[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 82 (Friday, April 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18626-18627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-10377]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Proposed Collection; Comment Request
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
collections 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.
Currently, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments
concerning the proposed extension of the ``Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS)
Program Survey.''
A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be
obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the addresses
section of this notice.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the
addresses section below on or before June 25, 1996.
BLS is particularly interested in comments which help the agency
to:
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 assumption 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.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Karin G. Kurz, BLS Clearance Officer,
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 3255,
2 Massachusetts Avenue N.E., Washington, D.C. 20212. Ms. Kurz can be
reached on 202-606-7628 (this is not a toll free number).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section 462(e) of PL 97-300, the Job Training Partnership Act
(JTPA), provides that the Secretary of Labor develop and maintain
statistical data relating to permanent mass layoffs and plant closings
and issue an annual report. The report is to include, at a minimum, the
number of plant closings and mass layoffs, and the number of workers
affected. The data are summarized by geographical area and industry.
The MLS program uses a standardized automated approach to identify,
describe, and track the impact of major job cutbacks. The program
utilizes, to the greatest degree possible, existing Unemployment
Insurance (UI) records and computerized data files, supplemented by
direct employer contact. Its major features include:
The identification of major layoffs and closings through
initial UI claims filed against the identified employer;
The use of existing files on claimants to obtain basic
demographic and economic characteristics on the individual;
The telephone contact of those employers meeting mass
layoff criteria to obtain specific information on the nature of the
layoff and characteristics of the establishment;
The identification of the continuing impact of the mass
layoff on individuals by matching affected initial claimants with
persons in claims status; and,
The measurement of the incidence of the exhaustion of
regular State UI benefits by affected workers.
In the program, State Employment Security Agencies (SESAs) submit a
comprehensive report each quarter, and a preliminary, summary report
each month. These computerized reports contain information from State
administrative files and information obtained from those employers
meeting the program criteria of a mass layoff.
Congress provided for the implementation of the MLS program by BLS
through fiscal years 1984-1992 appropriations for the Departments of
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and related agencies. The
program was not operational in fiscal years 1993 and 1994. Program
operation resumed in fiscal years 1995 and 1996 with funds provided by
the Employment and Training Administration (ETA).
At the present time, all States (including the District of Columbia
and Puerto Rico) are participating in the program.
II. Current Actions
The information collected and compiled in the MLS program is used
to satisfy the reporting requirement legislatively mandated by Section
462(e) of PL 97-300 (JTPA). The BLS annual reports from this program
meet that statutory mandate, as well as provide economic analyses of
these data.
In addition to the BLS uses of MLS data, such data are required by
Congress, the Executive branch, business, labor, and academic
communities, SESAs, and the Department of Labor for both macro- and
micro-economic analysis, including specific labor market studies geared
towards manpower assistance and
[[Page 18627]]
development. Moreover, Congress used these data in conjunction with the
findings from a supplemental study of layoff actions in the development
of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act that
was enacted in August 1988. Furthermore, ETA uses MLS micro data in the
evaluation of dislocated worker programs to assess the effectiveness of
those activities and services.
A congressionally mandated use of mass layoff data is the Economic
Dislocation and Worker Adjustment Assistance Act of 1988 (EDWAA), which
amended Title III of JTPA. Section 302 of EDWAA provides for allocation
of Title III funds to States on the basis of MLS data and encourages
the use of MLS data in substate allocations.
State agencies use the MLS data in various ways, including the
identification of: geographic areas in need of special manpower
services; ailing or troubled industries; specific employers needing
assistance; outreach activities for the unemployed; and workers in need
of temporary health care services.
There is no other comprehensive source of statistics on either
establishments or workers affected by mass layoffs and plant closings;
therefore, none of the aforementioned data requirements could be
fulfilled if this data collection did not occur.
Type of Review: Extension.
Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Title: Mass Layoff Statistics Program.
OMB Number: 1220-0090.
Affected Public: Business or other for profit; Not-for-profit
institutions; Farms; Federal Government; State, Local or Tribal
Government.
Total Respondents: 15,652.
Frequency: State Employment Security Agencies (SESAs) will report
quarterly and monthly. Affected employers will report on occasion.
Total Responses: 16,432.
Average Time Per Response: 60 Minutes for SESAs. 30 Minutes for
employers.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 73,320 Hours.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget
approval of the information collection request; they also will become a
matter of public record.
Signed at Washington, D.C., this 22nd day of April, 1996.
Peter T. Spolarich,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
[FR Doc. 96-10377 Filed 4-25-96; 8:45 am]
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