[Federal Register: May 21, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 98)] [Notices] [Page 27814-27815] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr21my99-107] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Employment and Training Administration Proposed Collection; Comment Request AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, DOL. 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 (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 (ETA) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed revision of the ETA 2112 report: Financial Transaction Summary. 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. 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 responses 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. DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the ADDRESSES section below on or before July 20, 1999. ADDRESSES: James E. Herbert, Unemployment Insurance Service, Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor, Room C-4514, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210; 202-219-5653 x 380 (this is not a toll-free number); jherbert@doleta.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background The ETA 2112 Report, OMB No. 1205-0154, collects, in summary form, totals of all financial transactions affecting the status of each State's account in the Unemployment Trust Fund (UTF) for the month reported. The transactions include receipts, disbursements, adjustments, and fund balances. The ETA uses report data to monitor UTF funds flows, to identify excessive drawdowns from the UTF, which may cause loss of interest to the UTF, and to record transaction information in the Unemployment Insurance Database and the UTF subsidiary to the Departmental General Ledger. The transaction information is used to compile the annual departmental consolidated financial statements. ETA also uses information on the ETA 2112 for research and actuarial projects: generating statistics on the UI program, projecting benefit financing requirements, and analyzing the solvency of the UTF. That information is used by States, other Federal Agencies, and research groups to manage and analyze UTF activities. Additionally, the ETA uses ETA 2112 information for reviewing proposed State and Federal UI laws, especially pertaining to benefit financing issues, and to monitor State activities conducted under Title IX of the Social Security Act (Reed Act). It is necessary to revise the ETA 2112 format and instructions to accommodate the reporting of the following changes: States may now make reimbursements of Combined Wage Claims (CWC) through the Unemployment Trust Fund Accounting Systems (UTFAS), replacing the old system of issuing a check directly to the State billing for reimbursement. States may transfer to the Internal Revenue Service the amounts withheld for Federal income tax purposes from benefit payments directly through the UTFAS. In FY 1999 there was a distribution of Reed Act money under section 903 of the Social Security Act. This was the first distribution since FY 1958. The existing ETA 2112, developed long after that distribution, does not provide report cells for new distributions. Because of these events, the ETA has decided to rewrite the ETA 2112 to include new cells in the report, and to revise reporting instructions accordingly. II. Current Actions This action is required to update the ETA 2112 to capture information on financial transactions not available in [[Page 27815]] the current configuration, specifically automated CWC reimbursements, the transfer of withholding amounts to the IRS, and new Reed Act distributions. The first two items are currently reported on the ETA 2112 in the general ``Comments'' section. The revision to the ETA 2112 will provide a separate line for specific reporting. The Reed Act revision will provide a separate line to report Reed Act activity beyond amounts amortized with Title III administrative grant funds. Type of Review: Revision. Agency: Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor. Title: Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund Activity, OMB Number: 1205-0154. Affected Public: State government (State Employment Security Agencies). Total Respondents: 50 States, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Frequency: Monthly. Total Responses: 636. Average Time per Response: 1 hour. Estimated Total Burden Hours: 636. Total Burden Cost: 636 x $26.10 = $16,600. 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: May 17, 1999. Grace A. Kilbane, Director, Unemployment Insurance Service. [FR Doc. 99-12912 Filed 5-20-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-30-M