Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Pre-Implementation Planning Checklist for State Unemployment Insurance Information Technology Modernization Projects

Citation84 FR 60114
Record Number2019-24260
Published date07 November 2019
SectionNotices
CourtEmployment And Training Administration,Labor Department
Federal Register, Volume 84 Issue 216 (Thursday, November 7, 2019)
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 216 (Thursday, November 7, 2019)]
                [Notices]
                [Pages 60114-60115]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2019-24260]
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                DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
                Employment and Training Administration
                Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Pre-
                Implementation Planning Checklist for State Unemployment Insurance
                Information Technology Modernization Projects
                ACTION: Notice.
                -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                SUMMARY: The Department of Labor's (DOL's) Employment and Training
                Administration (ETA) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed
                revision for the authority to conduct the information collection
                request (ICR) titled ``Pre-Implementation Planning Checklist for State
                Unemployment Insurance Information Technology Modernization Projects.''
                This comment request is part of continuing Departmental efforts to
                reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork
                Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).
                DATES: Consideration will be given to all written comments received by
                January 6, 2020.
                ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation,
                including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency
                of response, and estimated total burden, may be obtained free by
                contacting Jagruti Patel by telephone at (202) 693-3059 (this is not a
                toll-free number), TTY 1-877-889-5627 (this is not a toll-free number),
                or by email at [email protected].
                 Submit written comments about, or requests for a copy of, this ICR
                by mail or courier to the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and
                Training Administration, Office of Unemployment Insurance, Room S-4524,
                200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210; by email:
                [email protected]; or by Fax at (202) 693-3975.
                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Jagruti Patel by telephone at (202)
                693-3059 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at
                [email protected].
                 Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A).
                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOL, as part of continuing efforts to reduce
                paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation
                program to provide the general public and Federal agencies an
                opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of
                information before submitting them to the Office of Management and
                Budget (OMB) for final approval. This program helps to ensure 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 can be properly
                assessed.
                 Building on lessons learned from previous state implementations of
                modernized Unemployment Insurance (UI) Information Technology (IT)
                systems, ETA facilitated the development of a UI IT Modernization Pre-
                Implementation Planning Checklist for states to use prior to ``going
                live'' with a new system. In 2017, ETA implemented the Pre-
                Implementation Planning Checklist for State UI IT Modernization
                Projects, ETA 9177 report. Subsequently, ETA received comments from
                State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) and other entities recommending
                additional items to be included in the checklist and seeking
                clarification on the instructions for using the report. In addition,
                the Bureau of Labor Statistics recommended an eleventh project category
                to address labor market information (LMI) Federal reporting functions.
                ETA has enhanced the ETA 9177 report and the accompanying instructions
                to address these comments. This enhanced version of the ETA 9177 report
                improves the document's structure, provides additional clarity on the
                verification steps for the ten existing project categories, and adds a
                new category to address verification steps for LMI Federal reporting
                functions. Like the original 2017 implementation, the updated checklist
                will validate that all necessary system functions are available and/or
                that alternative workarounds are developed prior to the production
                launch of a new UI IT system to help states avoid major disruption of
                services to UI customers and to prevent delays in making UI benefit
                payments when due.
                 This comprehensive checklist denotes critical functional areas that
                states must verify prior to launching new UI IT systems including, but
                not limited to, technical IT functions and UI business processes that
                interface with the new system.
                 The list of critical areas identified in the checklist includes:
                 Functionality and Workarounds;
                 External Alternate Access Options and Usability Issues
                Addressed;
                 Policies and Procedures;
                 Technical Preparation for System Implementation;
                 Call Center/Customer Service Operations;
                 Business Process;
                 Help Desk;
                 Management Oversight;
                 Vendor Support/Communications;
                 Communication Processes and Procedures; and
                 Labor Market Information Federal Reporting Functions.
                 This information will include the UI IT Modernization project title
                (e.g. State project or Consortium name) and the associated report on
                Pre-Implementation Planning Checklist results. For each sub-element
                identified in the ETA 9177 report, the SWA is to provide:
                 An overall status report;
                 A brief report explaining the status of the project as it
                relates to the particular sub-element;
                 Attached explanations of any workarounds concerning the
                processes in the sub-element;
                 Attached explanations if implementation of the new system
                concerning specific processes for the sub-element will be delayed or
                deferred;
                 Attached explanations for added clarity and/or to support
                a narrative;
                 Mitigation proposals for addressing any problems;
                 New project timelines if applicable; and/or
                 Any discussion of identified technical assistance needs
                for the successful completion of the project.
                 ETA requires the use of this checklist report to help SWAs ensure
                the
                [[Page 60115]]
                availability of mission critical functions as the state prepares for
                the launch of a new system and following the launch of a new system. In
                addition, the collection will enable ETA to identify and provide
                appropriate technical assistance on issues in the checklist and ensure
                SWAs have plans for addressing critical issues prior to launching a new
                UI IT system. Section 303(a)(6) of the Social Security Act, codified at
                42 U.S.C. 503(a)(6), authorizes this information collection.
                 This information collection is subject to the PRA. A Federal agency
                generally cannot conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and
                the public is generally not required to respond to an information
                collection, unless it is approved by OMB under the PRA and displays a
                currently valid OMB Control Number. In addition, notwithstanding any
                other provisions of law, no person shall generally be subject to
                penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information that
                does not display a valid Control Number. See 5 CFR 1320.5(a) and
                1320.6.
                 Interested parties are encouraged to provide comments to the
                contact shown in the ADDRESSES section. Comments must be written to
                receive consideration, and they will be summarized and included in the
                request for OMB approval of the final ICR. In order to help ensure
                appropriate consideration, comments should mention OMB control number
                1205-0527.
                 Submitted comments will also be a matter of public record for this
                ICR and posted on the internet, without redaction. DOL encourages
                commenters not to include personally identifiable information,
                confidential business data, or other sensitive statements/information
                in any comments.
                 DOL is particularly interested in comments that:
                 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 submission of responses).
                 Agency: DOL-ETA.
                 Type of Review: Revision.
                 Title of Collection: Pre-Implementation Planning Checklist for
                State Unemployment Insurance Information Technology Modernization
                Projects.
                 Form: ETA 9177.
                 OMB Control Number: 1205-0527.
                 Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments.
                 Estimated Number of Respondents: 24.
                 Frequency: Once per incident.
                 Total Estimated Annual Responses: 3.
                 Estimated Average Time per Response: Varies.
                 Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 576 hours.
                 Total Estimated Annual Other Cost Burden: $0
                John Pallasch,
                Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training.
                [FR Doc. 2019-24260 Filed 11-6-19; 8:45 am]
                 BILLING CODE 4510-FW-P
                

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