[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 171 (Friday, September 2, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54792-54793]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22577]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Comment Request for Information Collection for the Workforce
Investment Act Streamlined Performance Reporting (WISPR) Data
Collection System; Extension With Revisions
AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Notice.
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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 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 Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is
soliciting comments concerning the WISPR system. The current expiration
date is October 31, 2011. A copy of the proposed information collection
request can be obtained by contacting the office 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 November 1, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to the U.S. Department of Labor,
Employment and Training Administration, Office of Policy Development
and Research, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room N-5641, Washington, DC
20210, Attention: Karen A. Staha. Telephone number: (202) 693-2917
(this is not a toll-free number). Fax: (202)693-2766. E-mail:
Staha.Karen@dol.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
In July 2004, ETA solicited comments from the general public on the
establishment of a single, streamlined reporting and recordkeeping
system, formally called the ETA Management Information and Longitudinal
Evaluation (EMILE) reporting system. The notice of 60-day public
comment on the proposed EMILE reporting system was published in the
Federal Register on July 16, 2004 (69 FR 42777). The proposed EMILE
reporting system was designed to streamline 12 ETA program reporting
systems into one comprehensive reporting structure that would allow for
consistent, comparable analysis across ETA funded employment and
training programs, using the definitions for a set of common
performance measures initially specified in Training and Employment
Guidance Letter (TEGL) 15-03, Common Measures Policy, and subsequently
revised by TEGL 17-05, (note TEGLs 17-05 change 1, and 17-05 Change 2
provide additional revisions), Common Measures Policy for the
Employment and Training Administration's (ETA) Performance
Accountability System and Related Performance Issues.
ETA received comments from 161 unique entities, including State
workforce agencies and boards, local workforce investment areas, non-
profit organizations and national associations, Native American and
other Tribal organizations, public interest and advocacy groups, and
other private citizens and stakeholders. Due to the large volume of
comments submitted by each entity, ETA worked during calendar year 2005
to organize and analyze the public comments, make appropriate revisions
to agency policy guidance on the common measures, and assess the
feasibility of implementing the proposed EMILE reporting requirements
in several States.
ETA reconciled the public comments and made appropriate revisions
to the original EMILE proposal, which was re-named the WISPR System.
This system replaced the existing quarterly reporting requirements for
the following seven ETA activities: Wagner-Peyser Act, Jobs for
Veterans' State Grants, the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Adult, WIA
Dislocated Worker, WIA Youth, Trade Adjustment Assistance Act programs,
and National Emergency Grants.
The WISPR system was piloted in two States (Pennsylvania and Texas)
and both States have successfully implemented WISPR. At its foundation,
the WISPR system organizes customer information, which is maintained by
States in order to run their day-to-day operations. It includes the
minimum level of information collection necessary to comply with Equal
Opportunity requirements, hold States and grantees appropriately
accountable for the Federal funds they receive, and allow the
Department to fulfill its oversight and management responsibilities.
The WISPR system features a set of aggregate quarterly reports for
capturing services to employer and job seeker customers, including a
special aggregate report on services to the nation's eligible veterans
and transitioning service members. A standardized set of participant
data that includes information on demographics, types of services
received, and performance outcomes based on a set of common measures
defined consistently across programs is a key component of this
reporting system. The WISPR system also incorporates provisions to
ensure the integrity of reported data and resolve data collection and
reliability issues raised by the Office of the Inspector General and
the Government Accountability Office regarding the Department's ability
to accurately evaluate program performance.
The implementation of WISPR was put on hold in March 2009 as ETA
focused its available resources on implementing the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act. The current request for information seeks to
obtain comments regarding the extension of the current WISPR system. To
date, the system has been fully implemented in Pennsylvania and Texas
but could potentially be implemented in additional States.
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,
[[Page 54793]]
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 with changes.
Title: Workforce Investment Act Streamlined Performance Reporting
(WISPR) data collection system.
OMB Number: 1205-0469.
Affected Public: State, local and Tribal government entities and
private non-profit organizations.
Form(s): ETA-9131, ETA-9132, ETA 9133, WISRD Record Layout, WISPR
Data Preparation and Reporting Handbook 2011.
Total Annual Respondents: 254.
Annual Frequency: Quarterly.
Total Annual Responses: 864 (4 responses for each of the 54 States/
territories on a quarterly basis)
Average Time per Response: 1,120 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 968,438.
Total Annual Burden Cost for Respondents: $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: August 29, 2011.
Jane Oates,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training.
[FR Doc. 2011-22577 Filed 9-1-11; 8:45 am]
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