[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 81 (Wednesday, April 28, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22867-22868]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10568]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements 
Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

    In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Department of Health and Human 
Services (DHHS), has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) the following request for emergency review. We are requesting an 
emergency review because the collection of this information is needed 
prior to the expiration of the normal time limits under OMB's 
regulations at 5 CFR Part 1320 and is essential to the mission of the 
Department. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 authorized the Department 
of Labor (DoL) to implement a new grant program to fund state and local 
efforts to get the hardest-to-serve welfare recipients into employment. 
The statute directs the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human 
Services, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary 
of Housing and Urban Development, to develop a plan to evaluate how 
Welfare-to-Work (WtW) grants to states and tribes have been used. An 
interim evaluation report is due to Congress by January 1, 1999, and a 
final report is due by January 1, 2001.
    Implementation of the WtW programs among grantees has proven slower 
than

[[Page 22868]]

expected. This has delayed early exploratory site visits under the 
evaluation, which in turn has delayed development of the protocols for 
in-depth site visits which draw on information gathered from 
exploratory visits. Following normal clearance procedures would affect 
later phases of contract work and cause delays in the delivery of 
future reports.
    DHHS is requesting that OMB grant 180 day emergency approval by May 
14, 1999.
    Title and Description of Information Collection: Site Visit 
Protocols for the Multi-site Evaluation of the Welfare-to-Work Grants 
Program--NEW--As required by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, DHHS is 
conducting an evaluation of the effectiveness of welfare-to-work 
initiatives undertaken through competitive and formula grants awarded 
by the US Department of Labor (DoL). DHHS' Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, in conjunction with DoL and the 
US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), has designed an 
evaluation that will involve several rounds of data collection from 
grantees, affiliated agencies and grant program participants. The 
information collection instruments in this request for OMB approval 
consist of discussion protocols and focus group guides for site visits 
to WtW grantees that are part of the core evaluation's process and 
implementation analysis, and protocols for the tribal component of the 
evaluation. Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Governments, Not-for-
profit Institutions; Burden Information for the Discussion Protocols--
Number of Respondents: 300; Number of Responses per Respondent: one; 
Average Burden per Response: one hour; Total Burden for Discussion 
Protocols: 300 hours--Burden Information for Focus Groups--Number of 
Respondents: 360; Number of Responses per Respondent: one; Average 
Burden per Response: 1.5 hours; Total Burden for Focus Groups: 540 
hours. Burden Information for the Tribal Evaluation Instruments--Number 
of Respondents: 220; Number of Responses per Respondent: one; Average 
Burden per Response: .86 hour; Total Burden for Tribal Evaluation 
Instruments: 190 hours. Total Burden: 1,030 hours.
    To request more information or a copy of the proposed data 
collection, please contact Alana Landey on 202-401-6636.
    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; (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 respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collections should be immediately sent directly to the OMB Desk Officer 
designated at the following address: OMB Human Resources and Housing 
Branch, Attention: Allison Eydt, New Executive Office Building, Room 
10235, Washington, DC 20503. Comments may be faxed to Ms. Eydt at 202-
395-5167.
    Please send a copy of your comments to Cynthia Agens Bauer, OS 
Reports Clearance Officer, Room 503H, Humphrey Building, 200 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC, 20201.

    Dated: April 21, 1999.
Dennis P. Williams,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Budget.
[FR Doc. 99-10568 Filed 4-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-04-M