[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 107 (Thursday, June 4, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30470-30471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14856]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--The Impacts of Time Limits on Unemployed Able-Bodied 
Adults Without Dependents

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the intention of the Food and Nutrition Service to 
request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of data 
collection for the study, The Impacts of Time Limits on Unemployed 
Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 3, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments and requests for copies of this information 
collection to: Alberta Frost, Director, Office of Analysis and 
Evaluation, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302.
    Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance

[[Page 30471]]

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 use of appropriate, automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    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: Alberta Frost, (703) 305-2017.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: The Impacts of Time Limits on Unemployed Able-Bodied Adults 
Without Dependents.
    OMB Number: Not yet assigned.
    Expiration Date: Not applicable.
    Type of Request: New collection of information.
    Abstract: With the passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub.L. 104-193, (PRWORA), able-
bodied adults without dependents are subject to a time limit on receipt 
of food stamps unless they work or participate in an approved work or 
training program. PRWORA gives states many options in their 
implementation of these provisions, including who to exempt, what type 
of employment and training (E&T) services to offer, and how to track 
recipients to ensure compliance with the work requirement and time 
limit. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is conducting a study, The 
Impacts of Time Limits on Unemployed Able-Bodied Adults Without 
Dependents, to describe how the time limits have actually been 
implemented and to count the number of persons affected by the time 
limits. Addressing these two objectives of the study requires 
collection of new information, both about how the time limits have been 
implemented and about the program participants that have been affected. 
FNS plans two data collection activities related to policy 
implementation. First, a telephone survey of state, county, and local 
Food Stamp Program (FSP) staff will be conducted in all 50 states. 
Second, in-person visits will be conducted to five state FSP offices, 
and to an advocacy organization and three local offices in each of 
these five states.
    FNS plans three data collection activities to obtain information on 
the number of persons affected by the policy. First, tabulated data 
will be requested from all 50 states on the number and characteristics 
of persons exempt from the time limits, persons subject to the time 
limits, persons meeting the work requirements, and persons disqualified 
because of the time limits. Second, micro-level administrative case-
record data will be requested from five states for use in conducting 
supplemental analysis. Third, if a subset of states is unable to 
provide tabulated data, case-record information will be extracted from 
up to 20 local offices across this set of states.
    Estimate of Burden: The estimated public reporting burden 
associated with the telephone interviews is as follows: state FSP 
director and manager of local office operations interviewed together 
(50 minutes), state E&T manager (30 minutes), local FSP director (10 
minutes), local caseworker manager and local FSP director interviewed 
together (30 minutes), local E&T manager (25 minutes), county FSP 
director (15 minutes). The estimated public reporting burden associated 
with the site visits is as follows: meeting with state FSP director and 
manager of local office operations (3 hours); meeting with state E&T 
manager and assistant (1.5 hours); meeting with member of a state 
advocacy group (1.5 hours); meeting with local FSP director, manager of 
local office operations, and E&T manager together (3 hours); group 
interview with 4 caseworkers (1.5 hours). The estimated public 
reporting burden associated with the automated data collection is as 
follows: preparation of tabulated data (16 hours), preparation of 
administrative case-record data (16 hours), assistance related to case-
record extraction (16 hours).
    Respondents: The respondents associated with the telephone 
interview and site visits are listed above. Automated data experts in 
state and local FSP offices will prepare the tabulated data and 
administrative case-record data files. Caseworker managers in local FSP 
offices will provide assistance related to case-record extraction.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: Telephone interviews will be 
conducted with 418 respondents, and 130 individuals will be interviewed 
during the site visits. Approximately 75 individuals will assist with 
the preparation of automated data files and case-record extraction.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: All data collection 
protocols will be administered once per respondent. The state FSP 
director, state manager of local office operations, and state E&T 
manager from five states will participate in both the national 
telephone survey and in-person interviews. The local office FSP 
director will be contacted twice as part of the national survey--once 
to introduce the study and set up the local interview and again to 
participate with the casework manager in the telephone interview.
    Estimated Total Burden on Respondents: 1,719 hours.

    Dated: May 22, 1998.
George A. Braley,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 98-14856 Filed 6-3-98; 8:45 am]
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