[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 30, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66866-66872]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-30907]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection, 
Comment Request--Commodity Supplemental Food Program, the Food 
Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, and the Food Stamp 
Program: Title VI Civil Rights Collection Reports

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is publishing for public comment a 
summary of a proposed information collection. The proposed collection 
is an extension of a collection currently approved under OMB No. 0584-
0025, Civil Rights Title VI Collection Reports--Forms FNS-191 and FNS-
101, for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, the Food Distribution 
Program on Indian Reservations, and the Food Stamp Program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by January 31, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send comments and requests for copies of this information 
collection to Barbara Hallman, Chief, State Administration Branch, Food 
Stamp Program, Food and Nutrition Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center 
Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302. Copies of the estimate of the information 
collection can be obtained by contacting Ms. Hallman.
    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 through the 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: Barbara Hallman, telephone number 
(703) 305-2383.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Civil Rights Title VI Collection Reports--FNS-191 and FNS-
101.
    OMB Number: 0584-0025.
    Expiration Date: March 2000.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000d 
to 2000d-7, requires the collection of racial/ethnic data for all 
programs receiving Federal financial assistance. The Department of 
Justice (DOJ) regulations, 28 CFR 42.406, require all Federal agencies 
to provide for the collection of racial/ethnic data and information 
from applicants for and recipients of Federal assistance sufficient to 
permit effective enforcement of Title VI in each assisted program.
    For purposes of the Information Collection Notice only, the Food 
and Nutrition Service (FNS) employs program terminology in place of the 
standard Title VI terminology adopted by the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) and codified at 7 CFR 15.2. Thus, ``State 
agencies,'' ``local

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agencies,'' and/or ``operators'' are the program entities responsible 
for fulfilling the data collection requirements associated with 
``primary recipients'' and/or ``recipients'' as defined by Title VI. 
Moreover, the program terms ``respondents,'' ``applicants,'' and/or 
``participants'' refer to the ``potential beneficiaries,'' ``applicant 
beneficiaries,'' and/or ``actual beneficiaries'' of Federal financial 
assistance as defined by Title VI.
    In order to conform with the statutory mandates of Title VI of the 
Civil Rights Act of 1964, DOJ regulations, and USDA regulations on 
nondiscrimination in Federally assisted programs, the USDA's Food and 
Nutrition Service (FNS) requires State agencies to submit data on the 
racial/ethnic categories of persons receiving benefits from FNS food 
assistance programs. Local agencies use the two forms referenced above 
(i.e., the FNS-191 and FNS-101) to collect data on the Commodity 
Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), the Food Distribution Program on 
Indian Reservations (FDPIR), and the Food Stamp Program (FSP) as 
explained below. FNS' data collection requirement for operators is 
found in the regulations for the CSFP at 7 CFR Part 247.13(d), and for 
the FSP at 7 CFR Part 272.6(g); the requirement for the FDPIR is found 
in FNS Handbook 501.
    All State or local agencies must submit the appropriate form in 
order to receive benefits and comply with applicable legislation. If a 
State or local agency does not comply voluntarily, the State or local 
agency is subject to fund termination, suspension, or denial; or 
judicial action.
    CSFP local agencies complete the FNS-191 for the CSFP. FNS requires 
local agencies to provide the actual number and racial/ethnic 
designations women, infants, children and elderly who receive CSFP 
benefits during the month of April.
    FSP and FDPIR State or local agencies complete the FNS-101. FNS 
requires State or local agencies to report annually the actual number 
and racial/ethnic designation of households who receive FDPIR and/or 
FSP benefits during the month of July.
    FNS requests that an applicant voluntarily designate a racial/
ethnic category on his or her application. However, racial/ethnic 
information will not affect an applicant's request for benefits. In all 
three programs, State and local agencies collect racial/ethnic 
information on the benefits application form which applicants may 
complete and file manually or electronically. All three programs allow 
the individual to self-identify his or her racial/ethnic status on the 
application. Observation is used when the individual does not self-
identify. The Federal reporting forms do not identify individual 
participants.
    FNS is proposing to extend the current forms unchanged (except for 
editorial changes such as the updating of the Agency's name) through FY 
2001 reporting. In addition, at this time FNS is proposing substantial 
changes to be made to the forms for reporting for FY 2002. These 
changes are discussed below.

The New Categories and Reporting Forms

Background

    The racial and ethnic categories, which have been in place for 
nearly 20 years, conform to standards set by the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) in Statistical Policy Directive No. 15, Race and 
Ethnic Standards for Federal Statistics and Administrative Reporting. 
On October 30, 1997, OMB issued a revision of Statistical Policy 
Directive No. 15 in a notice in the Federal Register (62 FR 58781 (Oct. 
30, 1997)). The new standards revise the categories and manner of 
reporting. All Federal agencies are to comply with the new standards. 
In turn, States will have to comply with the new standards.

State Collection of Data

    The new standards revise the racial/ethnic categories by separating 
the ``Asian and Pacific Islander'' category into two separate 
categories. The five racial categories for future State agency 
reporting are: American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or 
African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and White. 
The two new ethnic categories are: ``Hispanic or Latino'' and ``Not 
Hispanic or Latino.'' These categories are to be included on the 
application or data input screen.
    The new standards also require that State and local agencies offer 
applicants the option of selecting one or more racial designations from 
the above categories. State agencies may not offer respondents 
(applicants) a ``multi-racial'' category. Instructions on race 
reporting on the application form should ask the respondent to ``Mark 
one or more . . .'' or ``Select one or more . . . .'' State agencies 
shall use separate questions on the application form or data input 
screen for collecting data on race and ethnicity, collecting ethnicity 
data first, then race. Applicants may choose only one response to the 
Hispanic ethnicity question. State agencies will need to modify their 
application forms, computer input screens and information systems to 
capture and retrieve data in the new categories.
    The new multiracial reporting is intended to capture information on 
the number of people reporting that they are of more than one race. For 
the CSFP, State agencies currently collect the data by groups of 
participants (Women, Infants, Children and Elderly). CSFP State 
agencies shall continue to collect the data by participant but will 
have to use the new racial and ethnic categories and provide for 
multiracial reporting. However, to reduce the paperwork burden 
associated with the administration of the CSFP at the State and local 
level, we are recommending that the data no longer be reported 
separately by each group of participants but simply by the total number 
of participants in the program.
    For FDPIR and FSP, State agencies currently collect the data by 
``household'' with each household unit being counted under only one 
race. In actuality, most State agencies collect racial/ethnic data for 
one person in the household, normally the person who completes the 
application or is interviewed. This is done because the reporting of 
racial information by an applicant is voluntary and not all household 
members are required to be present for the eligibility interview. When 
an applicant chooses not to self-identify, capturing or determining 
racial information on absent household members based on observation of 
present household members or other means would be burdensome and error 
prone for States. FDPIR and FSP State agencies may continue to collect 
the data for one person per household but must use the new racial and 
ethnic categories and provide for multiracial reporting.

Reporting of Data

    FNS is proposing drafts of the revised forms discussed above for 
comment at this time in order to begin to comply with the revised 
racial and ethnic categories and to inform State agencies of the 
reporting changes to come. The FNS-191 will continue to collect data 
for each participant. However, the FNS-191 is being revised to collect 
data on the number of participants in the new racial and ethnic 
categories and the number of participants choosing more than one race. 
In addition for the CSFP, States will no longer be required to report 
racial ethnic data separately for women, infants, children and elderly.
    The FNS-101 will continue to collect data only on one person per 
household. We plan to refer to this individual as ``household contact'' 
on the reporting

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form. FNS believes this is a more appropriate term than ``household.'' 
The FNS-101 is being revised to collect data on the number of household 
contacts in the new racial and ethnic categories and the number 
choosing more than one race.
    For both forms, FNS is proposing to have the State agencies report 
the number of people who selected only one racial category, separately 
for each of the five racial categories, and to provide a count of all 
people who selected more than one racial category. In addition, State 
agencies shall report the number of persons in each racial category who 
are Hispanic or Latino. Detailed reporting instructions will be issued 
by FNS when the new forms are approved by OMB and finalized. The new 
proposed forms are displayed at the end of this section.

Implementation

    FNS recognizes that State and local agencies will need time to 
modify their application forms, data input screens, and information 
systems in order to begin capturing and tabulating the new data. We 
also recognize that State and local agencies may currently be involved 
in doing high priority Year 2000 system modifications to keep their 
systems operational after 1999 as well as doing other system 
modifications due to welfare reform and other program changes. It is 
crucial for FNS' information system that all State agencies for a given 
program implement the new reporting format at the same time.
    FNS proposes that CSFP, FDPIR, and FSP State and local agencies 
begin collecting the racial/ethnic data for the new reporting with new 
applications filed beginning October 2001. The new reporting to FNS 
would be effective for the report month of April 2002 for the FNS-191 
and the report month of July 2002 for the FNS-101.
    FNS requests comments on the proposed reporting forms and the above 
proposed implementation dates from State and local agencies for each 
program. FNS is also interested if State agencies could implement 
sooner than the above proposed implementation date. After considering 
the comments, FNS will finalize the revised forms and include them in 
the next burden package for OMB approval. FNS will announce the 
effective date(s) for each of the affected programs either through 
rulemaking (for the FSP) or implementing memoranda. The two revised 
forms follow this notice.
Burden Estimate
    Respondents: Local agencies that administer the CSFP, FDPIR, and 
FSP.
    Number of Respondents: 2,939 (72 for CSFP, 106 for FDPIR, and 2,761 
for FSP).
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent:
    Form FNS-191: 72 local CSFP agencies once a year.
    Form FNS-101: 106 local FDPIR agencies and 2,761 local FSP agencies 
once a year.
    Estimate of Burden:
    Form FNS-191: The local CSFP agencies submit Form FNS-191 at an 
estimate of 1.75 hours per respondent, or 126 total hours. There is an 
additional recordkeeping burden of .25 hours per respondent for 
maintaining the responses, or 18 hours. Total burden is 144 hours.
    Form FNS-101: The local FDPIR and FSP agencies submit Form FNS-101 
at an estimate of 2 hours per respondent, or 5,734 total hours. There 
is an additional burden of .25 hours per respondent for maintaining the 
responses, or 717 hours. Total burden is 6,451 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: The revised annual 
reporting and recordkeeping burden for OMB No. 0584-0025 is estimated 
to be 6,595 hours. The burden is unchanged.

    Dated: November 18, 1999.
George A. Braley,
Acting Administator.
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[FR Doc. 99-30907 Filed 11-29-99; 8:45 am]
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