[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 117 (Wednesday, June 18, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36536-36537]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15350]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 117 / Wednesday, June 18, 2003 / 
Notices  

[[Page 36536]]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection, 
Comment Request--Food Stamp Program: Federal Collection of State Plan 
of Operations, Operating Guidelines and Forms

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 a revision of a collection currently approved under OMB No. 0584-
0083.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by August 18, 2003, to 
be assured of consideration.

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.
    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: Operating Guidelines, Forms and 
Waivers.
    OMB Number: 0584-0083.
    Expiration Date: December 2005.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: In accordance with section 11(e) of the Food Stamp Act of 
1977 (the Act), 7 U.S.C. 2020(e), State agencies are required to submit 
a Plan of Operation specifying the manner in which the Food Stamp 
Program will be conducted. The State Plan of Operations, in accordance 
with current rules at 7 CFR 272.2, consists of a Federal/State 
Agreement, annual budget and activity statements, and specific 
attachments (such as plans if the State elects to conduct program 
information activities or provide nutrition educational services). 
State Plans of Operation are a one-time effort with updates that are 
provided as necessary.
    Under section 16 of the Act, 7 U.S.C. 2025, the Secretary is 
authorized to pay each State agency an amount equal to 50 percent of 
all administrative costs involved in each State agency's operation of 
the FSP. Under corresponding FSP regulations at 7 CFR 272.2, the State 
agencies must submit annually to FNS for approval, a Budget Projection 
Statement (Form FNS-366A), which projects the total costs for major 
areas of FSP operations, and a Program Activity Statement (Form FNS-
366B), which provides a summary of FSP operations during the preceding 
fiscal year. The reports are required to substantiate the costs the 
State agency expects to incur during the next fiscal year. Form FNS-
366A is submitted annually by August 15, for the upcoming fiscal year 
and Form FNS-366B must be submitted no later than 45 days after the end 
of each State agency's fiscal year.
    FNS is proposing to add a new category of information to the FNS-
366A to report data on Employment and Training (E&T) grants for able-
bodied adults without dependent children (ABAWDs). Section 4121(b) of 
the Farm Security and Rural Reinvestment Act of 2002, Public Law 107-
171, which was signed into law on May 13, 2002, gave FNS $20 million in 
new 100% funds (the ABAWD grants). FNS has determined that it needs the 
new category of information on the FNS-366A to separately track these 
funds in its budget information system. The funds benefit ABAWD food 
stamp recipients (who are subject to a 3-month time limit for FSP 
participation) to help them get jobs. The funding amount is allocated 
by FNS to the State agency for the ABAWD grant. Because the funding 
amount figure for this item is provided by FNS, the impact on the 
burden is negligible, and so there is no additional burden for this as 
a budget item. The FNS-366A data for this item will allow FNS to 
compare this budget item against actual expenditures.
    Beginning July 1997, State agencies were allowed to submit the FNS-
366B data electronically to the national database files stored in FNS' 
FSP Integrated Information System in lieu of a paper report. The 
voluntary changeover from paper to electronic reporting of FNS-366B 
data by States was done as part of FNS' State Cooperative Data Exchange 
(SCDEX) Project. This project is being expanded over time as more FNS 
forms are transformed to electronic formats for State data entry. As of 
February 2003, a total of nine State agencies submitted the FNS-366B 
data electronically and 44 State agencies submitted paper reports.
    Under section 11(o) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. 2020(o), each State agency 
was required to develop a plan, no later than October 1, 1987, for 
implementing an automated data processing (ADP) and information 
retrieval system to administer the FSP. Corresponding FSP regulations 
at 7 CFR 277.18 require that a written plan of action, called an 
Advance Planning Document (APD), be prepared to acquire proposed ADP 
services, systems or equipment. The frequency of the APD submission is 
at the discretion of the State agency.
    Under section 7(i) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. 2016(i), the Secretary is 
authorized to permit State agencies to implement on-line electronic 
benefit transfer (EBT) systems. The Secretary is authorized to 
establish standards for the required

[[Page 36537]]

testing prior to implementation of any EBT system and analysis of the 
results of implementation in a limited pilot project area before 
expansion of the system. Any State requesting funding for an EBT system 
must submit an APD.
    Respondents: State agencies that administer the FSP.
    Number of Respondents: 53.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: Plan of Operation 
Updates: 53 State agencies once a year.
    Form FNS-366A: 53 State agencies once a year.
    Form FNS-366B: 53 State agencies once a year.
    Advance Planning Documents: 15 State agencies once a year.
    Advance Planning Documents for EBT Systems: 10 State agencies once 
a year.
    EBT Reporting: 41 State agencies reporting four times a year.
    Estimate of Burden: Plan of Operation Updates: The State agencies 
submit Plan updates at an estimate of 10 hours per respondent, or 530 
total hours.
    Form FNS-366A: The State agencies submit Form FNS-366A at an 
estimate of 13 hours per respondent, or 689 total hours.
    Form FNS-366B: The total burden for the collection of information 
for Form FNS-366B is 18 hours per respondent, or 954 hours.
    Outreach Plans: We estimate that up to 25 States may submit an 
Outreach Plan over the next year at an estimate of 1 hour per 
respondent or 25 total hours.
    PRWORA Plan Updates: We estimate 34 States will choose one or more 
options, and thus will have to respond, at an average .25 hours per 
response, or a total burden of 8.5 hours.
    Advance Planning Documents: Approximately 15 State agencies submit 
an APD each year at an estimate of 10 hours per respondent or 150 total 
hours.
    Advance Planning Documents for EBT Systems: Approximately ten State 
agencies submit an APD each year for an EBT system at an estimate of 35 
hours per respondent, or 350 total hours.
    EBT Reporting: None.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: The total annual 
reporting and recordkeeping burden for OMB No. 0584-0083 is estimated 
to be 2,707 hours, a decrease of 225 hours from the previous estimate 
and currently approved burden of 2,932 hours. The decrease in the 
burden is due to a decrease in the number of States who submit an APD 
and the time to complete an APD.

    Dated: June 11, 2003.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-15350 Filed 6-17-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-U