Agency information collection activities: Proposed collection; comment request,
[Federal Register: March 26, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 58)]
[Notices]
[Page 14733-14734]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26mr98-126]
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Indian and Native American Welfare-to-Work Grant Program Proposed Collection; Comment Request
AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation process 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 process helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burdens are 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 revision of the currently-approved preapplication and planning requirements for the Indian and Native American Welfare-to-Work (INA WtW) Grant Program (OMB Clearance Number 1205-0383) for the FY 1999 funding period. A copy of the currently-approved information collection request (ICR), especially FY 1998 preapplication and planning guidance, can be obtained by contacting the office listed below in the address section of this notice.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the ADDRESSES section below on or before May 26, 1998.
The Department of Labor is particularly interested in comments which:
‹bullet› 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;
‹bullet› Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's burden estimate for the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
‹bullet› Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
‹bullet› Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including 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: Thomas M. Dowd, Chief, Division of Indian and Native American Programs, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-4641, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 219-8502 ext 119 (VOICE) or (202) 219-6338 (FAX) (these are not toll-free numbers) or Internet: DOWDT@doleta.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Background
The Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor is considering revisions to its currently-approved preapplication and planning system for the Indian and Native American Welfare-to-Work Grant Program for one more year (July 1, 1998 to June 30, 1999). Current authorization for the INA WtW program expires on September 30, 1999, but grantees can continue to expend funds for three years from the date ``the funds are so provided''. This ICR concerns the submission of applications and plans by Federally-recognized tribes and Alaska Native entities (or consortia thereof) eligible to receive funding under the Indian and Native American Welfare-to-Work (INA WtW) program. These instructions include a preapplication process for those tribes which do not operate a tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program or a Native Employment Works (NEW) program, as established by section 412(a)(3) of the amended Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 612(a)(3)], and which did not qualify for a FY 1998 INA WtW grant under the ``substantial services'' criteria. These non-TANF or NEW tribes must qualify as INA WtW grantees under the ``substantial services'' criteria established by the Department in accordance with the provisions of section 412(a)(3)(B)(ii) [42 U.S.C. 612(a)(3)(B)(ii)] of the Social Security Act, as amended. Once determined to have met the ``substantial services'' criteria, applicants must submit a plan containing a Standard Form (SF) 424, the basic information on service area,
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plans for providing client services, preliminary funding and expenditure estimates, and standard assurances and forms common to most Federal funds recipients. This request for comment is an attempt to solicit input from those grantees which participated in the preapplication and/or planning process for FY 1998, and which may have recommendations for improving the process for FY 1999.
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Current Actions
The proposed ICR will be a revision of Item no. 1205-0383, expiring 03/31/98for the currently-approved system, that will be used by approximately 80 INA WtW grantees as the preapplication and planning vehicle for applying for INA WtW grants for FY 1999. Grantees will be required to couch their FY 1999 INA WtW plans in terms of planned numbers of enrolled individuals, their characteristics, training and services to be provided, planned outcomes, including job placement and wage data, as well as projections of program expenditures. Current paperwork burdens are covered under OMB Clearance No. 1205-0383 (expiration date 3/31/98), and have been included in the following burden estimates. For ease of analysis, the following burden estimate is broken down into the two main components of INA WtW program application: (1) Preapplication; and (2) planning.
Type of Review: Revision (with changes).
Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
Title: Indian and Native American Welfare-to-Work Grant Programs.
OMB Number: 1205-0383.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 17.254.
Frequency: Annual (Both preapplication and plan submission).
Affected Public: Federally-recognized tribes, Alaska Native regional non-profit corporations, and/or consortia of any of the above.
Number of Respondents: 80.
Total Responses: 80.
Estimated Time Per Respondent: planning--6 hours; preapplication--3 hours.
Total Burden Hours: 480. (NOTE: no estimate is given for the preapplication process, as only a few tribes or consortia which did not receive FY 1998 INA WtW grants and which are neither TANF nor NEW tribes will have to submit one to establish eligibility.)
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): None.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): None (planning and/or preapplication is a once-a-year activity).
Signed at Washington, DC this 20th day of March, 1998. Anna W. Goddard, Director, Office of Special Targeted Programs.
[FR Doc. 98-7960Filed3-25-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-U
