The Department of Labor has submitted the following (see below) emergency processing public information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (P.L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). OMB approval has been requested by February 18, 2000. A copy of this ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained by calling the Department of Labor, Ira Mills, Departmental Clearance Officer, ( (202) 219-5096, x 143). Comments and questions about the ICR listed below should be forwarded to Office Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for the Employment and Training Administration, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503 ( (202) 395-7316).

The Office of Management and Budget 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 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 response.                

*Type of Review:*                    Emergency.                

*Agency:*                    Employment and Training Administration.                

*Title:*                    Workforce Investment Act Cumulative Quarterly Financial Reporting for Funds Allotted to States for Services to Youth, Services to Adults, Services to Dislocated Workers, Local Area Administration, Statewide Activities (15% of Total Federal Allotment), and Statewide Rapid Response.                

*OMB Number:*                    1205-0New.                

*Frequency:*                    Quarterly.                

*Affected Public:*                    States, Local, or Tribal governments; Not-for-profit institutions.                

*Number of Respondents:*                    56.                

# **Note:**

                        Number of reports required per entity per quarter/per year is impacted by the 3 year life of each year of appropriated funds,                         *i.e.*, PY 1997 and 1998 funds are available for expenditure in PY 1999, thus 3 reports reflect 3 available funding years. DOL estimates 16 entities reporting for PY 1999. Beginning in PY 2000, all entities (56) are required to report under WIA.                    

*Total Burden Cost (capital/startup):*                    $0.                

*Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining):*                    $0.                

*Description:*                    The proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) incorporates the necessary reporting instructions for States to report financial data related to Workforce Investment Act programs to DOL. These instructions have been prepared in response to the requirement set forth at 20 CFR 667.300, for DOL to issue financial reporting instructions to States; and to ensure State compliance with the reporting elements contained in the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998, Subtitle E. Sec. 185.                

The WIA requires quarterly financial reports which shall include information identifying all program and activity costs by cost category in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and by year of appropriation. The WIA also requires reporting any income or profits earned, such including such income or profits earned by subrecipients and any costs incurred (such as stand-in costs) that are otherwise allowable except for funding limitations. In addition, WIA requires the reporting of costs only as administrative or programmatic, with computerization/technology costs not included in the administrative cost limit calculation.

The Standard Form 269 has been modified to provide the six reporting formats which will be used for WIA reporting. Separate reporting formats will be needed for: (1) Local area youth, (2) local area adults, (3) local area dislocated workers, (4) local administration, (5) Statewide activities (15% total Federal allotment), and (6) Statewide rapid response.

ETA is designing software that will contain the data elements required for each of the reporting formats. Instructions corresponding to the required data elements also will be provided to the States in the software package. Transmittal of this data will occur on a quarterly basis via the Internet.

The data collection and reporting requirements requested by the Employment and Training Administration are necessary to effectively manage and evaluate the financial status of the WIA program, to measure regulatory compliance, to prepare required reports to Congress, and for audit purposes.

Ira L. Mills,

Departmental Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 00-2646  Filed 2-4-00; 8:45 am]

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