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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 220 (Thursday, November 14, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 90054-90055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-26438]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Jobs for Veterans State Grants Reports

AGENCY: Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS), Department of 
Labor.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL), as part of its continuing 
effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, provides 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 (PRA). 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 is properly assessed. Currently, the DOL is 
soliciting comments concerning the collection of recurring reports 
submitted by Jobs for Veterans State Grants (JVSG) recipients regarding 
the planned and actual expenditure of grant funds and activities funded 
by the grant.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section below on or before January 13, 2025.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by email at [email protected]. 
Instructions: Please submit only one copy of your comments. All 
submissions received must include the agency name and Office of 
Management and Budget

[[Page 90055]]

(OMB) Control Number 1293-0009 for this information collection. 
Comments, including any personal information provided, become a matter 
of public record. They will also be summarized and/or included in the 
request for OMB approval of the information collection request. A copy 
of the proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) can be obtained by 
contacting the office as listed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebekah Haydin, by telephone at (240) 
867-2302 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Labor, 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 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.
    The Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service 
(VETS) administers funds for the Jobs for Veterans State Grant (JVSG) 
to each state, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the 
U.S. Virgin Islands on an annual fiscal year basis. These non-
competitive, formula-driven grants are codified under title 38, United 
States Code, (38 U.S.C.) section 4102A(b)(5): ``Subject to subsection 
(c) make available for use in each state by grant or contract such 
funds as may be necessary to support--(A) disabled veterans' outreach 
program specialists appointed under section 4103A(a)(1) of this title, 
(B) local veterans' employment representatives assigned under section 
4104(b) of this title, and (C) the reasonable expenses of such 
specialists and representatives described in subparagraphs (A) and (B), 
respectively, for training, travel, supplies, and other business 
expenses . . .''
    VETS provides funds to states in accordance with an allocation 
formula required by 38 U.S.C. 4102A(c)(2)(B) and as published in 
regulation at title 20, part 1001, subpart F of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR). The Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment and 
Training monitors and supervises the distribution and use of those 
funds as required by 38 U.S.C. 4102A(b)(6). Additionally, and in 
accordance with 38 U.S.C. 4107(b), the Secretary reviews performance 
and provides an annual report to Congress that includes a 
characterization of the quality and character of priority of services 
provided to veterans (38 U.S.C. 4215 and 20 CFR 1010.320, 1010.330), 
efforts to coordinate with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in 
accordance with 38 U.S.C. 4102A(b)(3) and 4109; and incentive fund 
usage as described in 38 U.S.C. 4112.
    VETS is requesting continued approval for the information 
collection that streamlines the annual funding request process for 
grantees, reports the use of grantee funds in sufficient detail to 
allow interim adjustments that ensure all appropriated funding is 
expended properly, and provides data needed for VETS' Annual Report to 
Congress.
    The forms and reports collect required programmatic and financial 
data from states and territories requesting and obligating grant funds. 
The continued use of standardized formats for collecting this 
information helps to ensure that requested data is provided in a 
uniform way, reporting burdens are minimized, the impact of collection 
requirements on respondents are properly assessed, collection 
instruments are clearly understood by respondents, and the information 
is easily consolidated for posting in accordance with statutory 
requirements.
    In addition to its standard review of all forms and instructions to 
incorporate programmatic updates and improve plain language, VETS is 
proposing to revise the information collection to add a VETS-404 
Incentive Award Report form for reporting on the recipient's incentive 
award program. As a condition for the receipt of funds, JVSG recipients 
must establish and carry out an annual performance incentive program to 
recognize excellence and encourage the improvement of employment, 
training, and placement services provided under the grant. Recipients 
currently provide an annual report on their incentive program as a 
freeform attachment to their fourth-quarter VETS-403 Technical 
Performance Narrative. Recipients have requested a standardized form on 
which to complete this report so that the required data elements are 
more clear.
    With respect to the continuation of the approved collection of 
information, VETS is particularly interested in comments on these 
topics:
    (1) Whether the continued collection of information is necessary 
for the proper performance and oversight of the Jobs for Veterans State 
Grant, including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) The accuracy of the VETS' estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information;
    (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (4) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques, when appropriate, and other forms of information 
technology.
    This information collection is subject to the Paperwork Reduction 
Act (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 the OMB approves it 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 OMB Control Number. See 5 CFR 
1320.5(a) and 1320.6.
    The DOL seeks PRA authorization for this information collection for 
three (3) years. OMB authorization for an Information Collection Review 
cannot be for more than three (3) years without renewal. The DOL notes 
that currently approved information collection requirements submitted 
to the OMB receive a month-to-month extension while they undergo 
review.
    Agency: DOL-VETS.
    Type of Review: Revision.
    OMB Control Number: 1293-0009.
    Title of Collection: VETS' Jobs for Veterans State Grant Program 
Reporting.
    Forms:
    1. VETS-401, JVSG Budget Information Summary;
    2. VETS-402, JVSG Expenditure Detail Report (EDR);
    3. VETS-403, JVSG Technical Performance Narrative (TPN);
    4. VETS-404, Incentive Award Report (IAR);
    5. VETS-501, JVSG Staffing Directory.
    Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 54.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Responses: 3,456.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,116.
    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A).

    Dated: November 6, 2024.
James Rodriguez,
Assistant Secretary, Veterans' Employment and Training Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-26438 Filed 11-13-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-79-P
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