[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 137 (Monday, July 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38625-38626]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18265]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) Wave 1 of the 
2000 Panel

ACTION: Proposed Collection; Comment Request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 17, 
1999.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5033, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Judith H. Eargle, Census Bureau, FOB 3, Room 
3379, Washington, DC 20233-0001, (301) 457-3819.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau conducts the SIPP which is a household-based 
survey designed as a continuous series of national panels. New panels 
are introduced every few years with each panel usually having durations 
of 3 to 4 years. The 2000 panel is currently scheduled for one year 
which will include 3 waves beginning February 2000. The duration of the 
2000 panel is subject to approval of a budget initiative which may 
lengthen the panel to 3 years. Respondents are interviewed once every 
four months in monthly rotations. Approximately 11,500 households are 
in the 2000 panel.

[[Page 38626]]

    The SIPP represents a source of information for a wide variety of 
topics and allows information for separate topics to be integrated to 
form a single, unified database so that the interaction between tax, 
transfer, and other government and private policies can be examined. 
Government domestic-policy formulators depend heavily upon the SIPP 
information concerning the distribution of income received directly as 
money or indirectly as in-kind benefits and the effect of tax and 
transfer programs on this distribution. They also need improved and 
expanded data on the income and general economic and financial 
situation of the U.S. population. The SIPP has provided these kinds of 
data on a continuing basis since 1983 permitting levels of economic 
well-being and changes in these levels to be measured over time.
    The survey is molded around a central ``core'' of labor force and 
income questions that will remain fixed throughout the life of a panel. 
The core is supplemented with questions designed to answer specific 
needs, such as obtaining information on taxes, the ownership and 
contributions made to the Individual Retirement Account, Keogh and 401K 
plans, examining patterns in respondent work schedules, and child care 
arrangements. These supplemental questions are included with the core 
and are referred to as ``topical modules.''
    The topical modules for the 2000 Panel Wave 1 collect information 
about:

 Recipiency History
 Employment History

    Wave 1 interviews will be conducted from February 2000 through May 
2000.

II. Method of Collection

    All household members 15 years old or over are interviewed using 
regular proxy-respondent rules. During the 2000 panel, respondents are 
interviewed a total of 3 times (3 waves) at 4-month intervals making 
the SIPP a longitudinal survey. Sample people (all household members 
present at the time of the first interview) who move within the country 
and reasonably close to a SIPP primary sampling unit will be followed 
and interviewed at their new address. Individuals 15 years old or over 
who enter the household after Wave 1 will be interviewed; however, if 
these individuals move, they are not followed unless they happen to 
move along with a Wave 1 sample individual.

III. Data

    OMB Number: Not Available.
    Form Number: SIPP/CAPI Automated Instrument.
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 24,150.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 30 minutes per person.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 24,400.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: The only cost to respondents is their 
time.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Section 182.

IV. Request for Comments

    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 
(including hours and cost) 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.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for the Office of Management and Budget 
approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter 
of public record.

    Dated: July 13, 1999.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-18265 Filed 7-16-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P