Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Unemployment Insurance (UI) State Quality Service Plan (SQSP) Planning and Reporting Guidelines, 36617-36618 [2023-11835]

Agencies

• Employment and Training Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 107 (Monday, June 5, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36617-36618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11835]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; 
Unemployment Insurance (UI) State Quality Service Plan (SQSP) Planning 
and Reporting Guidelines

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor's (DOL) Employment and Training 
Administration (ETA) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed 
revision to the information collection request (ICR) titled, 
``Unemployment Insurance (UI) State Quality Service Plan (SQSP) 
Planning and Reporting Guidelines.'' 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 
August 4, 2023.

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 Delores Ferrell by telephone at 202-693-3183 (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, Office of 
Unemployment Insurance, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room S-4519, 
Washington, DC 20210; by email: [email protected]; or by Fax: 
202-693-3975.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Delores Ferrell by telephone at 202-
693-3183 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at 
[email protected].

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.
    The SQSP is an approach to the unemployment insurance performance 
management and planning process that allows for an exchange of 
information between the Federal and state partners to enhance the 
ability of the UI program to reflect the joint commitment to 
performance excellence and client-centered services. As part of UI 
Performs, a comprehensive performance management system implemented in 
1995 for the UI program, SQSP is the principal vehicle that state UI 
agencies use to plan, record, and manage program improvement efforts as 
they strive for excellence in service. SQSP also serves as the state 
plan for the UI program and serves as the grant document through which 
states receive Federal UI administrative funding. SQSP links program 
performance with the budget and planning process.
    The Department's information collection authority for SQSP is under 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) number 1205-0132. ETA proposes to 
revise this information collection to improve the clarity of the 
documentation and instructions and update the estimated burden based on 
more recent operating activity. Currently, ETA is soliciting comments 
concerning the proposed modification to the ET Handbook No. 336, 18th 
Edition; Unemployment Insurance (UI) State Quality Service Plan (SQSP). 
ETA is providing specific guidance on the submittal of the SQSP.
    The SQSP, with its State Plan Narrative, Corrective Action Plans 
(CAPs), and Integrity Action Plan (IAP), is the state's formal plan and 
schedule for improving performance. States will continue to use the 
State Plan Narrative to provide a general summary of the UI program in 
the state. The Department expects each state to address its planned 
actions to correct deficiencies for Secretary Standards, Core Measures, 
and UI programs are expected in CAPs. The Department requires each 
state to submit one CAP for each deficiency. Based on FY 2022 data, 
states submitted a total of 874 CAPs. This is an increase of 397 CAPs 
compared to FY 2020 data.
    The Secretary of Labor is authorized to provide funds to administer 
the UI

[[Page 36618]]

program and to govern the expenditures of those funds. Sections 302 and 
303(a)(8) and (9), of the Social Security Act, authorize 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 
1205-0132.
    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: Extension with revisions.
    Title of Collection: Unemployment Insurance (UI) State Quality 
Service Plan (SQSP) Planning and Reporting Guidelines.
    Form: ET Handbook No. 336, 18th Edition.
    OMB Control Number: 1205-0132.
    Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 53.
    Frequency: Biennial, Annual, and Quarterly.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 1,701.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: Varies.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,496 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Cost Burden: $0.

(Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A))

Brent Parton,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Labor.
[FR Doc. 2023-11835 Filed 6-2-23; 8:45 am]
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