Under the National Compensation Survey
(NCS), the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) conducts ongoing
surveys of compensation (earning and benefits)and job
characteristics. The NCS produces data on local, regional and
national levels by sampling establishments various localities in
all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The NCS samples 152
areas, of which 117 are metropolitan areas. Data from the 48
contiguous States is used to provide data to the President's Pay
Agent to meet the BLS obligation under the Federal Employees Pay
Comparability Act (FEPCA). NCS data produces the Employment Cost
Index (ECI)which is designated a principal Federal Economic
Indicator under OMB Statistical Policy Directive No. 3.
The Department of Labor
and outside groups have become very interested in domestic partner
benefits. Recent judicial rulings and legislation, including
Congress' Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, has
raised interest in the issue of domestic partner benefits. The
Department requested BLS to gather data on this subject. NCS must
implement these changes with the September 2010 NCS collection
quarter in order to provide incidence data for domestic partner
benefits in 2011.
US Code:
29 USC
2b Name of Law: Studies of Productivity and Labor Costs in
Industries
US Code: 5 USC
5318 Name of Law: The Ethics Reform Act of 1989
US Code: 5 USC
5304 Name of Law: The Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act
of 1990
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.