Comment Request for Information Collection; Unemployment Insurance (UI) Title XII Advances and Voluntary Repayment Process; Extension Without Revisions, 59669-59670 [2012-23848]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 189 / Friday, September 28, 2012 / Notices
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-Office of the Secretary.
Type of Review: Extension without
change of a currently approved
collection.
Title of Collection: Solicitation of
Nominations for the Iqbal Masih Award
for the Elimination of Child Labor.
OMB Control Number: 1290–0007.
Affected Public: Private Sector—
businesses or other for profits and notfor-profit institutions.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
50.
Frequency: Once.
Total Estimated Annual Responses:
50.
Estimated Average Time per
Response: 10 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 500 hours.
Total Estimated Annual Other Cost
Burden: $0.
Dated: September 24, 2012.
Michel Smyth,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012–23998 Filed 9–27–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510–28–P
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training
Administration
Comment Request for Information
Collection; Unemployment Insurance
(UI) Title XII Advances and Voluntary
Repayment Process; Extension
Without Revisions
Employment and Training
Administration (ETA), Labor.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Department of Labor
(Department), as part of its continuing
effort to reduce paperwork and
respondent burden, conducts a
preclearance consultation program to
provide the 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 [44
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program
helps ensure that requested data can be
provided in the desired format,
reporting burden (time and financial
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:28 Sep 27, 2012
Jkt 226001
resources) is minimized, collection
instruments are clearly understood, and
the impact of collection requirements on
respondents can be properly assessed.
Currently, ETA is soliciting comments
concerning the collection process for
data on UI Title XII advances and
voluntary repayments, which expires
11/30/2012.
DATES: Written comments must be
submitted to the office listed in the
addresses section below on or before
November 27, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments
to Scott Gibbons, Office of
Unemployment Insurance, Employment
and Training Administration, U.S.
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution
Avenue NW. Washington, DC 20210.
Telephone number: 202–693–3008 (this
is not a toll-free number). Individuals
with hearing or speech impairments
may access the telephone number above
via TTY by calling the toll-free Federal
Information Relay Service at 1–877–
889–5627 (TTY/TDD). Email:
gibbons.scott@dol.gov. A copy of the
proposed information collection request
(ICR) can be obtained by contacting Mr.
Gibbons.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Title XII Section 1201 of the Social
Security Act (SSA) provides for
advances to states from the Federal
Unemployment Account (FUA). The
law further sets out specific
requirements to be met by a state
requesting an advance:
• The Governor, or designee, must
apply for the advance;
• The application must cover a three
month period and the Secretary of Labor
(Secretary) must be furnished with
estimates of the amounts needed in each
month of the three month period;
• The application must be made on
such forms and shall contain such
information and data (fiscal and
otherwise) concerning the operation and
administration of the state
unemployment compensation law as the
Secretary deems necessary or relevant to
the performance of his or her duties
under this title;
• The amount required by any state
for the payment of compensation in any
month shall be determined with due
allowance for contingencies and taking
into account all other amounts that will
be available in the state’s
unemployment fund for the payment of
compensation in such month; and
• The term ‘‘compensation’’ means
cash benefits payable to individuals
with respect to their unemployment
exclusive of expenses of administration.
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
59669
Section 1202(a) of the SSA provides
that the Governor of any state may at
any time request that funds be
transferred from the account of such
state to the FUA in repayment of part or
all of the balance of advances made to
such state under section 1201. These
applications and repayments may be
requested by an individual designated
for that authority in writing by the
Governor.
II. Review Focus
The Department 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
Type of Review: Extension without
changes.
Title: Unemployment Insurance (UI)
Title XII Advances and Voluntary
Repayment Process.
OMB Number: 1205–0199.
Affected Public: State Workforce
Agencies.
Form(s): Not Applicable.
Total Annual Respondents: Up to 53.
Annual Frequency: As needed, based
on a state’s discretion.
Total Annual Responses: DOL
currently estimates that 24 states will
borrow during fiscal year 2013, and 22
states could continue to be borrowing
during calendar year 2014 and beyond.
Although it’s impossible to know the
exact number of responses, the
maximum would be four requests for
advances and four requests for
voluntary repayments per state each
year. This will result in a maximum
possible number of responses of 544
over the three year window or an
average of 181.33 responses per year.
Average Time per Response: 1 hour.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 181.33 hours.
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59670
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 189 / Friday, September 28, 2012 / Notices
Total Annual Burden Cost for
Respondents: There is no burden cost.
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 ICR; they will
also become a matter of public record.
Dated: Signed in Washington, DC, this 21st
day of September, 2012.
Jane Oates,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and
Training, Labor.
[FR Doc. 2012–23848 Filed 9–27–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510–FW–P
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Electronic Filing of H–2A and H–2B
Labor Certification Applications
Through the iCERT Visa Portal System
Employment and Training
Administration, Department of Labor.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Employment and
Training Administration (ETA) is
announcing the implementation of
electronic filing for the submission of
nonimmigrant temporary labor
certification applications under the H–
2A and H–2B visa programs through the
Department of Labor’s (Department)
iCERT Visa Portal System (iCERT
System) at https://icert.doleta.gov. This
new electronic filing capacity will
enhance the accessibility and quality of
labor certification services, reduce the
data collection and reporting burden on
small employers, facilitate more
streamlined business processes, and
establish greater transparency in the
Department’s decisions. Employers or
their authorized representatives will be
able to submit H–2B applications
electronically beginning on October 15,
2012, and H–2A applications beginning
on December 10, 2012. In order to make
this transition as smooth as possible, the
Department will hold four webinar
training sessions (two for filing in the
H–2B program and two for filing in the
H–2A program) to orient program users
to electronic filing through the iCERT
System. These sessions will be
announced on the OFLC’s Web site
(https://www.foreignlaborcert.doleta.
gov/) once dates are finalized.
Employers or their authorized
representatives choosing not to use this
new filing option must continue to file
their H–2A and H–2B applications with
the Department using the traditional
paper-based filing method.
srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
17:28 Sep 27, 2012
For
further information please contact
William L. Carlson, Ph.D.,
Administrator, Office of Foreign Labor
Certification, Employment and Training
Administration, 200 Constitution
Avenue NW., Room C–4312,
Washington, DC 20210; Telephone:
(202) 693–3010 (this is not a toll-free
number). Individuals with hearing or
speech impairments may access the
telephone number above via TTY by
calling the toll-free Federal Information
Relay Service at 1–800–877–8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
I. Background
Employment and Training
Administration
VerDate Mar<15>2010
This Notice is effective
September 28, 2012.
DATES:
Jkt 226001
The Immigration and Nationality Act
(INA) and Department of Homeland
Security U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS)
regulations assign specific
responsibilities to the U.S. Secretary of
Labor for the administration of certain
employment-based immigration
programs that require a labor
certification. 8 U.S.C. 1184(c)(1),
1188(a)(1); 8 CFR 214.2(h)(5), (6). These
responsibilities include determining
whether there are able, willing, and
qualified U.S. workers for a position for
which certification is requested, and
whether there would be any adverse
impact on similarly employed U.S.
workers should a labor certification be
granted. Accordingly, statutory and
regulatory provisions require employers
seeking a labor certification for either
permanent or temporary nonimmigrant
labor to apply to the Secretary of Labor.
The Secretary has delegated the
responsibilities for the administration of
these programs to the Employment and
Training Administration’s (ETA) Office
of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC).
The H–2A and H–2B nonimmigrant
worker labor certification programs
administered by the OFLC enable
United States (U.S.) employers to
employ foreign workers on a temporary
basis only where the Secretary of Labor
has certified that there are not sufficient
U.S. workers who are able, willing, and
qualified to perform the services or
labor, and the employment of the
foreign workers will not adversely affect
the wages and working conditions of
U.S. workers similarly employed. 20
CFR part 655, Subpart B (H–2A
workers); 20 CFR part 655, Subpart A
(H–2B workers). Under current practice,
employers or their authorized
representatives (attorneys or agents)
submit H–2A and H–2B temporary labor
certification applications (i.e., the ETA
Form 9142—Application for Temporary
PO 00000
Frm 00081
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Employment Certification, appendices,
and supporting documentation) in paper
form bearing original signatures directly
to the OFLC Chicago National
Processing Center (NPC). The Chicago
NPC performs a manual review of each
application for compliance with the
criteria for certification; provides
written notification to the employer,
normally through means that assure
next-day delivery (e.g., U.S. mail or
private mail courier and electronic mail
when available), of any deficiencies or
additional information needed; issues a
written determination either granting or
denying the temporary labor
certification application; and retains a
copy of the paper-filed application for
record retention purposes.
As a component of the Department’s
E-Government initiative and in
accordance with 20 CFR 655.20(b) and
655.130(c), ETA is publishing this
Notice to inform the public, including
the regulated community, of its
intention to implement electronic filing
of temporary labor certification
applications under the H–2A and H–2B
visa programs through the iCERT
System located at https://icert.doleta.gov.
Using this system, agricultural
associations, employers and/or their
authorized representatives will be able
to establish Web-based accounts; create
associate user accounts and manage
security privileges; file the ETA Form
9142 online and upload scanned
documentation supporting the
application; track the status of all
applications filed and processed by the
Chicago NPC; and receive email
notifications and other official
correspondence during key points of the
application adjudication process. The
implementation of this new electronic
filing capacity will enhance the
accessibility and quality of labor
certification services, reduce the data
collection and reporting burden on
small employers, facilitate more
streamlined business processes, and
establish a greater level of transparency
in the Department’s decision making.1
iCERT System Availability and Program
Components
The OFLC has experienced an
increased demand for its labor
certification program processing
services, especially its electronic
application filing; case processing and
tracking; and document management
services. On April 15, 2009, the OFLC
implemented a one-stop Web-based
1 Sunstein, Cass R. ‘‘Memorandum for the Heads
of Executive Departments and Agencies: Reducing
Reporting and Paperwork Burdens.’’ Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs (June 22, 2012).
E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM
28SEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 189 (Friday, September 28, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59669-59670]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23848]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Comment Request for Information Collection; Unemployment
Insurance (UI) Title XII Advances and Voluntary Repayment Process;
Extension Without Revisions
AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Labor.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (Department), as part of its
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a
preclearance consultation program to provide the 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 [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This program helps 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, ETA is soliciting
comments concerning the collection process for data on UI Title XII
advances and voluntary repayments, which expires 11/30/2012.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the
addresses section below on or before November 27, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Scott Gibbons, Office of
Unemployment Insurance, Employment and Training Administration, U.S.
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW. Washington, DC 20210.
Telephone number: 202-693-3008 (this is not a toll-free number).
Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may access the telephone
number above via TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Information Relay
Service at 1-877-889-5627 (TTY/TDD). Email: gibbons.scott@dol.gov. A
copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be
obtained by contacting Mr. Gibbons.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Title XII Section 1201 of the Social Security Act (SSA) provides
for advances to states from the Federal Unemployment Account (FUA). The
law further sets out specific requirements to be met by a state
requesting an advance:
The Governor, or designee, must apply for the advance;
The application must cover a three month period and the
Secretary of Labor (Secretary) must be furnished with estimates of the
amounts needed in each month of the three month period;
The application must be made on such forms and shall
contain such information and data (fiscal and otherwise) concerning the
operation and administration of the state unemployment compensation law
as the Secretary deems necessary or relevant to the performance of his
or her duties under this title;
The amount required by any state for the payment of
compensation in any month shall be determined with due allowance for
contingencies and taking into account all other amounts that will be
available in the state's unemployment fund for the payment of
compensation in such month; and
The term ``compensation'' means cash benefits payable to
individuals with respect to their unemployment exclusive of expenses of
administration.
Section 1202(a) of the SSA provides that the Governor of any state
may at any time request that funds be transferred from the account of
such state to the FUA in repayment of part or all of the balance of
advances made to such state under section 1201. These applications and
repayments may be requested by an individual designated for that
authority in writing by the Governor.
II. Review Focus
The Department 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
Type of Review: Extension without changes.
Title: Unemployment Insurance (UI) Title XII Advances and Voluntary
Repayment Process.
OMB Number: 1205-0199.
Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies.
Form(s): Not Applicable.
Total Annual Respondents: Up to 53.
Annual Frequency: As needed, based on a state's discretion.
Total Annual Responses: DOL currently estimates that 24 states will
borrow during fiscal year 2013, and 22 states could continue to be
borrowing during calendar year 2014 and beyond. Although it's
impossible to know the exact number of responses, the maximum would be
four requests for advances and four requests for voluntary repayments
per state each year. This will result in a maximum possible number of
responses of 544 over the three year window or an average of 181.33
responses per year.
Average Time per Response: 1 hour.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 181.33 hours.
[[Page 59670]]
Total Annual Burden Cost for Respondents: There is no burden cost.
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 ICR; they will also become a matter of public
record.
Dated: Signed in Washington, DC, this 21st day of September,
2012.
Jane Oates,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Labor.
[FR Doc. 2012-23848 Filed 9-27-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-FW-P
