[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 184 (Friday, September 22, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49249-49250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-23524]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census


Notice of Proposal To Submit an Information Collection to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-submission 
consultation program to provide the general public and other Federal 
agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
information collections before they are submitted to OMB for review. 
This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the 
desired format, reporting burden is minimized, reporting forms are 
clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on 
respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the Census Bureau, 
within the Department of Commerce, is soliciting comments concerning 
its plans to submit the Annual Demographic Survey (ADS), which we 
conduct in conjunction with the March 1996 Current Population Survey 
(CPS), to OMB for review.

DATES: Submit written comments on or before (insert 60 days after 
publication date). If you anticipate that you will be submitting 
comments, but find it difficult to do so within the period of time 
allowed by this notice, you should advise the contact listed below of 
your intention to do so as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Gerald Tache, Departmental 
Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 5312, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information, 
or copies of the information collection instrument and survey 
procedures should be directed to Oscar Perez, Bureau of the Census, FOB 
3, Room 3340, Washington, DC 20233-8400, (301) 457-3806.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Bureau of the Census conducts the ADS in conjunction with the 
March 1996 CPS. The Bureau of the Census has conducted this supplement 
annually for over 40 years. It is authorized by Title 13, United States 
Code, Section 182; and Title 29, United States Code, Sections 1-9. The 
Bureau of the Census, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the 
Department of Health and Human Services sponsor this supplement.
    The work experience items provide a unique measure of the dynamic 
nature of the labor force as viewed over a one year period. These items 
produce statistics that show movements in and out of the labor force by 
measuring the number of periods of unemployment experienced by persons, 
the number of different employers worked for during the year, the 
principal reasons for unemployment, and part-/full-time attachment to 
the labor force. We can make indirect measurements of discouraged 
workers and others with a casual attachment to the labor market.
    The income data from the ADS are used by social planners, 
economists, Government officials, and market researchers to gauge the 
economic well-being of the Nation as a whole, and selected population 
groups of interest. Government planners and researchers use these data 
to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of various assistance 
programs. Market researchers use these data to identify and isolate 
potential customers. Social planners use these data for forecasting 
economic conditions and to identify special groups that seem to be 
especially sensitive to economic fluctuations. Economists use March 
data to determine the effects of various economic forces such as 
inflation, recession, recovery, etc., and their differential effects on 
various population groups.
    A prime statistic of interest is the classification of persons as 
being in poverty and how this measurement has changed over time for 
various groups. Researchers evaluate March income data not only to 
determine poverty levels but also to determine whether Government 
programs are reaching eligible households.

II. Current Actions

    The March 1996 supplement instrument will consist of the same items 
that were included in the March 1995 instrument, with the following 
changes:
    A. In the migration series, we are eliminating the 1995 questions 
that asked about migration five years ago. In 1996, the migration 
series will ask only about migration one year ago.
    B. We are reformatting a number of income items to allow reporting 
the amounts' periodicity on a more detailed basis than strictly annual, 
and to ensure consistency with all other income items. In 1995, we 
reformatted selected income items in this manner, and they resulted in 
better income data. The items we are reformatting in 1996 include:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Item No.                         Item description                    
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q48b           Self-employment earnings from longest job.               
Q49B2          Other self-employment earnings.                          
Q49B3          Other farm income.                                       
Q60A88         Veteran's benefits (this series collects income amounts  
                for up to two sources).                                 
Q58a           Survivor benefits (this series collects income amounts   
                for up to three sources).                               
Q61b           Disability benefits (this series collects income amounts 
                for up to two sources).                                 
Q63A1 through  Interest income.                                         
 Q63A3                                                                  
Q64a           Dividend income.                                         
Q65A1 through  Rents, royalties, estates and trusts.                    
 Q65A3                                                                  
Q66b           Educational assistance.                                  
Q73A1 and      Other income.                                            
 Q73A2                                                                  
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    C. We are making minor wording changes in a few items; for example:
    1. Changed the wording (for all periodicity-based income questions) 
from ``biweekly'' to ``every other week,'' and ``twice monthly'' to 
``twice a month.''
    2. Changed the statement for Item Q63c (interest income) to ``Only 
include 

[[Page 49250]]
interest received from U.S. Savings Bonds cashed during 1995.''
    D. We are deleting some items based on suggestions from 
interviewers and other staff. These items are CHK50A, Q50b, and Q50b-
add (additional farm income series).
    E. We are adding some items based on suggestions from data users:
    1. We will identify persons covered by AFDC and food stamps.
    2. We will collect eligibility reasons for receipt of Social 
Security and/or Social Security Income.
    3. We will add a question that will identify child recipients of 
Social Security and Social Security Income.

III. Request for Comments

    Prospective respondents and other interested parties should comment 
on the actions discussed in Item II. The following general guidelines 
are provided to assist in the preparation of responses. Please include 
the name of this information collection, the Annual Demographic Survey, 
in your comments.
    As a potential data user:
    A. Have you ever used the Annual Demographic Survey data from the 
CPS?
    B. If so, will any of the proposed changes described in Section II 
adversely affect your analyses? If yes, please explain.
    C. In general, do you agree or disagree that the modifications 
listed in Section II should be adopted? Please be specific.
    D. As a user of these data, can you suggest modifications to the 
proposed items that, if incorporated, would better serve your 
analytical needs? If so, please submit your suggested changes with a 
short statement describing the perceived benefits.
    As a potential respondent:
    A. We estimate that it will take the average respondent about 25 
minutes to answer the appropriate questions. Is this a reasonable 
burden?
    B. Are the questions sensitive in nature? If so, please be specific 
in describing why.
    C. Are the questions understandable and framed in a sensible 
manner? If not, what items are confusing and how should we clarify 
them?
    D. In your opinion, could a proxy respondent (i.e., one household 
member providing information for another household member) provide 
complete and accurate answers? If not, why?
    E. Do you have any suggestions on ways of reducing the burden 
associated with responding to this information collection?
    The Census Bureau is also interested in receiving comments from 
persons regarding their views on the need for this information 
collection.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: September 18, 1995.
Gerald Tache,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 95-23524 Filed 9-21-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P