[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 63 (Monday, April 1, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14287-14288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-7869]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Consumer Service


Food Stamp Program; Agency Information Collection Activities: 
Proposed Collection, Comment Request--Federal Collection of State Plan 
of Operations, Operating Guidelines and Forms

AGENCY: Food and Consumer Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Food and Consumer Service (FCS) is publishing for public comment a

[[Page 14288]]
summary of a proposed information collection. The proposed collection 
is an extension of collection currently approved under OMB No. 0584-
0083.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 31, 1996, to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Send comments and requests for copies of this information 
collection to Joseph H. Pinto, Chief, State Administration Branch, Food 
Stamp Program, Food and Consumer Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, 
Alexandria, VA 22302. Copies of the estimate of the information 
collection can be obtained by contacting Mr. Pinto
    Comments are invited on: (a) 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; (b) 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; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to 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.
    All comments will be summarized and included in the request for 
Office of Management and Budget approval of the information collection. 
All comments will become a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Joseph H. Pinto, telephone number (703) 305-2383.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Operating Guidelines, Forms and Waivers.
    OMB Number: 0584-0083.
    Expiration Date: July, 1996.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: In accordance with section 11(e) of the Food Stamp Act of 
1977, as amended, the State agencies are required to submit a Plan of 
Operation specifying the manner in which the Food Stamp Program will be 
conducted. The State plan of operations, in accordance with current 
rules at 7 CFR 272.2, consists of a Federal/State Agreement, annual 
budget and activity statements, and specific attachments (such as plans 
if the State elects to conduct program information activities or 
provide nutrition educational services). State Plans of Operation are a 
one-time effort with updates that are provided as necessary.
    Under section 16 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended, the 
Secretary is authorized to pay each State agency an amount equal to 50 
percent of all administrative costs involved in each State agency's 
operation of the Food Stamp Program. Under corresponding Food Stamp 
Program regulations at 7 CFR 272.2, the State agencies must submit 
annually to FCS for approval, a Budget Projection Statement (Form FCS-
366A), which projects the total costs for major areas of Food Stamp 
Program operations, and a Program Activity Statement (Form FCS-366B), 
which provides a summary of Food Stamp Program operations during the 
preceding fiscal year. The reports are required to substantiate the 
costs the State agency expects to incur during the next fiscal year. 
Form 366A is submitted annually by August 15 and Form FCS 366B must be 
submitted no later than 45 days after the end of each State agency's 
fiscal year.
    Under section 11(o) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended, each 
State agency was required to develop a plan, no later than October 1, 
1987, for implementing an automated date processing (ADP) and 
information retrieval system to administer the Food Stamp Program. 
Corresponding Food Stamp Program regulations at 7 CFR 277.18 require 
that a written plan of actin, called an Advance Planning Document 
(APD), be prepared to acquired proposed ADP services, systems or 
equipment. The frequency of the APD submissions is at the discretion of 
the State agencies.
    Under section 7(i) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended, the 
Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to permit State agencies to 
implement on-line electronic benefit transfer (EBT) systems. The 
Secretary is authorized to establish standards for the required testing 
prior to implementation of any EBT system and analysis of the results 
of implementation in a limited pilot project area before expansion of 
the system. Any State requesting funding for an EBT system must submit 
an APD.
    Respondents: State agencies that administer the Food Stamp Program.
    Number of Respondents: 53.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent:
    Plan of Operation Updates: 53 States agencies once a year.
    Form FCS-366A: 53 State agencies once a year.
    Form FCS-366B: 53 State agencies once a year.
    Advance Planning Documents: 25 State agencies once a year.
    Advance Planning Documents for EBT Systems: 35 State Agencies once 
a year.
    EBT Reporting: 9 State agencies reporting four times a year.
    Estimate of Burden:
    Plan of Operation Updates: The State agencies submit Plan updates 
at an estimate of 10 hours per respondent, or 530 total hours.
    Form FCS-366A: The State agencies submit Form 366A at an estimate 
of 13 hours per respondent, or 689 total hours.
    Form FCS-366B: The total burden for the collection of information 
for Form FCS-366B and is 1,526. Forty-two State agencies submit Form 
FCS-366B report automatically at an estimate of 18 hours per 
respondent, or 756 total hours. Eleven State agencies submit Form FCS-
366B manually at an estimate of 70 hours per respondent or 770 total 
hours.
    Advance Planning Documents: Approximately 25 State agencies submit 
an ADP each year at an estimate of 15 hours per respondent or 375 total 
hours.
    Advance Planning Documents for EBT Systems: Approximately 35 State 
agencies submit an ADP for EBT at an estimate of 45 hours per 
respondent, or 1,575 total hours.
    EBT Reporting: Approximately 9 State agencies with operational EBT 
systems provide additional information about their EBT systems. The 
State agencies submit a report approximately 4 times a year at an 
estimate of one hour per response, or 36 total hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents. The revised annual 
reporting and recordkeeping burden for OMB No. 0584-9983 is estimated 
to be 4,731. This estimate is a slight reduction from the currently 
approved burden of 4,799.

    Dates: March 26, 1996.
William E. Ludwig,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-7869 Filed 3-29-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-M