SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

DOL, 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 Office of Management and Budget (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 BTQ program collects information and analyzes data. The BTQ data measures the timeliness and quality of states' administrative actions and decisions related to unemployment insurance benefit payments.

The Department is proposing revisions to the ETA 9056 report to incorporate additional issue codes, ensuring alignment with the proposed updates outlined in the ETA 207 Nonmonetary Determination Activities Report ICR (OMB Control No. 1205-0150) and first noticed under 90 FR 3958 (published January 15, 2025). The changes proposed to the ETA 9056 that would incorporate proposed edits to the ETA 207 report specify issues that were previously grouped together and introduce or revise several nonmonetary definitions; such changes do not include the proposed collection of demographic information on each determination issued. Accurately identifying issue codes during the adjudication process is an essential component of the BTQ review process. BTQ review data collected on the ETA 9056 directly relates to the nonmonetary determination issue codes reported on the ETA 207, therefore accurate and consistent categorization by states is necessary. The determination categories on the ETA 9056 must precisely mirror those reported on the ETA 207 to maintain consistency and reliability.

The proposed changes to the ETA 9056 include:

• Creating new issue codes for:
  • Alien Able and Available issues during the benefit year; and
  • Other non-separation issues not otherwise categorized.
• Renaming issue types. These categories exist on the current ETA 9056 report, but would be modified for clarity:

ETA intends to renew the following reports without revision: ETA 9050, ETA 9051, ETA 9052, ETA 9054, ETA 9055, and ETA 9057 reports and Handbook 382. Sections 303(a)(1) and (a)(6) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 503(a)(1) and 503(a)(6)) authorize this information collection.

This information collection is subject to the 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 it is approved by OMB under the PRA 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 Control Number. See5 CFR 1320.5(a) and 1320.6.

Interested parties are encouraged to provide comments to the contact shown in the ADDRESSES section. Comments must be written to receive consideration, and they will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval of the final ICR. In order to help ensure appropriate consideration, comments should mention OMB control number 1205-0359.

Submitted comments will also be a matter of public record for this ICR and posted on the internet, without redaction. DOL encourages commenters not to include personally identifiable information, confidential business data, or other sensitive statements/information in any comments.

DOL is particularly interested in comments that:

• 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 submission of responses).

Agency: DOL-ETA.

Type of Review: Revision.

Title of Collection: Benefit Timeliness and Quality.

Forms: ETA-9050, ETA-9051, ETA-9052, ETA-9054, ETA-9055, ETA-9056, ETA- 9057, and Handbook 382.

OMB Control Number: 1205-0359.

Affected Public: State Workforce Agencies.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 53.

Frequency: Monthly and Quarterly.

Total Estimated Annual Responses: 28,516.

Estimated Average Time per Response: Varies.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 37,972 hours.

Total Estimated Annual Other Cost Burden: $0.

Authority:44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A).