[Federal Register: January 15, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 10)]
[Notices]               
[Page 2420-2421]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15ja98-90]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

 
Proposed Collection; Welfare-to-Work Solicitation for Grant 
Applications Comment Request

January 9, 1998.
ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, 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 continuting 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) [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, the Employment and Training Administration is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed extension collection of the 
Solicitation for Grant Applications (SGA) for the Welfare-to-Work (WtW) 
Competitive Grants. This SGA was published in the Federal Register on 
December 30, 1997 Under OMB approval number 1205-0387 (Please note 
that, due to a typographical error, the OMB approval number appeared in 
the SGA as ``1205-1387''. This clearance number is incorrect). A copy 
of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by 
contacting the office listed in the addressee section of this notice. 
Comments will be used to influence the development of future WtW 
solicitations for grant applications. The SGA published in the Federal 
Register on December 30, 1997 will not be modified in any way.

DATES: Written comments on the WtW SGA published in the Federal 
Register on December 30, 1997 must be submitted to the office listed in 
the addressee section below on or before March 16, 1998. The Department 
of Labor is particularly interested in comments which:

    <bullet> 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;
    <bullet> 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;
    <bullet> enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    <bullet> 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.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training 
Administration, ATTENTION: Cheryl Turner, 200 Constitution Avenue, 
N.W., Room S-5513, Washington, D.C. 20210, 202-219-0181 extension 139 
(this is not a toll free number) or by fax at 202-219-0376.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Balanced Budget Act of 1997, signed by the President on August 
5, 1997, authorized the Department of Labor to provide Welfare-to-Work 
(WtW) grants to States and local communities to provide transitional 
employment assistance to move Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 
(TANF) recipients with significant employment barriers into 
unsubsidized jobs providing long-term employment opportunities. Under 
the WtW grants program, 25% of funds not allocated by the formula 
grants (to the States) will be provided through competitive grants to 
local governments, PICs, and private entities. In order to receive 
competitive grant funds, the statute provides that the public or 
private entity must submit an application in conjunction with the 
applicable PIC or political subdivision.

II. Current Actions

    Need for continuing an existing collection of information.
    Type of Review: Extension (without change)
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration

[[Page 2421]]

    Title: Welfare-to-Work Competitive Grants; Solicitation for Grant 
Application
    OMB Number: 1205-0387
    Affected Public: Public and private entities
    Total Respondents: 600
    Frequency: Annually
    Total Responses: 600
    Average time per response: 20
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 12,000
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $480,000
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): Comments submitted in 
response to this request will be summarized and considered for use in 
future SGAs; they will also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: January 9, 1998.
Dennis Lieberman,
Acting Director, Welfare to Work Grants Implementation Team.
[FR Doc. 98-1031 Filed 1-14-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M