[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 13 (Thursday, January 21, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3274-3275]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-1345]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Evaluation of Asset Accumulation Initiatives

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, Evaluation of Asset Accumulation Initiatives.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 22, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send comments and requests for copies of this information 
collection to: Alberta Frost, Director, Office of Analysis, Nutrition, 
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 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: Evaluation of Asset Accumulation Initiatives.
    OMB Number: Not yet assigned.
    Expiration Date: Not applicable.
    Type of Request: New collection of information.
    Abstract: Special-purpose savings accounts are an increasingly 
common policy tool to encourage personal savings and asset accumulation 
by low-income individuals. Such savings accounts, established in the 
name of an individual or family and earmarked for expenditures to 
promote economic self-sufficiency, are excluded from consideration as 
countable assets for the purposes of determining eligibility for public 
benefits. One category of special-purpose accounts, known as Individual 
Development Accounts (IDAs), are established jointly between the 
participant and a sponsoring organization that matches the 
participant's deposits as an additional saving incentive.
    A growing number of state and local special-purpose savings 
programs exist in the United States for low-income savers, with new 
programs developing rapidly. This growth has been spurred in large part 
by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act 
of 1996, Pub. L. 104-193 (PRWORA). Section 103(a)(1) of that 
legislation, 42 U.S.C. 604(g), allows states to establish IDA programs 
using Transitional Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) funds. Other 
national legislation has been introduced to support special-purpose 
savings accounts, including the Assets for Independence Act of 1998 
(Pub. L. 105-285).
    The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is conducting a study, 
Evaluation of Asset Accumulation Initiatives. The purpose of this 
project is to assess the degree to which state and local programs have 
been implemented to encourage low-income families (especially food 
stamp households) to save through special-purpose accounts.
    Originally, this study was to involve a series of state 
demonstrations, as

[[Page 3275]]

specified in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (Pub. L. 
103-66), that were designed to promote the economic self-sufficiency of 
food stamp recipients through program changes to encourage asset 
accumulation. These demonstrations were not undertaken, however, as no 
state submitted an acceptable plan. Through the data collection 
described here, FNS will address the agency's congressional mandate to 
study asset accumulation policy.
    Data collection will be conducted through the collection of program 
documents and a single round of telephone interviews in each of 20 
states where special-purpose savings initiatives have been implemented. 
Interviews will be held with three types of respondents in each state: 
individuals knowledgeable of the specific provisions of the policy, 
individuals familiar with the administrative operations of the program, 
and persons who can provide empirical data, if available, about 
outcomes.
    Estimate of Burden: The estimated public reporting burden 
associated with the telephone interviews is as follows: individuals 
knowledgeable with specific provisions of the policy (one hour), 
individuals familiar with the administrative operations of the program 
(two hours), and systems/evaluation staff (two hours). For each of the 
latter two categories, the indicated time may include interviews with 
multiple respondents.
    Respondents: The respondents associated with the telephone 
interviews are listed above.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: Telephone interviews will be 
conducted with a total of up to 100 respondents (up to five respondents 
from each of 20 states).
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: Telephone interviews 
will be conducted once with each respondent.
    Estimated Total Burden on Respondents: The total burden on 
respondents will be up to 200 hours.

    Dated: December 28, 1998.
Samuel Chambers, Jr.,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 99-1345 Filed 1-20-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-U