Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers (UCX) Handbook; Comment Request

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 171 (Friday, September 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48432-48434]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23014]


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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,

[[Page 48433]]

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

[[Page 48434]]

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]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P