[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 205 (Tuesday, October 22, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54764-54765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Survey of Program Dynamics--1997 Bridge Survey

ACTION: Proposed agency information collection activity; comment 
request.

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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 December 23, 
1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Acting 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Patricia Johnson, c/o Bureau of the Census, HHES-
Room 406 IMALL, Washington, DC 20233-8500, or telephone (301)763-8120.

[[Page 54765]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. Abstract

    The Survey of Program Dynamics (SPD) is a household-based survey 
designed as an omnibus data collection vehicle that can provide the 
basis for an overall evaluation of how well welfare reforms are 
achieving the aims of the Administration and the Congress, and meeting 
the needs of the American people.
    The SPD will be a large, longitudinal, nationally-representative 
study that measures features of the welfare programs, including both 
programs that are being reformed and those that remain unchanged. The 
SPD will also measure other important social, economic, demographic and 
family changes that reflect the effectiveness of the welfare reforms.
    With the August 22, 1996 signing of the Personal Responsibility and 
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Pub L. 104-193), the 
Bureau of the Census is required to conduct the SPD using as the sample 
households from the 1992 and 1993 Survey of Income and Program 
Participation (SIPP). The information obtained will be used to evaluate 
the impact of this law on a sample of recipients of assistance under 
state programs funded under this law as well as assess the impact on 
other low-income families. Issues of particular attention include out-
of-wedlock births, welfare dependency, the length of welfare spells, 
and the causes of repeat welfare spells. We also plan to collect 
information on the status of children who were in the 1992 and 1993 
SIPP panels from 1998 survey and thereafter.
    A sample of respondents originally in the 1992 and 1993 SIPP panels 
will be interviewed once a year from 1997-2001, and perhaps longer 
depending on funding. Separate OMB clearance requests will be submitted 
for a 1997 pretest and the 1998-2001 surveys. Prior to conducting a 
pretest of the initial SPD questionnaire, the Bureau of the Census will 
conduct a ``bridge'' survey during April-June 1997 using the March 1997 
Current Population Survey (CPS) questionnaire, which contains annual 
retrospective questions on work experience, earnings, program 
participation, and health insurance coverage. This ``bridge'' survey 
and the 1992 and 1993 SIPP panels will provide baseline data for 
approximately 35,000 households for the period prior to the 
implementation of the welfare reform activities. With the pretest in 
the fall of 1997, the full survey implementation in the spring of 1998, 
and annually thereafter through 2001, the data gathered for the 10-year 
period (1992-2001) will aid in assessing short to medium-term 
consequences or outcomes of the welfare legislation.
    We plan to utilize a financial incentive program in the ``bridge'' 
survey as an attempt to attain a higher response rate. Each household 
that completes an interview will receive a small monetary compensation 
for their cooperation in the survey.
    A small sample of households will be selected for reinterview 
during the ``bridge'' survey. The reinterview process assures that all 
households in the survey were properly contacted, and that the data are 
valid.

II. Method of Collection

    The SPD is designed as a longitudinal study of welfare related 
activities, with the sample respondents drawn from the 1992 and 1993 
SIPP panels being interviewed again in the ``bridge'' survey in 1997, 
followed by interviews once a year from 1998-2001 (including a pretest 
in late 1997). Survey years 1998-2001 will emphasize questions 
pertaining to children and their well-being.

III. Data

    OMB Number: Not available.
    Form Number: CPS/CAPI Automated Instrument.
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 35,000.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 46 minutes per household (including 
reinterview).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 26,875.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $10,000,000.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 United States Code, Section 182 and 
Public Law 104-193, Section 414 (signed 8/22/96) (Title 42 United 
States Code, Section 614)

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 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 of 
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: October 9, 1996.
Linda Engelmeier,
Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 96-26994 Filed 10-21-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P