[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 20, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43040-43041]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21094]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census


Current Population Survey--Annual Demographic Survey for March 
1997; Proposed Agency Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 21, 
1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Acting 
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. Abstract

    The Census Bureau will conduct the Annual Demographic Survey (ADS) 
in conjunction with the March 1997 Current Population Survey (CPS). The 
Census Bureau has conducted this supplement annually for 50 years. The 
Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Department of 
Health and Human Services sponsor this supplement.
    The work experience items in the ADS 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 to forecast 
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 for not only to 
determine poverty levels, but also to determine whether Government 
programs are reaching eligible households.

[[Page 43041]]

II. Method of Collection

    The March 1997 supplement instrument will consist of the same items 
that were included in the March 1996 instrument, with the following 
changes:
    A. We are making minor wording changes in some items. For example:
     We will no longer ask respondents to ``report'' income 
amounts; instead, we will ask them to ``tell us'' those amounts. 
According to interviewers, respondents felt offended by the word 
``report.''
    B. We added internal check items so that questions are asked only 
when appropriate. For example:
     In Items Q49a through Q49b3, we will no longer ask persons 
to tell us their business or farm income without determining first if 
they are a farm or business owner.
     Households that consist of adults who were never married 
will be screened out of the alimony questions.
    C. In some periodicity items, we limited the categories to monthly, 
quarterly, and yearly. Also, we changed any coding within a series to 
reflect the new periodicity categories. We did this where no other 
period was selected in last year's survey.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0354.
    Form Number: None. We conduct all interviewing on computers.
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 52,000 per month.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 25 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 21,666.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $2,000,000.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Section 182; and 
Title 29, United States Code, Section 1-9 authorize the collection of 
the ADS.

IV. Request for Comments

    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 shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(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 information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    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: August 13, 1996.
Linda Engelmeier,
Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 96-21094 Filed 8-19-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-M