The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job
Creation Act of 2012 provides states with the opportunity to pilot
new and innovative strategies to better help connect unemployed
Americans with work. Section 2102 of the Extended Benefits,
Reemployment, and Program Integrity Improvement Act (Act) enacts a
new Section 305, SSA, which allows the Secretary of Labor
(Secretary) to enter into agreements with up to 10 states that
submit applications for approval to conduct demonstration projects
to test and evaluate measures to expedite reemployment of certain
individuals found eligible for unemployment compensation (UC), or
to improve the effectiveness of a state in carrying out its state
law with respect to reemployment.
PL 112-96 allows states
to submit applications as soon as guidance is released. For this
reason, ETA seeks emergency clearance from OMB so as to be prepared
to accept proposals and to be in compliance with the new
requirements found in Section 2102 of the Extended Benefits,
Reemployment, and Program Integrity Improvement Act within the
Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-96).
At least two states have submitted applications (in advance of
guidance from ETA) and have had to be denied in writing, insofar as
ETA cannot receive applications (in advance of OMB approval of the
ICR), and guidance cannot be issued until OMB approves that
document as well.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.