ADVISORY:	UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM LETTER NO. 23-05
TO:	STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES

FROM:	CHERYL ATKINSON  /s/ Administrator       Office of Workforce Security

SUBJECT:

Reauthorization of the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Data Validation (DV) Program

1. Purpose.To announce the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to extend data collection to support the UI DV program.

2. References. Section 303(a)(6), Social Security Act (SSA), Unemployment Insurance Program Letter 14-02, and Employment and Training Administration (ETA) Handbook 361.

3. Background. In 2001, ETA received authority to require states to validate certain data submitted on UI required reports. This program is necessary to ensure the accuracy of workload counts and performance measures, including data used to measure performance under the Government Performance and Results Act.

4. OMB Approval. The reporting requirements for UI DV are approved according to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, under OMB approval No. 1205-0431 through May 31, 2008. The respondents' obligation to comply with the reporting requirements is mandatory (Section 303(a)(6), SSA). Persons are not required to respond to this collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

5. Burden Disclosure.State Workforce Agency reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 550 hours per response (this is the average of a full validation every third year with an estimated burden of 900 hours, and partial validations in the two intervening years), including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The 550-hour figure was based on estimates received from four states that have conducted validations; they were asked to estimate the time needed to conduct repeat validations using software that embodied the functionality of the new validation software.

Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the U. S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Office of Workforce Security (Attn: Burman Skrable), 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S-4231, Washington, D.C. 20210 (Paperwork Reduction Project 1205-0431).

6. Action Required.State Administrators are requested to provide the above information to appropriate staff.

7. Inquiries. All inquiries may be directed to Burman Skrable at (202) 693-3197; e-mail skrable.burman@dol.gov.