Proposed Collection; Comment Request

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 28, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 72694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-33534]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


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 is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed evaluation of the year 2000 Summer 
Youth Employment and Training Program. A copy of the proposed 
information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the 
office listed below in the addresses section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addresses section below on or before February 28, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Greg Knorr, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. 
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., room N-5637, 
Washington, DC 20210; 202-219-5782 ext. 120 (this is not a toll-free 
number); gknorr@doleta.gov; Fax: 202-219-5455 (this is not a toll-free 
number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: .

I. Background

    This evaluation will be a national study in summer 2000 of youth 
employment programs and services under the Workforce Investment Act 
(WIA). The last comprehensive national study of the summer program (the 
Title IIB program under the Job Training Partnership Act) was conducted 
in 1993. The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 is bringing about major 
changes in the way employment and training services are delivered to 
economically disadvantaged youth. It consolidates summer and year-round 
services, calls for a minimum funding level for serving out-of-school 
youth, mandates that certain types of services be made available to 
youth, includes a more comprehensive emphasis on performance 
accountability, and requires local Workforce Investment Boards to 
establish active Youth Councils. This evaluation will examine the newly 
integrated system of youth employment services and programs as they are 
operated during the summer 2000, the first year of WIA implementation. 
The project calls for a comprehensive report based on site visits to 28 
local Workforce Investment Areas (WIAs) and a mail survey of all WIAs.

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

    The proposed study will (1) describe the summer program as it is 
operating across the country, including activities of the Youth 
Councils, provision of the newly mandated services, and linkages with 
other agencies and organizations; (2) discuss how summer services are 
being integrated with year-round services; (3) examine the quality of 
the academic component in particular detail, describing academic 
programs that WIAs believe are especially effective for their youth; 
(4) describe how the WIAs devote attention/resources to reach and 
provide services to out-of-school youth; (5) assess the extent to which 
youth are engaged in work that needs to be done, complete the summer 
component and plan to return to school; (6) highlight innovative and 
adaptable practices; and (7) examine the data and information that WIAs 
are collecting or will be able to collect regarding individual 
progress, performance, and impacts of the program, including 
exploration of the feasibility of a national impact study of summer 
programs conducted under WIA.
    Type of Review: New.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Evaluation of the Year 2000 Summer Youth Employment and 
Training Program.
    Affected Public: Individuals and State, Local or Tribal Government.

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                                   Total                           Total     Average time per
        Cite/reference          respondents      Frequency       responses      responses            Burden
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Survey of all WIAs............          642  One-time.........         642  2 hours..........  1,284 hours.
Site Visits to 28 WIAs........           28  One-time.........          28  6 hours..........  168 hours.
      Totals..................  ...........  .................         670  .................  1,452
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    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $30,000.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $0--one-time only.
    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: December 20, 1999.
Gerard F. Fiala,
Administrator, Office of Policy and Research.
[FR Doc. 99-33534 Filed 12-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M