[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 213 (Tuesday, November 4, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 59642]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29129]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 213 / Tuesday, November 4, 1997 / 
Notices  

[[Page 59642]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Consumer Service


Food Stamp Program: Agency Information Collection Activities: 
Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Waivers Under Section 6(o) of the 
Food Stamp Act

AGENCY: Food and Consumer Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment 
on proposed information collections. Section 6(o) of the Food Stamp Act 
of 1977, as amended by Section 824 of the Personal Responsibility and 
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, establishes a time limit 
for the receipt of food stamp benefits for certain able-bodied adults 
who are not working. The provision authorizes the Secretary of 
Agriculture, upon a State agency's request, to waive the provision for 
any group of individuals if the Secretary determines ``that the area in 
which the individuals reside has an unemployment rate of over 10 
percent, or does not have a sufficient number of jobs to provide 
employment for the individuals.'' As required in the statute, in order 
to receive a waiver the State agency must submit sufficient supporting 
information so that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 
can make the required determination as to the area's unemployment rate 
or sufficiency of available jobs. This collection of information is 
therefore necessary in order to obtain waivers of the food stamp time 
limit.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before January 5, 1998.

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 shall 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; (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to Margaret 
Batko, Assistant Branch Chief, Certification Policy Branch, Program 
Development Division, Food and Consumer Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may 
also be faxed to the attention of Ms. Batko at (703) 305-2486. The 
internet address is: [email protected]. All written comments 
will be open for public inspection at the office of the Food and 
Consumer Service during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday) at 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 720, Alexandria, 
VA 22302.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will be a matter of public 
record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Ms. Batko at (703) 305-2516.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Waiver Guidance for Food Stamp Time Limits.
    OMB Number: 0584-0479.
    Form Number: Not a form.
    Expiration Date: 6/30/97.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement with change of a previously approved 
information collection for which approval has expired.
    Abstract: Section 824 of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104-193, 110 Stat. 2323 
(7 U.S.C. 2015) (PRWORA) establishes a time limit for the receipt of 
food stamp benefits for certain able-bodied adults who are not working. 
The provision authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture, upon a State 
agency's request, to waive the provision for any group of individuals 
if the Secretary determines ``that the area in which the individuals 
reside has an unemployment rate of over 10 percent; or (ii) does not 
have a sufficient number of jobs to provide employment for the 
individuals.'' As required in the statute, in order to receive a waiver 
the State agency must submit sufficient supporting information so that 
USDA can make the required determination as to the area's unemployment 
rate or sufficiency of available jobs. This collection of information 
is therefore necessary in order to obtain waivers of the food stamp 
time limit. Since the provision was implemented (the effective date of 
the legislation was August 22, 1996), the Food and Consumer Service 
(FCS) has received requests for waivers from 44 State agencies. A total 
of 102 separate waiver requests have been received by FCS through 
September 19, 1997. Each request submitted by a State agency to exempt 
individuals residing in specified areas is considered by FCS to be a 
separate request, since the requested exemptions may be based on 
different criteria, are submitted at different times, and require 
separate analysis. A significant number of State agencies have 
submitted multiple requests. Since these waivers must be renewed on an 
annual basis and new ones may be submitted to reflect changing labor 
market conditions, FCS anticipates receipt of approximately the same 
number of waiver requests every year.
    Affected Public: State and Local governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 44.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 100.
    Estimated Time per Response: 20 hours.
    Estimated Total Burden: 2000 hours.

    Dated: October 23, 1997.
Yvette Jackson,
Acting Administrator, Food and Consumer Service.
[FR Doc. 97-29129 Filed 11-3-97; 8:45 am]
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