[Federal Register: April 9, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 68)] [Notices] [Page 17461] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr09ap98-123] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Employment and Training Administration ETA-9016 Report on Alien Claimant Activity; Comment Request ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 [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 collection of the ETA-9016 Report on Alien Claims Activity. 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 June 8, 1998. 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. ADDRESSES: Bob Whiting, Unemployment Insurance Service, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room S-4522, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210, telephone number (202) 219-5211, ext. 143 (this is not a toll-free number). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background The ETA-9016 report is used by the Department of Labor to assess whether (and the extent to which ) the requirements of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlement (SAVE) verification system required by the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) are cost-effective and other-wise appropriate for the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program and whether a waiver should be applied to State Employment Security Agency (SESA) participation. In addition, data from the Alien Claims Activity Report is being used to assist the Secretary of Labor in determining whether a SESA's administrative costs associated with the verification program are reasonable and reimbursable. There is no other report or system available for collecting this required information. The report allows the Department of Labor to determine the number of aliens filing for UI, the number of benefit issues detected, the denials resulting from the INS SAVE system, the extent to which SESAs use the system, and the overall effectiveness and cost efficiency of the INS SAVE verification system. If SESAs are not required to submit the information on the Alien Claims Activity Report, the Department of Labor and Secretary of Labor would not be able to fulfill their responsibilities under IRCA. It is only through the collection of this basic information that the Department of Labor can make an assessment of the over-all effectiveness and cost efficiency of the INS SAVE program and whether a State's participation in the system should be waived. Finally, the absence of this information would greatly limit the ability of the Department of Labor to make sound policy decisions involving the verification program. II. Current Actions Continued collection of the ETA-9016 data will provide for a comprehensive evaluation of alien claimant activities. The data is collected quarterly, and an analysis of the data received is formulated into a report summarizing the alien claimant activity occurring in the 53 SESAs. Type of Review: Extension. Agency: Employment and Training Administration. Title: Report on Alien Claims Activity. OMB Number: 1205-0268. Agency Number: ETA-9016. Affected Public: State and Local Governments. Total Respondents: 53 Frequency: Quarterly. Total Responses: 212. Average Time per Response: 1 hour. Estimated Total Burden Hours: 212 hours. Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): 0. Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): 0. 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: April 3, 1998. Grace A. Kilbane, Director, Unemployment Insurance Service. [FR Doc. 98-9379 Filed 4-8-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-30-M