[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 127 (Wednesday, July 2, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39620-39621]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-16650]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Financial Management Service


Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice and Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury, 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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A). Currently, the Financial Management Service (FMS) within 
the Department of the Treasury is soliciting comments concerning an 
Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Survey of Federal Benefit Recipients. 
The Federal Reserve Bank (FRB) of St. Louis, on behalf of FMS/Treasury, 
is conducting this EFT Survey in support of FMS' on-going initiatives 
to increase the use of EFT for Federal payments. The FRB of St. Louis 
and its contractor, Wirthlin Worldwide, will conduct this study of 
Social Security Title II and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit 
payment recipients to identify barriers to significant increases in EFT 
for benefit payments.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before September 2, 
2003 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to the U.S. Department of the 
Treasury, Financial Management Service, Michael Dressler, 401 14th St., 
SW., Room 426B, Washington, DC 20227, (202) 874-7082; e-mail address: 
[email protected]. gov

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the form(s) and instructions should be directed tot the U.S. 
Department of the Treasury, Financial Management Service, Eleanor 
Kelly, 401 14th St., SW., Room 314, Washington, DC 20227, (202) 874-
6838, e-mail address: [email protected]

[[Page 39621]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Study 
of Federal Benefit Recipients.
    Regulation Project Number: Public Law 104-134, Debt Collection 
Improvement Act of 1996.
    Current Actions: The legislative language accompanying Public Law 
104-134, The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, direct the 
disbursing official (the Secretary of the Treasury) ``to study the 
characteristics of those who currently do not have Direct Deposit and 
determine how best to increase usage among all groups.'' 142 Cong. Rec. 
H4091 (daily ed. April 25, 1996). The Federal Reserve Bank (FRB) of St. 
Louis and its contractor, Wirthlin Worldwide Communications, on behalf 
of FMS/Treasury, plan to conduct five phases of a study that includes: 
(1) A mail survey with Federal benefit check recipients, and (2) a 
follow-up postcard survey to the non-respondent mail survey recipients; 
(3) a telephone survey with Federal benefit recipients who use Direct 
Deposit; (4) an incidence screen (postcard) survey of unbanked Federal 
benefit recipients; and, (5) a pilot survey in one location of indigent 
benefit check recipients. The mail survey phase of the study will 
provide quantitative research information from approximately 2,000 
Federal benefit check recipients. The telephone survey phase of the 
study will provide research information from approximately 200 Federal 
benefit recipients who use Direct Deposit. The postcard survey will 
provide research information from approximately 200 unbanked benefit 
check recipients and the pilot survey will provide research information 
from approximately 15 indigent benefit check recipients. FMS, the FRB 
of St. Louis and its contractor estimated that the mail survey 
questions will take approximately 30 minutes for response; the follow-
up non-response postcard survey will take approximately 10 minutes for 
response; the telephone survey questions will be asked in approximately 
a 25-minute telephone call with each respondent; the unbanked postcard 
survey will take approximately 5 minutes for response; and, the pilot 
survey of indigent benefit check recipients will take approximately 60 
minutes for each respondent. The results of the study will be used to 
develop a marketing and communications plan that will serve as the 
basis for a nationwide multi-media EFT campaign. The results of the 
study also will provide information that will guide the development of 
potential new electronic payment mechanisms and possible modifications 
to existing EFT products, including Direct Deposit and the Electronic 
Transfer Account (ETA).
    Type of Review: New.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,000 mail survey, 100 non-
respondent survey, 200 telephone survey, 200 unbanked postcard survey, 
15 indigent survey (mail survey tool), 2,515 total respondents
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: 30 minutes--mail survey, 10 
minutes--non-respondent survey, 23 minutes--telephone survey, 5 
minutes--unbanked postcard survey, 60 minutes--indigent survey
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 1,137 hours.
    Request for Comments: Comments submitted in response to this notice 
will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval. All 
comments will become a matter of public record. Comments are invited on 
(a) whether the 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 collection of information; (c) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to 
be collected; (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; and (e) 
estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, 
maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information.

    Dated: June 26, 2003.
Bettsy H. Lane,
Assistant Commissioner, Federal Finance.
[FR Doc. 03-16650 Filed 7-1-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-35-M