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[Federal Register: May 25, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 102)]
[Notices]               
[Page 28929]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25my01-91]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

 
Benefits, Timeliness and Quality Data Collection System; Comment 
Request

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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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 a provision of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 at 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 extension of the Benefits, 
Timeliness and Quality (BTQ) data collection system.
    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 July 24, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Delores A. Mackall, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Room S-4231, Washington, DC 20210, 202-693-
3183 (this is not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Secretary of Labor under the Social Security Act, Title III, 
Section 302 (42 U.S.C. 502), funds the necessary cost of proper and 
efficient administration of each State Unemployment Insurance (UI) law. 
The BTQ program collects information and analyses data to do this. The 
BTQ measures, which have been implemented, look at timeliness and 
quality of States' performance, various administrative actions and 
administrative decisions concerning UI benefit operations.

II. Review Focus

    The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments 
which:
    <bullet> 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;
    <bullet> 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;
    <bullet> Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    <bullet> 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

    Continued collection of data under the BTQ system will provide for 
a comprehensive evaluation of the overall UI program. The BTQ program 
has been, and will continue to be, one of the primary means used by UI 
Regional and National Office staff to assess performance levels of 
individual States and, as a basis for oversight, to discharge the 
Secretary of Labor's responsibility for determining proper and 
efficient administration. The SESAs also use the BTQ measures for their 
internal program assessment.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Benefits, Timeliness and Quality Review.
    OMB Number: 1205-0359.
    Affected Public: State Government.
    Total Respondents: 53.
    Frequency: Monthly and Quarterly.
    Total Responses: 54,908.
    Average Time per Response: 0.7 hours.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 38,486 hours.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): 0.

    Dated: May 17, 2001.
Grace A. Kilbane,
Administrator, Office of Workforce Security.
[FR Doc. 01-13221 Filed 5-24-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P

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