonstration and evaluation of the short-term compensation program via collection of post-implementation data elements and fieldwork efforts. Type of review: New information collection request. OMB Control Number: 1205-0NEW. Affected Public: Private Sector Employers eligible for enrollment within the Short-Time Compensation Program; and Public Sector State Agency Personnel engaged in the Short-Time Compensation Program. Estimated Burden Hours ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Estimated Average time Estimated Form/activity total Frequency Total per response total burden respondents responses (hours) hours ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State Agency Personnel 30 Once.............. 30 .67 20 interviews. Employer interviews......... 28 Once.............. 28 .83 23.3 Employer Short-form survey.. 2,000 Once.............. 2,000 .034 67.7 Employer Long-form survey... 800 Once.............. 800 .2 160 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals.................. 2,858 .................. 2,858 .............. 271 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments submitted in response to this request will be summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval; they will also become a matter of public record. Mary Beth Maxwell, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, U.S. Department of Labor. [FR Doc. 2015-06494 Filed 3-20-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-23-P
![15252 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 55 / Monday, March 23, 2015 / Notices
should participate in a prehearing a certificate of service must be timely your comments by only one method. All
conference to be held on September 28, filed. The Secretary will not accept a submissions received must include the
2015 (if deemed necessary). Oral document for filing without a certificate agency name and OMB Control Number
testimony and written materials to be of service. identified above for this information
submitted at the public hearing are Authority: These reviews are being collection. Because we continue to
governed by sections 201.6(b)(2), conducted under authority of title VII of the experience delays in receiving mail in
201.13(f), 207.24, and 207.66 of the Tariff Act of 1930; this notice is published the Washington, DC area, commenters
Commission’s rules. Parties must submit pursuant to section 207.62 of the are strongly encouraged to transmit their
any request to present a portion of their Commission’s rules. comments electronically via email or to
hearing testimony in camera no later By order of the Commission. submit them by mail early. Comments,
than 7 business days prior to the date of Issued: March 17, 2015. including any personal information
the hearing. provided, become a matter of public
Lisa R. Barton,
Written submissions.—Each party to record. They will also be summarized
the reviews may submit a prehearing Secretary to the Commission.
and/or included in the request for OMB
brief to the Commission. Prehearing [FR Doc. 2015–06439 Filed 3–20–15; 8:45 am]
approval of the information collection
briefs must conform with the provisions BILLING CODE 7020–02–P request.
of section 207.65 of the Commission’s
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
rules; the deadline for filing is
September 17, 2015. Parties may also Christina Yancey by email at
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
file written testimony in connection ChiefEvaluationOffice@dol.gov.
with their presentation at the hearing, as Office of the Secretary SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
provided in section 207.24 of the I. Background
Commission’s rules, and posthearing Agency Information Collection
briefs, which must conform with the Activities; Submission for OMB The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job
provisions of section 207.67 of the Review; Comment Request; Creation Act of 2012 was signed into
Commission’s rules. The deadline for Demonstration and Evaluation of the law on February 22, 2012. Subtitle D of
filing posthearing briefs is October 8, Short-Time Compensation (STC) Title II of the Act contains several
2015. In addition, any person who has Program (STC) Grants Program provisions concerning the STC program,
not entered an appearance as a party to including Section 2166 requiring the
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary of Labor to submit a final
the reviews may submit a written Secretary for Policy, Chief Evaluation
statement of information pertinent to report to Congress on the
Office, Department of Labor. implementation of the provisions of
the subject of the reviews on or before
ACTION: Notice. Subtitle D no later than four years after
October 8, 2015. On October 29, 2015,
the Commission will make available to the date of enactment.
SUMMARY: The Department of Labor The STC program is an option within
parties all information on which they (DOL), as part of its continuing effort to
have not had an opportunity to the Unemployment Insurance (UI)
reduce paperwork and respondent system that allows employers to reduce
comment. Parties may submit final burden, conducts a preclearance
comments on this information on or the hours of workers, while permitting
consultation program to provide the workers to receive partial UI benefits for
before November 2, 2015, but such final general public and Federal agencies
comments must not contain new factual the non-worked hours. The objective of
with an opportunity to comment on STC is to avoid layoffs during periods
information and must otherwise comply proposed and/or continuing collections
with section 207.68 of the Commission’s of reduced labor demand and thereby
of information in accordance with the allow businesses to maintain their
rules. All written submissions must Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
conform with the provisions of section operations, retain valued employees,
(PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This and prevent company morale from
201.8 of the Commission’s rules; any program helps to ensure that required
submissions that contain BPI must also deteriorating. The program was first
data can be provided in the desired initiated California in 1978 and a
conform with the requirements of format, reporting burden (time and
sections 201.6, 207.3, and 207.7 of the temporary national STC program was
financial resources) is minimized, adopted in 1982 under the Tax Equity
Commission’s rules. The Commission’s collection instruments are clearly
Handbook on E-Filing, available on the and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA,
understood, and the impact of collection P.L. 97–248). The STC program became
Commission’s Web site at http:// requirements on respondents can be
edis.usitc.gov, elaborates upon the permanent in Federal law in 1992, when
properly assessed. A copy of the states were permitted to adopt their own
Commission’s rules with respect to proposed Information Collection
electronic filing. STC programs as part of State UI laws.
Request can be obtained by contacting Under Section 303(a)(5) of the Social
Additional written submissions to the
the office listed below in the addressee Security Act and Section 3304(a)(4) of
Commission, including requests
section of this notice. the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, the
pursuant to section 201.12 of the
Commission’s rules, shall not be DATES: Written comments must be Unemployment Trust Fund can pay for
accepted unless good cause is shown for submitted to the office listed in the STC. Each state has an account within
accepting such submissions, or unless addressee section below on or before the Fund from which its pays UI
the submission is pursuant to a specific May 22, 2015. benefits.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
request by a Commissioner or ADDRESSES: You may submit comments The Employment and Training
Commission staff. by either one of the following methods: Administration’s Office of
In accordance with sections 201.16(c) Email: ChiefEvaluationOffice@dol.gov; Unemployment Insurance has oversight
and 207.3 of the Commission’s rules, Mail or Courier: Christina Yancey, Chief responsibility for the STC program. The
each document filed by a party to the Evaluation Office, U.S. Department of Chief Evaluation Office of the
reviews must be served on all other Labor, Room S–2312, 200 Constitution Department of Labor (DOL) is
parties to the reviews (as identified by Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210. conducting a rigorous demonstration
either the public or BPI service list), and Instructions: Please submit one copy of and impact evaluation of the STC
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 55 / Monday, March 23, 2015 / Notices 15253
programs in two states, Iowa and short-term compensation program. collection techniques or other forms of
Oregon, to better understand the reasons Comments are requested to: information technology, e.g., permitting
for low take-up of STC and to evaluate * Evaluate whether the proposed electronic submissions of responses.
the effectiveness of strategies to increase collection of information is necessary
III. Current Actions
employer use. DOL is requesting for the proper performance of the
clearance for two aspects of information functions of the agency, including At this time, the Department of Labor
collection: (1) To conduct in-depth whether the information will have is requesting clearance for data
interviews with state agency officials practical utility; collection for the demonstration and
and employers, and (2) to survey * evaluate the accuracy of the evaluation of the short-term
employers on STC program awareness agency’s estimate of the burden of the compensation program via collection of
and participation. These data proposed collection of information, post-implementation data elements and
collections are essential elements of the including the validity of the fieldwork efforts.
implementation study and the rigorous methodology and assumptions used; Type of review: New information
impact evaluation of the demonstration * enhance the quality, utility, and collection request.
of the STC program. clarity of the information to be OMB Control Number: 1205–0NEW.
collected; and Affected Public: Private Sector
II. Desired Focus of Comments
* minimize the burden of the Employers eligible for enrollment
Currently, the Department of Labor is information collection on those who are within the Short-Time Compensation
soliciting comments concerning the to respond, including the use of Program; and Public Sector State
above data collection for the appropriate automated, electronic, Agency Personnel engaged in the Short-
demonstration and evaluation of the mechanical, or other technological Time Compensation Program.
ESTIMATED BURDEN HOURS
Estimated Average time Estimated
Total
Form/activity total Frequency per response total burden
responses
respondents (hours) hours
State Agency Personnel interviews ..................................... 30 Once .............. 30 .67 20
Employer interviews ............................................................ 28 Once .............. 28 .83 23.3
Employer Short-form survey ................................................ 2,000 Once .............. 2,000 .034 67.7
Employer Long-form survey ................................................ 800 Once .............. 800 .2 160
Totals ............................................................................ 2,858 ........................ 2,858 ........................ 271
Comments submitted in response to DATES: You must submit (postmarked, Instructions: Your submissions and
this request will be summarized and/or sent, transmitted, or received) your supporting materials must include the
included in the request for Office of nominations by May 15, 2015. agency name and docket number for this
Management and Budget approval; they Federal Register notice. Due to security-
ADDRESSES: You may submit
will also become a matter of public related procedures, submissions by
nominations and supporting materials
record. regular mail may experience significant
using one of the following methods:
Mary Beth Maxwell, delays. Please contact the OSHA Docket
Electronically: You may submit
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Office for information about special
nominations, including attachments,
Policy, U.S. Department of Labor. security procedures for submitting
electronically at http://
[FR Doc. 2015–06494 Filed 3–20–15; 8:45 am] materials by mail, express delivery,
www.regulations.gov, the federal
BILLING CODE 4510–23–P eRulemaking portal. Follow the online hand delivery, and messenger or courier
instructions for submitting nominations; service. For additional information on
submitting nominations and supporting
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Facsimile: If your nominations and materials, see the Supplementary
supporting materials and attachments Information section of this notice.
Occupational Safety and Health do not exceed 10 pages, you may FAX
OSHA will post all submissions,
Administration them to the OSHA Docket Office at (202)
including any personal information you
693–1648;
provide, without change on http://
[Docket No. OSHA–2015–0005] Mail, express delivery, hand delivery, www.regulations.gov. Therefore, OSHA
messenger or courier service: You may cautions you about submitting personal
Federal Advisory Council on send nominations and supporting information such as Social Security
Occupational Safety and Health materials to the OSHA Docket Office, numbers and birthdates.
(FACOSH) Docket No. OSHA–2015–0005, Room N–
2625, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 To read or download submissions in
AGENCY:Occupational Safety and Health Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, response to this Federal Register notice,
Administration (OSHA), Labor. go to Docket No. OSHA–2015–0005, at
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
DC 20210; telephone (202) 693–2350
ACTION: Request for nominations. (TTY number (877) 889–5627). http://www.regulations.gov. All
Deliveries by hand, express mail, documents in the docket are listed in
SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary of messenger, and courier service are the index of that Web site; however,
Labor for Occupational Safety and accepted during the Department of some documents (e.g., copyrighted
Health invites interested individuals to Labor’s and OSHA Docket Office’s materials) are not publicly available to
submit nominations for membership on normal business hours, 8:15 a.m.–4:45 read or download there. All
FACOSH. p.m., ET. submissions, including copyrighted
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Document Created: 2018-02-21 09:47:41
Document Modified: 2018-02-21 09:47:41
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice. | |
| Dates | Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the | |
| Contact | Christina Yancey by email at Chie[email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 15252 |
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