80 FR 36852 - Comment Request for Information Collection for Monitoring of Short Time Compensation (STC) Grants for Program Implementation or Improvement and Promotion and Enrollment in the Program, Extension With Revisions

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 123 (June 26, 2015)

The Department of Labor (Department), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the 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 [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps 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, ETA is soliciting comments concerning the continuation of the collection of data, with revisions, concerning the monitoring of grants for the STC program beyond the current expiration date of 1/31/ 2016. The burden estimates were revised to account for the number of states that were awarded an STC grant(s). Additionally, previous burden estimates related to the temporary financing of STC payments by the Federal Government, applying for an STC grant(s), and applying to operate a temporary Federal STC program (for states without STC programs in state law), were removed as such estimates are not applicable beyond the current expiration date.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 123 (Friday, June 26, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36852-36853]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15735]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Comment Request for Information Collection for Monitoring of 
Short Time Compensation (STC) Grants for Program Implementation or 
Improvement and Promotion and Enrollment in the Program, Extension With 
Revisions

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (Department), as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a 
preclearance consultation program to provide the 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 [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps 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, ETA is soliciting comments concerning the continuation 
of the collection of data, with revisions, concerning the monitoring of 
grants for the STC program beyond the current expiration date of 1/31/
2016. The burden estimates were revised to account for the number of 
states that were awarded an STC grant(s). Additionally, previous burden 
estimates related to the temporary financing of STC payments by the 
Federal Government, applying for an STC grant(s), and applying to 
operate a temporary Federal STC program (for states without STC 
programs in state law), were removed as such estimates are not 
applicable beyond the current expiration date.

DATES: Submit written comments to the office listed in the addresses 
section below on or before August 25, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Lidia Fiore, Office of Unemployment 
Insurance, Room S-4524, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. 
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210. 
Telephone number: 202-693-2716 (this is not a toll-free number). 
Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may access the telephone 
number above via TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Information Relay 
Service at 1-877-889-5627 (TTY/TDD). Email: [email protected]. To 
obtain a copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR), 
please contact the person listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The enactment of Public Law 112-96 (The Middle Class Tax Relief and 
Job Creation Act of 2012, referred to hereafter as ``MCTRJC'' or ``the 
act'') contains Subtitle D, Short-Time Compensation Program, also known 
as the ``Layoff Prevention Act of 2012''. The sections of the law under 
this subtitle concern states that participate in a layoff aversion 
program known as short time compensation (STC) or work sharing. Section 
2164 covers grants the Federal Government provided to states for the 
purpose of implementation or improved administration of an STC program, 
or for promotion and enrollment in the program. ETA has principal 
oversight responsibility for monitoring the STC grants awarded to state 
workforce agencies (SWA). As part of the monitoring process, SWAs 
submit a quarterly narrative progress report (QPR). The QPR serves as a 
monitoring instrument to track the SWA's progress toward completing STC 
grant activities. ETA also needs to allow for this reporting for proper 
oversight of state STC programs.

II. Review Focus

    The Department 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

[[Page 36853]]

other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submissions of responses.

III. Current Actions

    Type of Review: Extension with revision.
    Title: Applications, Grants and Administration of STC Provisions.
    OMB Number: 1205-0499.
    Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondents: 17.
    Annual Frequency: Quarterly.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 68.
    Average Time per Response: 1 hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 68.
    Total Annual Burden Cost for Respondents: $0.
    We will summarize and/or include in the request for OMB approval of 
the ICR, the comments received in response to this comment request; 
they will also become a matter of public record.

    Signed:
Portia Wu,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Labor.
[FR Doc. 2015-15735 Filed 6-25-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-FW-P