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BLS Federal Register Notice
Proposed Collection; Comment Request [07/08/2005]
[PDF Version]
Volume 70, Number 130, Page 39532-39533
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Proposed Collection; Comment Request
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 pre-clearance
consultation program 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 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 can be properly assessed.
Currently, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments
concerning the proposed revision of the ``Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS)
Program Survey.'' A copy of the proposed information collection request
(ICR) can be obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the
ADDRESSES section of this notice.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the
ADDRESSES section below on or before September 6, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Amy A. Hobby, BLS Clearance Officer,
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 4080,
2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Washington, DC 20212. Ms. Hobby can be
reached on 202-691-7628. (This is not a toll free number.)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy A. Hobby, BLS Clearance Officer,
telephone number 202-691-7628. (See ADDRESSES section.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section 309(2)(a)(1)(A)(iii) of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
states that the Secretary of Labor shall oversee development,
maintenance, and continuous improvements of the program to measure the
incidence of, industrial and geographical location of, and number of
workers displaced by, permanent layoffs and plant closings. Prior to
the WIA, section 462(e) of Public Law 97-300, the Job Training
Partnership Act (JTPA), provided that the Secretary of Labor develop
and maintain statistical data relating to permanent mass layoffs and
plant closings and issue an annual report. The report includes, at a
minimum, the number of plant closings and mass layoffs, and the number
of workers affected. The data are summarized by geographic area and
industry.
The Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) program uses a standardized,
automated approach to identify, describe, and track the impact of major
job cutbacks. The program utilizes, to the greatest degree possible,
existing Unemployment Insurance (UI) records and computerized data
files, supplemented by direct employer contact. Its major features
include:
The identification of major layoffs and closings through
initial UI claims filed against the identified employer;
The use of existing files on claimants to obtain basic
demographic and economic characteristics on the individual;
The telephone contact of those employers meeting mass
layoff criteria to obtain specific information on the nature of the
layoff and characteristics of the establishment;
The identification of the continuing impact of the mass
layoff on individuals by matching affected initial claimants with
persons in claims status;
The measurement of the incidence of the exhaustion of
regular state UI benefits by affected workers; and,
The identification and quantifying the effects that
extended mass layoffs have on the movement of work.
In the program, State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) submit one report
each quarter, and a preliminary, summary report each month. These
computerized reports contain information from State administrative
files and information obtained from those employers meeting the program
criteria of a mass layoff.
Congress has provided for the implementation of the MLS program by
the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) through the Fiscal Years 1984-1992
appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services,
Education, and related agencies. The program was not operational in
Fiscal Years 1993 and 1994. Program operation resumed in Fiscal Year
1995 with funds provided by the Employment and Training Administration
(ETA). Beginning in fiscal year 2004, funding for the MLS program
became part of the Bureau of Labor Statistics permanent budget. Also in
2004, the scope of the MLS program was redefined to cover only the
private nonfarm economy for extended mass layoffs due to budget
constraints.
In addition to the BLS uses of MLS data, such data are used by
Congress, the Executive Branch, the business, labor, and academic
communities, SWAs, and the U.S. Department of Labor for both macro- and
microeconomic analysis.
A Congressionally mandated use of mass layoff data includes the
WIA, which replaces Title III of the JTPA. Section 133 of the WIA
encourages the use of MLS data in substate allocations relating to
dislocated worker employment and training activities.
State agencies use the MLS data in various ways, including the
identification of geographic areas in need of special manpower
services; ailing or troubled industries; specific employers needing
assistance; and outreach activities for the unemployed.
There is no other comprehensive source of statistics on either
establishments or workers affected by mass layoffs and plant closings;
therefore, none of the aforementioned data requirements could be
fulfilled if this data collection did not occur.
At the present time, all states, the District of Columbia, and
Puerto Rico are participating in the program.
II. Current Action
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clearance is being sought for
the Mass Layoff Statistics (MLS) Program.
The difference between the Current OMB inventory and the total
annual hours requested results from a decrease of 6,000 employer
respondents. This decrease is largely due to the result of the scope of
the MLS program being redefined in January 2004 to cover only the
private nonfarm economy for extended mass layoff events.
III. Desired Focus of Comments
The Bureau of Labor Statistics 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
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technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submissions of responses.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Agency: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Title: Mass Layoff Statistics Program.
OMB Number: 1220-0090.
Affected Public: Business or other for profit; not-for-profit
institutions; Farms; Federal government; State, Local or Tribal
government.
Total Respondents: 17,052.
Frequency: SWAs report quarterly and monthly. Affected employers
report on occasion.
Total Responses: 17,832.
Average Time Per Response: 60 minutes for SWAs and 20 minutes for
employers.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 72,587 hours.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): $0.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): $0.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget
approval of the information collection request; they also will become a
matter of public record.
Signed in Washington, DC, this 24th day of June, 2005.
Cathy Kazanowski,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
[FR Doc. 05-13415 Filed 7-7-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-28-P
