[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 225 (Monday, November 23, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64732-64733]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31105]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4351-N-10]


Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment

AGENCY: Office of Policy Development and Research, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement described 
below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department 
is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

DATES: Comments due: December 23, 1998.


[[Page 64733]]


ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB 
Control Number and should be sent to: Reports Liaison Officer, Office 
of Policy Development and Research, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 7th Street, SW, Room 8226, Washington, DC 20410.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Riley, Office of Policy 
Development and Research, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 
451 7th Street, SW, Room 8222, Washington, DC 20410, telephone 202-708-
9426, extension 5861. This is not a toll-free number. Copies of the 
proposed forms and other available documents may be obtained from 
Joseph Riley.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department will submit the proposed 
information collection to OMB for review, as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended).
    This Notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and 
affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information to: 
(1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including if the information will have practical utility; (2) Evaluate 
the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information; (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Minimize the burden 
of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of appropriate automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology that will reduce respondent burden 
(e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses).
    This Notice also provides the following information:
    Title of Proposal: Quality Control for Rental Assistance Subsidy 
Determinations.
    Description of the Need for Information and Proposed Use: The 
Department is conducting under contract a study to update its estimates 
of the extent and type of errors associated with income, rent, and 
subsidy determinations for the 4.5 million households covered by Public 
Housing and Section 8 housing subsidies. The QC process involves 
selecting a nationally representative sample of assisted households to 
measure the extent and types of errors in rent and income 
determinations, which in turn cause subsidy errors. On-site tenant 
interviews, file reviews, and third-party income verifications are 
conducted. The data obtained are used to identify the most serious 
problems and their associated costs. HUD program offices are then 
responsible for designing and implementing corrective actions. Error 
rates will be compared with error rates from the first QC study, which 
was completed in 1995, to measure whether corrective actions initiated 
after the first study have had impacts and if changes in priorities are 
needed.
    The first QC study found that about one-half of the errors measured 
using on-site tenant interviews and file reviews could not be detected 
with the 50058/50059 form data collected by the Department, which is 
why HUD and other agencies with means-tested program have determined 
that on-site reviews and interviews are an essential complement to 
remote monitoring measures. This study will provide information on the 
quality of tenant interviewing (e.g., whether they are being asked 
about all sources of income) and the reliability of eligibility 
determinations and income verification. It is anticipated successive 
studies will be done on a two year cycle to provide updates on the 
nature and extent of errors and the effectiveness of error reduction 
strategies.
    Members of the Affected Public: Recipients of Public Housing and 
Section 8 housing assistance subsidies.
    Estimation of the Total Number of Hours Needed With Those Surveyed 
to Conduct the Information Collection, Including Number of Respondents, 
Frequency of Response, and Hours of Response: The researchers will 
survey approximately 388 PHA/program sponsor staff about 
(re)certification procedures, training, interview procedures, and 
problems encountered in conducting (re)certifications. Although more 
than one staff member may need to be contacted to obtain answers to all 
questions, the questionnaire will be administered once at each 
participating project and the interviews are expected to take less than 
35 minutes. Researchers will survey, 2,800 program participants to 
obtain information on household composition, expenses, and income. The 
time required for these interviews will vary, but it estimated to 
require less than 50 minutes per interview.
    The time estimates provided are based on the first QC survey. This 
survey will make use of Computer Assisted Interviewing (CAI) 
questionnaires and equipment, which are being used in part because they 
are known to reduce interview times. The above interview time estimates 
are therefore higher than likely actual interview times, but until 
questionnaire software development is completed we are unable to 
provide a good estimate of the extent to which interview times will be 
reduced.
    Status of the Proposed Information Collection: To be submitted to 
OMB for approval subsequent to receiving comments from this notice.

    Authority: Sec. 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended.

    Dated: November 9, 1998.
Lawrence L. Thompson,
General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research.
[FR Doc. 98-31105 Filed 11-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-62-M