Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Benefit Accuracy Measurement Program, 17878-17879 [2024-05148]

Agencies

• Employment and Training Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17878-17879]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05148]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; 
Benefit Accuracy Measurement Program

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor's (DOL) Employment and Training 
Administration (ETA) is soliciting comments concerning a proposed 
extension for the authority to conduct the information collection 
request (ICR) titled, ``Benefit Accuracy Measurement Program (BAM).'' 
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 
May 13, 2024.

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 Rhonda Cowie by telephone at (202) 693-3821 (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

[[Page 17879]]

Unemployment Insurance, Room S-4520, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, 
Washington, DC 20210, by email at [email protected], or by Fax at 
(202) 693-3975.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rhonda Cowie by telephone at (202) 
693-3821 (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.
    Since 1987, all State Workforce Agencies operating unemployment 
insurance (UI) programs, except the U.S. Virgin Islands, have been 
required by regulation at 20 CFR part 602 to operate BAM programs to 
assess the accuracy of their UI benefit payments in three programs: 
State UI, Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees, and 
Unemployment Compensation for Ex-servicemembers. Beginning in 2001, BAM 
was modified to include the sampling and investigation of UI claims 
denied for monetary, separation, or nonseparation issues. The Payment 
Integrity Information Act of 2019 (31 U.S.C. 3352) and Section 
303(a)(6) of the Social Security Act 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 
1205-0245.
    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 without change.
    Title of Collection: Benefit Accuracy Measurement Program.
    Form: BAM State Operations Handbook (ETA Handbook 395, 5th 
edition).
    OMB Control Number: OMB 1205-0245.
    Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies (Primary), individuals, 
businesses, and not-for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 181,634.
    Frequency: Varies.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 228,745.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: Varies.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 618,085 hours.
    Total Estimated Annual Other Cost Burden: $0.

Brent Parton,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, 
Labor.
[FR Doc. 2024-05148 Filed 3-11-24; 8:45 am]
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