[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11250-11251]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4520]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Economic Research Service


Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Collect Information

AGENCY: Economic Research Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 
L. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 
CFR 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces the 
Economic Research Service's (ERS) intention to request approval for a 
new information collection from Food Stamp Program (FSP) officials in 
State agencies; from officials of the Special Supplementary Nutrition 
Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) in State agencies; from 
officials of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) in State 
Departments of Education; and from NSLP officials in local school food 
authorities (SFAs). The purpose of the data collection is to obtain 
information on the program information systems maintained at the State 
and local level by these programs.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by April 30, 
2001 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Requests for additional information should be directed to 
Parke Wilde, Food Assistance and Rural Economy Branch, Food and Rural 
Economics Division, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1800 M. St., NW., S2092, Washington, DC 20036-5831. For 
further information contact: Parke Wilde, 202-694-5633. Submit 
electronic comments to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Paperwork Reduction Act Submission (OMB-83-1).
    Type of Request: New collection of information.
    Abstract: The Economic Research Service (ERS) of the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture is responsible for conducting studies and 
evaluations of the Nation's food assistance programs administered by 
the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), U.S. Department of Agriculture. 
In recent years, there has been growing interest in efforts to utilize 
program administrative data in ways that improve program operations, 
reduce program fraud, and better inform program officials as to the 
characteristics of program participants and eligible non-participants. 
In particular, there is an interest in matching records from multiple 
food assistance programs in order to verify program eligibility, assess 
the characteristics of multi-program participants, and estimate the 
extent to which program participants enroll in all programs for which 
they are eligible. This project has two objectives: (1) To determine 
the characteristics of administrative data systems used by food stamps, 
WIC, and child nutrition programs, and (2) to test the feasibility and 
accuracy of linking data from different nutrition assistance programs. 
Currently, there is no comprehensive assessment of system capabilities, 
data-sharing arrangements, and record-linkage projects for food 
assistance programs. This information is necessary to better understand 
the potential use of these systems for analyzing multiple program 
participation and for improving program operations in such areas as 
one-stop shopping, adjunctive eligibility determination, program 
integrity, and reduction of administrative and client burden.
    This project will conduct a survey to determine the capabilities of 
information systems maintaining client records for the food assistance 
programs. The survey will collect information about system 
architecture, organization of client records, maintenance of historical 
records, numbers and types of client identifiers, and data sharing 
arrangements among programs. The survey will be conducted in 26 States. 
Interviews will be conducted with program officials in State food stamp 
agencies and State WIC agencies; with officials in the Child Nutrition 
branch of State Departments of Education; and with officials in three 
School Food Authorities within each State. Information from the survey 
will be used to determine the consistency, across States, of 
information maintained by each food assistance program and the 
consistency, within States, of information maintained by different 
programs. Findings from the survey will be presented in tabular format 
facilitating comparison across both States and food assistance 
programs.
    Information from the survey of food assistance programs will be 
used to assess the potential for matching client records across major 
food assistance programs (FSP, WIC, NSLP) within a State for the 
purpose of estimating rates of shared clientele. This information will 
be used to recruit four sites into a second phase of the project. The 
second phase will test the feasibility and accuracy of linking data 
from different nutrition assistance programs within a site (defined as 
either an area served by a single SFA or an entire State,

[[Page 11251]]

depending on data availability), using data extracts requested from 
each food assistance program in four sites. Records from the three food 
assistance programs (FSP, WIC, NSLP) will be matched using client 
identifiers that are common across programs, and using probabilistic 
record-matching techniques. The study will report on match rates and 
the sensitivity of match rates to the number of client identifiers used 
in the matching process. The study will also report rates of multiple 
program participation and the characteristics of clients enrolled in 
multiple programs versus those enrolled in a subset of programs for 
which they are eligible. All client identifiers will be strictly 
protected and will not be released in any form. The client identifiers 
will be used in the record linkage process and subsequently stripped 
from all files. Results from the linked files will be reported only in 
summary form.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this data 
collection is estimated to average 45 minutes per respondent. The 
estimate includes time for listening to instructions, gathering data 
needed, and responding to questionnaire or interview/discussion items.
    Respondents: State FSP officials familiar with the State's 
information system for the FSP; State WIC officials familiar with the 
State's information system for the WIC Program; State Department of 
Education officials familiar with the State's information system for 
the NSLP; and officials of local school food authorities familiar with 
the SFA's information system for the NSLP.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 156 in total: 26 State FSP 
officials, 26 State WIC officials, 26 State Department of Education 
officials, and 78 officials in local school food authorities.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: Total of 117.0 hours. 
Survey of State FSP Officials: 19.5 hours, Survey of State WIC 
Officials: 19.5 hours, Survey of State DOE Officials: 19.5 hours, 
Survey of Local SFA Officials: 58.5 hours.
    Copies of the information to be collected can be obtained from 
Parke Wilde, Food Assistance and Rural Economy Branch, Food and Rural 
Economics Division, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1800 M. St., NW, S2092, Washington, D.C. 20036-5831, 202-
694-5633.

Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Department, 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; (d) additional 
uses of data on multiple program participation; (e) ways to minimize 
the burden of the collection of information on those who are to 
respond, such as through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology. Comments should be sent to the address 
stated in the preamble. All responses to this notice will be considered 
and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also 
become a matter of public record.

    Signed at Washington, D.C, this 24th day of January, 2001.
Betsey Kuhn,
Director, Food and Rural Economics Division.
[FR Doc. 01-4520 Filed 2-22-01; 8:45 am]
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