Notice2023-27433
Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
December 14, 2023
Issuing agencies
Labor DepartmentLabor Statistics Bureau
Abstract
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. 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. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed revision of the "Annual Refiling Survey." A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 239 (Thursday, December 14, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 239 (Thursday, December 14, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86681-86683]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27433]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
AGENCY: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor.
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.
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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
[[Page 86682]]
and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. 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. The Bureau of Labor Statistics
(BLS) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed revision of the
``Annual Refiling Survey.'' A copy of the proposed information
collection request 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 of this notice on or before February 12, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Carol Rowan, BLS Clearance Officer,
Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room G225,
2 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20212. Written comments also
may be transmitted by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2b696778747b796a747b5e494742486b494758054c445d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4f0d031c101f1d0e101f3a2d23262c0f2d233c61282039">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Rowan, BLS Clearance Officer, at
202-691-7628 (this is not a toll free number). (See ADDRESSES section.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program is a
federal/state cooperative effort which compiles monthly employment
data, quarterly wages data, and business identification information
from employers subject to state Unemployment Insurance (UI) laws. These
data are collected from state Quarterly Contribution Reports (QCRs)
submitted to State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). The states send micro-
level employment and wages data, supplemented with the names,
addresses, and business identification information of these employers,
to the BLS. The state data are used to create the BLS sampling frame,
known as the longitudinal QCEW data.
To ensure the continued accuracy of these data, the information
supplied by employers must be periodically verified and updated. For
this purpose, the Annual Refiling Survey (ARS) is used in conjunction
with the UI tax reporting system in each state. The information
collected by the ARS is used to review the existing industry code
assigned to each establishment as well as the physical location of the
business establishment. As a result, changes in the industrial and
geographical compositions of our economy are captured in a timely
manner and reflected in the BLS statistical programs.
The ARS also asks employers to identify new locations in the state.
If these employers meet QCEW program reporting criteria, then a
Multiple Worksite Report (MWR) is sent to the employer requesting
employment and wages for each worksite each quarter. Thus, the ARS is
also used to identify new potential MWR-eligible employers.
II. Current Action
Office of Management and Budget clearance is being sought for a
revision of the ARS. Once every three years, the SWAs survey employers
that are covered by the state's UI laws to ensure that state records
correctly reflect the business activities and locations of those
employers. States survey approximately one-third of businesses with
employment greater than three each year and largely take care of the
entire universe of covered businesses over a three-year cycle. The
selection criterion for surveying establishments is based on the nine-
digit Federal Employer Identification Number of the respondent. BLS
constantly pursues a growing number of automated reporting options to
reduce employer burden and costs and to take advantage of more
efficient methods and procedures. Even given such actions, mailing
remains an important part of the survey. The BLS developed a one-page
letter rather than mailing forms for ARS solicitation. This letter
explains the purpose of the ARS and provides respondents with a unique
Web ID and password. Respondents are directed to the BLS online web
collection system to verify or to update their geographic and industry
information.
Additionally, BLS staff review selected, large multi-worksite
national employers rather than surveying these employers with
traditional ARS letters. This central review reduces postage costs
incurred by the states in sending letters.
BLS continues to use a private contractor to handle various
administrative aspects of the survey to reduce the costs associated
with the ARS. This initiative is called the Centralized Annual Refiling
Survey (CARS). Under CARS, BLS effectively utilizes the commercial
advantages related to printing and mailing large volumes of survey
letters.
Finally, BLS continues to make use of email addresses collected
from the ARS and from the state UI agencies for solicitation purposes.
Use of email for solicitation reduces the overall cost of data
collection. BLS will also continue to make use of email solicitation of
small establishments that had been excluded from the ARS for budgetary
reasons. Since collection costs for email solicitation are minimal,
these respondents can continue to be added back to the ARS at little
cost to the government.
III. Desired Focus of Comments
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is particularly interested in
comments that:
<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.
<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 submissions of responses.
Title of Collection: Annual Refiling Survey.
OMB Number: 1220-0032.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, not-for-profit
institutions, and farms.
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Estimated Estimated
ARS collection instrument Number of Frequency Total average burden total burden
respondents responses (hours) (hours)
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BLS NVS Non-mandatory....... 277,900 once.............. 277,900 0.083 23,066
BLS NVS Mandatory........... 310,800 once.............. 310,800 0.083 25,797
[[Page 86683]]
BLS NVM Non-mandatory....... 15,400 once.............. 15,400 0.25 3,850
BLS NVM Mandatory........... 16,800 once.............. 16,800 0.25 4,200
BLS NCA Non-mandatory....... 22,750 once.............. 22,750 0.167 3,800
BLS NCA Mandatory........... 30,000 once.............. 30,000 0.167 5,010
Small Units Non-Mandatory... 43,000 once.............. 43,000 0.083 3,569
Small Units Mandatory....... 57,000 once.............. 57,000 0.083 4,731
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Totals:................. 773,650 .................. 773,650 .............. 74,023
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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 at Washington, DC, on December 8, 2023.
Eric Molina,
Chief, Division of Management Systems, Branch of Policy Analysis.
[FR Doc. 2023-27433 Filed 12-13-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-24-P
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