[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 24, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 67873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-32629]



[[Page 67873]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Fiscal Service


Proposed Collection of Information: Focus Groups of Individual 
Federal Government Program Check Recipients (Socioeconomic and 
Demographic Study)

AGENCY: Financial Management Service, Fiscal Service, Treasury.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Financial Management Service, 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 a continuing information collection. By this notice, the Financial 
Management Service solicits comments concerning the study ``Focus 
Groups of Individual Federal Government Program Check Recipients 
(Socioeconomic and Demographic Study).

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before February 24, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Financial Management Service, 
3361-L 75th Avenue, Landover, Maryland 20785.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Eleanor Kelly, Agency Services, Room 1311, 1411 K 
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20227, (202) 874-9536.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), the Financial Management Service 
solicits comments on the collection of information described below.
    Title: Focus Groups of Individual Federal Government Program Check 
Recipients (Socioeconomic and Demographic Study).
    OMB Number: 1510-0068.
    Form Number: None.
    Abstract: The legislative language accompanying Public Law 104-134, 
Debt Collection and Improvement Act of 1996, ``* * * directs the 
disbursing official (the Secretary of the Treasury) to study the 
socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of those who currently do 
not have Direct Deposit and determine how best to increase usage among 
all groups.'' 142 Cong. Rec. H4091 (daily ed. April 25, 1996). The 
Financial Management Service (FMS) and its contractor, Booz, Allen and 
Hamilton and Shugoll Research, plan to conduct a two-stage study: a 
quantitative telephone survey preceded by focus groups to aid in the 
design of the telephone survey instrument. Six focus groups of 
approximately 8-10 individuals each will be conducted in three areas--
Philadelphia, PA, Tampa, FL, and Kansas City, MO. Focus group 
participants will be pre-screened to fit into one of the following 
categories: Retirees, disabled, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 
check recipients. Participation in the focus groups will be used by FMS 
and its contractor to guide the design of the telephone survey 
instrument. The telephone survey phase of the study will provide 
quantitative research information from approximately 1,000 Federal 
benefit check recipients. FMS and its contractor estimate that the 
telephone survey questions will be asked in a fifteen (15) minute 
telephone call with each respondent. Respondent participation in the 
telephone survey is voluntary. The results of the telephone survey and 
information obtained through secondary research by the contractor will 
be used to develop a marketing (media) plan, which will serve as the 
basis for a marketing campaign to persuade Federal program check 
recipients to enroll in Direct Deposit for their benefit payments prior 
to the January 1, 1999, deadline for mandatory electronic payments 
under Public Law 101-104.

    Current Actions: New collection.
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 250 hours.
    Comments: Comments submitted in response to this notice will be 
summarized and/or included in the request for Office of Management and 
Budget approval. All comments will become a matter of public record. 
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the 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 of the collection of 
information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; (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; and (e) estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of 
operation, maintenance and purchase of services to provide information.

    Dated: December 11, 1996.
Mitchell A. Levine,
Assistant Commissioner.
[FR Doc. 96-32629 Filed 12-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-35-M