[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 101 (Thursday, May 24, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31042-31043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12624]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Comment Request for Information Collection for Veterans'
Retraining Assistance Program, Extension Without Changes
AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Labor.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL), 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 extension of
approval for the collection of applicant data for the Veterans'
Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP), which is part of the VOW to Hire
Heroes Act of 2011 (Pub. L. 112-56). VRAP is a new training program for
eligible veterans, funded by the Veterans' Administration. To determine
eligibility, the Act directs ETA to collect the following information
from veteran applicants: Age, employment status, status in a Federal or
state job training program within 180 days of the application, and date
of application.
This information collection follows an emergency review that was
conducted in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 5
CFR 1320.13. OMB approved the emergency request on April 11, 2012. A
copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) 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 July 23, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Andrew Ridgeway, Office of
Workforce Investment, Room S-4209, Employment and Training
Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20210. Telephone number: 202-693-3536 (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). Fax:
202-693-3817. Email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
ETA seeks a regular extension of OMB's approval to collect
individual applicant data for the Veterans Retraining Assistance
Program (VRAP) as part of the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 (Pub. L.
112-56), enacted November 21, 2011. The Act directs the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA), in cooperation with the DOL, to pay for up to 12
months of a training program in a high demand occupation for unemployed
eligible veterans. The program is to serve up to 45,000 veterans in
Fiscal Year (FY) 2012, beginning July 1, 2012, and up to 54,000
veterans from October 1, 2012, through March 31, 2014.
The VRAP provides the benefit to veterans who fulfill the following
eligibility criteria: As of date of application, is at least 35 years
old and less than 60; discharged from active duty under conditions
other than dishonorable; is unemployed as of date of application; is
not eligible to receive other educational assistance from the VA; is
not in receipt of compensation for a service-connected disability rated
totally disabling by reason of unemployability; was not and is not
enrolled in any Federal or state job training program within the
previous 180 days; and, the application must be submitted not later
than October 1, 2013.
The VA is responsible for determining the following eligibility
criteria: Discharged from active duty under conditions other than
dishonorable; is not eligible to receive other educational assistance
from the VA; is not in receipt of compensation for a service-connected
disability rated totally disabling by reason of unemployability. The VA
will be collecting information required for their eligibility criteria
through the ``Application for VA Educational Benefits'' (OMB Control
Number 2900-0154, VA Form 22-1990). The DOL is required to determine
whether each veteran applying for the program is between 35 and 60
years old, is unemployed as of the date of the application, has not and
is not enrolled in a Federal or state job training program within 180
days of the application, and has applied for the program no later than
October 1, 2013. The DOL is proposing to determine its eligibility
requirements by collecting individual applicant data. The data will be
linked to the VA's Veterans On-Line Application (VONAPP, VA Form 22-
1990) to complete the application. The VA will transmit reports to the
DOL about the completion status of the veterans, so that the DOL can
make contact with the veteran to offer employment services.
II. Review Focus
The Department is particularly interested in comments which:
[[Page 31043]]
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: Veterans' Retraining Assistance Program.
OMB Number: 1205-0491.
Affected Public: Veteran Program Applicants.
Form(s): Intake Application.
Total Annual Respondents: 100,000.
Annual Frequency: Once.
Total Annual Responses: 100,000.
Average Time per Response: Five (5) minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 8,333.
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 OMB approval of the ICR;
they will also become a matter of public record.
Dated: Signed in Washington, DC, on this 16th day of May, 2012.
Jane Oates,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Labor.
[FR Doc. 2012-12624 Filed 5-23-12; 8:45 am]
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