Proposed Collection; Comment Request
[10/19/2005]
Volume 70, Number 201, Page 60855-60856
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment Standards Administration
Proposed Collection; 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
[[Page 60856]]
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: Optional Use
Payroll Form Under The Davis-Bacon Act (WH-347). 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
addresses section below on or before December 19, 2005.
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, Email bell.hazel@dol.gov. Please
use only one method of transmission for comments (mail, fax, or Email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Copeland Act (40 U.S.C. 3145) requires contractors and
subcontractors performing work on Federally financed or assisted
construction contracts to ``furnish weekly a statement with respect to
the wages paid each employee during the preceding week.'' Regulations
29 CFR 5.5(a)(3)(ii) requires contractors weekly to submit a copy of
all payrolls to the Federal agency contracting for or financing the
construction project. A signed ``Statement of Compliance'' indicating
the payrolls are correct and complete and that each laborer or mechanic
has been paid not less than the proper Davis-Bacon Act (DBA) prevailing
wage rate for the work performed must accompany the payroll.
Regulations 29 CFR 3.3(b) requires each contractor to furnish such
weekly ``Statements of Compliance''. Regulations 29 CFR 5.5(a)(3)(i)
requires the Social Security Number of each employee on such payrolls.
Regulations 29 CFR 3.4 and 5.5(a)(3)(i) require contractors to maintain
these records for three years after completion of the work. Contractors
and subcontractors must certify their payrolls by attesting that
persons performing work on Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA) covered
contracts have received the proper payment of wages and fringe
benefits. Contracting officials and Wage and Hour Division staff use
these certified payrolls to verify that contractors pay the required
rates and as an aid in determining whether the contractors have
properly classified the workers for the work they perform. The DOL has
developed the optional use Form WH-347, Payroll Form, which contractors
may use to meet the payroll reporting requirements. The form contains
the basic payroll information that contractors must furnish each week
they perform any work subject to the DBRA. This information collection
is currently approved for use through March 31, 2006.
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 Department of Labor seeks the approval of the extension of this
information collection to carry out its responsibility to determine a
contractor's compliance with provisions of the Davis-Bacon and Related
Acts and the Copeland Act.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Employment Standards Administration.
Titles: Optional Use Payroll Form under the Davis-Bacon Act.
OMB Number: 1215-0149.
Agency Numbers: WH-347.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit; Federal Government;
State, Local or Tribal Government.
Total Respondents: 54,620.
Total Annual Responses: 5,025,040.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 4,700,000.
Estimated Time Per Response: 56 minutes.
Frequency: Weekly.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $201,000.
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: October 13, 2005.
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. 05-20926 Filed 10-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-27-P
|
