[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 15758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-8819]



      
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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 69 / Tuesday, April 9, 1996  / 
Notices  

[[Page 15758]]


DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Consumer Service


Food Stamp Program: Agency Information Collection Activities: 
Proposed Collection; Comment Request--Collection Methods for Food Stamp 
Program Recipient Claims

AGENCY: Food and Consumer Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 this notice announces the Food and Consumer Service's 
(FCS's) intention to request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
review of a proposed revision to an information collection. The 
revision adds additional information requirements based on the Federal 
Income Tax Refund Offset Program (FTROP) and the Federal Salary Offset 
Program (Salary Offset).

DATES: Comments and recommendations on the proposed revision must be 
received by June 10, 1996.

ADDRESSES: 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.
    Comments should be sent to James I. Porter, Issuance and 
Accountability Section, State Administration Branch, Program 
Accountability Division, Food and Consumer Service, 3101 Park Center 
Drive, Room 905, Alexandria, Virginia 22302. Copies of the estimate of 
the information collection can be obtained by contacting Mr. Porter.
    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: Mr. Porter at the above address or at 
(703) 305-2385 during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following is provided pursuant to 5 CFR 
1320.5(a)(1)(iv):
    Title: Federal Collection Methods for Food Stamp Program Recipient 
Claims. (This is a new title for the collection. The current title is: 
Expansion of Test of Offsetting Federal Income Tax Refunds, Recipient 
Claims Collection.)
    OMB Number: 0584-0446.
    Expiration Date: September 27, 1996.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: Substantially all FTROP and Salary Offset procedures are 
exchanges of information, and substantially all the procedures are 
required by statute or regulation, as follows: 31 U.S.C. 2653(a), in 
the case of FTROP; 5 U.S.C. 5514, in the case of Salary Offset; IRS 
regulations at 26 CFR 301.6402-6, relating to both programs; and by 
USDA regulations at 7 CFR 3.51-3.68 for Salary Offset. FTROP and Salary 
Offset have proved to be effective methods for collection action on a 
substantial portion of approximately $900 million in outstanding debt 
for certain food stamp overissuances for which other collection methods 
have not been successful. The information exchanged under the programs 
is used to meet due process requirements, provide lists of debts for 
collection from Federal income tax refunds and Federal salaries, and to 
report on collections and related actions.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 450 hours for State agencies and 8 
minutes for debtors.
    Respondents: The collection impacts two groups, State agencies 
which administer the Food Stamp Program, and certain individuals who 
are liable for overissued food stamp benefits. State agencies which 
choose to participate in FTROP and Salary Offset are required to 
produce certain notices of intent to collect claims for overissued food 
stamp benefits, respond to informal inquiries about them and in the 
case of FTROP, if timely requests are received from debtors, to conduct 
limited reviews of the intended debt collection. State agencies are 
also required to provide automated data files of debts and among other 
things, to process reports on the collection of the debts and to report 
those debt collections. While debtors are not required to read or 
otherwise act on notices of the intended collection actions, we expect 
that most debtors do at least read the notices. Many debtors make 
informal inquiries and a small percentage request reviews or hearings.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: State agency participation in the 
programs is approaching 52. Debtor respondents are estimated at 370,000 
based on 320,000 FTROP due process notices; 40,000 informal inquiries 
and 2,000 requests for review; 5,000 Salary Offset due process notices 
from State agencies; 2,500 due process notices from FCS, and 500 
informal inquiries and requests for hearings.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: For State agencies 
the number of responses varies from once for such activities as 
certifying files to FCS to 320,000 for mailing out FTROP due process 
notices. For debtors the number of responses varies from once for such 
things as due process notices to three or four in the case of debtors 
making informal inquiries and requesting reviews.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: The annual reporting 
and recordkeeping burden is estimated at 72,862 hours: 23,423 hours for 
State agencies, approximately 2,200 hours of which is recordkeeping; 
49,439 hours for debtors, approximately 5,000 hours of which is 
recordkeeping.

    Dated: March 30, 1996.
William E. Ludwig,
Administrator, Food and Consumer Service.
[FR Doc. 96-8819 Filed 4-8-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-U