[Federal Register: January 13, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 8)]
[Notices]               
[Page 2010-2011]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13ja04-100]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment Standards 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 Standards Administration is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed collection: Claim for Reimbursement-
Assisted Reemployment (CA-2231). A copy of the proposed information 
collection request 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

[[Page 2011]]

addresses section below on or before March 15, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Ms. Hazel M. Bell, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave., NW., Room S-3201, Washington, DC 20210, telephone 
(202) 693-0418, fax (202) 693-1451, E-mail bell.hazel@dol.gov. Please 
use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or Email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) administers the 
Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA). Section 8104(a) of the Act 
provides vocational rehabilitation services to eligible injured Federal 
employees that are paid from the Employees' Compensation Fund. 
Authority has been granted to OWCP to use amounts from the fund to 
reimburse a private sector employer who has hired a rehabilitated 
injured Federal employee for a portion of his or her salary. The 
information collected on Form CA-2231 provides OWCP with the necessary 
remittance information for the employer, documents the hours of work, 
certifies the payment of wages to the claimant for which reimbursement 
is sought, and summarizes the nature and costs of the wage 
reimbursement program for a prompt decision by OWCP. This information 
collection is currently approved for use through June 30, 2004.

II. Review Focus

    The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments 
which:
    [sbull] 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;
    [sbull] 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;
    [sbull] Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and
    [sbull] 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 Department of Labor seeks the extension of approval to collect 
this information to ensure timely and accurate payments to eligible 
employers for reimbursement claims.
    Type of Review: Extension.
    Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
    Title: Claim for Reimbursement-Assisted Reemployment.
    OMB Number: 1215-0178.
    Agency Number: CA-2231.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, Not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Total Respondents: 20.
    Total Annual Responses: 80.
    Average Time per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 40.
    Frequency: Quarterly.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $32.00.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice 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: January 6, 2004.
Bruce Bohanon,
Chief, Branch of Management Review and Internal Control, Division of 
Financial Management, Office of Management, Administration and 
Planning, Employment Standards Administration.
[FR Doc. 04-640 Filed 1-12-04; 8:45 am]