Proposed Information Collection Request of the ETA 581, Contribution Operations Report; Extension Without Change, 58540-58541 [2011-24269]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 21, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58540-58541]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-24269]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Proposed Information Collection Request of the ETA 581, 
Contribution Operations Report; Extension Without Change

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

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 collection 
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.
    A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be 
obtained by contacting the office listed below in the addressee section 
of this notice or by accessing: https://www.doleta.gov/OMBCN/OMBControlNumber.cfm.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before November 21, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Joseph Toth, U.S. Department of Labor, 
Employment and Training Administration, Office of Unemployment 
Insurance, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Frances Perkins Bldg. Room S-
4524, Washington, DC, 20210, telephone number (202) 693-3894 (this is 
not a toll-free number) or by e-mail: toth.joseph@dol.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 58541]]

I. Background

    The Office of Unemployment Insurance (OUI) of the Employment and 
Training Administration (ETA) has responsibility for the Tax 
Performance System (TPS) which evaluates the employer-related or tax 
functions of the UI program. The Contribution Operations report (Form 
ETA 581) is a comprehensive report of each state's UI tax operations 
and is essential in providing quarterly tax performance data to OUI. 
ETA 581 data are the basis for measuring the performance and 
effectiveness of states' UI tax operations. Using ETA 581 data, the TPS 
program measures performance, accuracy, and promptness in employer 
registration (status determinations), report delinquency, collections 
(accounts receivable), the audit function, and the detection of 
employer tax avoidance schemes, known as State Unemployment Tax Act 
(SUTA) Dumping.

II. Desired Focus of Comments

    Currently, the Employment and Training Administration is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed extension collection of the ETA 581, 
Contribution Operations Report. Comments are requested to:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary to assess 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 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

    It is important that approval of the ETA 581 report be extended 
because this report is the only vehicle for collection of information 
required under the TPS program. If ETA 581 data were not collected, 
there would be no basis for determining the adequacy of funding for 
states' UI tax operations, making projections and forecasts in the 
budgetary process, nor measuring program performance and effectiveness. 
The ETA 581 accounts receivable data are necessary in the preparation 
of complete and accurate financial statements for the Unemployment 
Trust Fund (UTF) and the maintenance of a modified accrual system for 
UTF accounting. Data on SUTA Dumping measures state compliance with 
section 303(k) of the Social Security Act, which is known as the SUTA 
Dumping Prevention Act of 2004.
    Type of Review: Extension without change.
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: ETA 581, Report on Contribution Operations.
    OMB Number: 1205-0178.
    Agency Number: ETA 581.
    Recordkeeping: Respondent is expected to maintain data which 
support the reported data for three years.
    Affected Public: State Government.
    Cite/Reference/Form/etc.: ETA 581.
    Total Respondents: 53.
    Frequency: Quarterly.
    Total Responses: 212.
    Average Time per Response: 8.5 hours.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,802.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): $-0-
    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: September 14, 2011.
Jane Oates,
Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011-24269 Filed 9-20-11; 8:45 am]
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