[Federal Register: March 26, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 58)]
[Notices]               
[Page 14733-14734]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26mr98-126]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

 
Indian and Native American Welfare-to-Work Grant Program Proposed 
Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

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 process to provide 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 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)]. This process helps to 
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, 
reporting burdens are minimized, collection instruments are clearly 
understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents 
can be properly assessed. Currently, the Employment and Training 
Administration (ETA) is soliciting comments concerning the revision of 
the currently-approved preapplication and planning requirements for the 
Indian and Native American Welfare-to-Work (INA WtW) Grant Program (OMB 
Clearance Number 1205-0383) for the FY 1999 funding period. A copy of 
the currently-approved information collection request (ICR), especially 
FY 1998 preapplication and planning guidance, can be obtained by 
contacting the office listed below in the address section of this 
notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section below on or before May 26, 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 burden estimate for 
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 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.

ADDRESSES: Thomas M. Dowd, Chief, Division of Indian and Native 
American Programs, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. 
Department of Labor, Room N-4641, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 219-8502 ext 119 (VOICE) or 
(202) 219-6338 (FAX) (these are not toll-free numbers) or Internet: 
DOWDT@doleta.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Employment and Training Administration of the Department of 
Labor is considering revisions to its currently-approved preapplication 
and planning system for the Indian and Native American Welfare-to-Work 
Grant Program for one more year (July 1, 1998 to June 30, 1999). 
Current authorization for the INA WtW program expires on September 30, 
1999, but grantees can continue to expend funds for three years from 
the date ``the funds are so provided''. This ICR concerns the 
submission of applications and plans by Federally-recognized tribes and 
Alaska Native entities (or consortia thereof) eligible to receive 
funding under the Indian and Native American Welfare-to-Work (INA WtW) 
program. These instructions include a preapplication process for those 
tribes which do not operate a tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy 
Families (TANF) program or a Native Employment Works (NEW) program, as 
established by section 412(a)(3) of the amended Social Security Act [42 
U.S.C. 612(a)(3)], and which did not qualify for a FY 1998 INA WtW 
grant under the ``substantial services'' criteria. These non-TANF or 
NEW tribes must qualify as INA WtW grantees under the ``substantial 
services'' criteria established by the Department in accordance with 
the provisions of section 412(a)(3)(B)(ii) [42 U.S.C. 612(a)(3)(B)(ii)] 
of the Social Security Act, as amended. Once determined to have met the 
``substantial services'' criteria, applicants must submit a plan 
containing a Standard Form (SF) 424, the basic information on service 
area,

[[Page 14734]]

plans for providing client services, preliminary funding and 
expenditure estimates, and standard assurances and forms common to most 
Federal funds recipients. This request for comment is an attempt to 
solicit input from those grantees which participated in the 
preapplication and/or planning process for FY 1998, and which may have 
recommendations for improving the process for FY 1999.

II. Current Actions

    The proposed ICR will be a revision of Item no. 1205-0383, expiring 
03/31/98 for the currently-approved system, that will be used by 
approximately 80 INA WtW grantees as the preapplication and planning 
vehicle for applying for INA WtW grants for FY 1999. Grantees will be 
required to couch their FY 1999 INA WtW plans in terms of planned 
numbers of enrolled individuals, their characteristics, training and 
services to be provided, planned outcomes, including job placement and 
wage data, as well as projections of program expenditures. Current 
paperwork burdens are covered under OMB Clearance No. 1205-0383 
(expiration date 3/31/98), and have been included in the following 
burden estimates. For ease of analysis, the following burden estimate 
is broken down into the two main components of INA WtW program 
application: (1) Preapplication; and (2) planning.
    Type of Review: Revision (with changes).
    Agency: Employment and Training Administration.
    Title: Indian and Native American Welfare-to-Work Grant Programs.
    OMB Number: 1205-0383.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 17.254.
    Frequency: Annual (Both preapplication and plan submission).
    Affected Public: Federally-recognized tribes, Alaska Native 
regional non-profit corporations, and/or consortia of any of the above.
    Number of Respondents: 80.
    Total Responses: 80.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: planning--6 hours; preapplication--3 
hours.
    Total Burden Hours: 480. (NOTE: no estimate is given for the 
preapplication process, as only a few tribes or consortia which did not 
receive FY 1998 INA WtW grants and which are neither TANF nor NEW 
tribes will have to submit one to establish eligibility.)
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): None.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintaining): None (planning and/or 
preapplication is a once-a-year activity).

    Signed at Washington, DC this 20th day of March, 1998.
Anna W. Goddard,
Director, Office of Special Targeted Programs.
[FR Doc. 98-7960 Filed 3-25-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-U