Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 112 Part 2.djvu/200

 112 STAT. 1084 PUBLIC LAW 105-220—AUG. 7, 1998 for any purpose in any action, suit, or other judicial or administrative proceeding. "(C) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.— Nothing in this section shall be construed to provide immunity from the legal process for such submission (including any data derived from the submission) if the submission is in the possession of any person, agency, or entity other than the Federal Gt)vernment or an officer, employee, agent, or contractor of the Federal Government, or if the submission is independently collected, retained, or produced for purposes other than the purposes of this Act. "(b) SYSTEM RESPONSIBILITIES. — "(1) IN GENERAL.— The emplo3ment statistics system described in subsection (a) shall be planned, administered, overseen, and evaluated through a cooperative governance structure involving the Federal Government and States. "(2) DUTIES.— The Secretary, with respect to data collection, analysis, and dissemination of labor employment statistics for the system, shall carry out the following duties: "(A) Assign responsibilities within the Department of Labor for elements of the employment statistics system described in subsection (a) to ensure that all statistical and administrative data collected is consistent with appropriate Bureau of Labor Statistics standards and definitions. "(B) Actively seek the cooperation of other Federal agencies to establish and maintain mechanisms for ensuring complementarity and nonduplication in the development and operation of statistical and administrative data collection activities. "(C) Eliminate gaps and duplication in statistical undertakings, with the systemization of wage surveys as an early priority. "(D) In collaboration with the Bureau of Labor Statistics and States, develop and maintain the elements of the employment statistics system described in subsection (a), including the development of consistent procedures and definitions for use by the States in collecting the data and information described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (a)(1). Procedures. "(E) Establish procedures for the system to ensure that— "(i) such data and information are timely; "(ii) paperwork and reporting for the system are reduced to a minimum; and "(iii) States and localities are fully involved in the development and continuous improvement of the system at all levels, including ensuring the provision, to such States and localities, of budget information necessary for carrying out their responsibilities under subsection (e). "(c) ANNUAL PLAN. —The Secretary, working through the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and in cooperation with the States, and with the assistance of other appropriate Federal agencies, shall prepare an annual plan which shall be the mechanism for achieving cooperative management of the nationwide employment statistics system described in subsection (a) and the statewide

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