[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 144 (Monday, July 28, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44280-44281]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-19080]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 144 / Monday, July 28, 2003 / 
Notices  

[[Page 44280]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Food Stamp Program Identification Cards

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment 
on proposed information collection associated with Food Stamp Program 
Identification Cards.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 26, 
2003.

ADDRESSES: Send comments and requests for copies of this information 
collection to: Lizbeth Silbermann, Chief, Electronic Benefit Transfer 
Branch, Benefit Redemption Division, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 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 responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will 
also become a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lizbeth Silbermann, Chief, Electronic 
Benefits Transfer Branch, (703) 305-2517.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Food Stamp Program Identification Cards.
    OMB Number: 0584-0124.
    Form Number: None.
    Expiration Date: 11/30/2003.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: Section 11(e)(15) of the Food Stamp Act (the Act) (7 
U.S.C. 2020 (e)(15)) requires State agencies to issue photographic 
identification to recipients in certain project areas if the Secretary 
and the Department's Inspector General find it useful and cost 
effective for program integrity. The Food Stamp Program (FSP) 
regulations at 7 CFR 274.10(a) require State agencies to issue an 
identification (ID) card to recipients as a proof of eligibility. FSP 
regulations at 7 CFR 274.10(b) require State agencies to issue photo ID 
cards in project areas with 100,000 or more recipients unless the area 
uses direct mail issuance or has implemented an Electronic Benefits 
Transfer (EBT) system. Because of EBT and direct mail issuance, there 
are no remaining areas where photo ID cards are now needed; therefore, 
this category of cards has been eliminated. Recipients in areas without 
EBT or direct mail issuance, however, must present ID cards to coupon 
issuers. Also, retailers that have been authorized to accept FSP 
benefits may ask recipients to show their ID when making a purchase.
    The proposed revision to the information collection burden 
associated with FSP identification cards reflects a reduction because 
of the legislated requirement for State agencies to change from coupon 
to EBT systems in Section 7(i) of the Act (7 U.S.C. 2016 (i)). With EBT 
systems, the need to prove identity or eligibility with a paper 
document becomes obsolete. With EBT systems, benefits are not 
physically distributed but are posted electronically to accounts 
created for recipients by State agencies through their EBT vendors. As 
a result, coupon issuance agents are eliminated. The State agencies 
provide each recipient with a plastic card and Personal Identification 
Number (PIN) that serve to identify the recipient. Recipients are 
instructed to protect their card and PIN and as long as the PIN is 
secure, no one other than the recipient is able to use their benefits. 
The cards and PINs are used at authorized retailers who are guaranteed 
payment for the electronic purchases within two banking days. If EBT 
vouchers are necessary as a result of telecommunication or systems 
disruptions, retailers are guaranteed payment as long as they follow 
the procedures issued by the State agency. As a result, retailers are 
not concerned with other forms of ID.
    Estimate of Burden: Currently, over 90 per cent of FSP benefits are 
delivered via EBT. Only one State agency (Guam) remains without EBT 
although three (California, Delaware, and Iowa) have not completed 
statewide implementation. Based on the schedules for these State 
agencies, there will be no coupon issuance by January 2005.
    This information collection burden affects State agencies where 
there are still coupon issuance systems. In those areas each newly 
certified recipient must be issued an ID card and replacements must be 
provided if they are lost. There are only 609,973 recipient households 
being issued coupons as of March 2003. We estimate 38,034 new 
recipients will still be issued coupons and therefore ID cards 
annually. We also estimate that about 6,100 of the remaining recipients 
using coupons will lose their ID cards which the State agencies will 
have to replace. Therefore, the total State agency respondent estimate 
is 44,134 for the ID card burden; a reduction of 133,650 respondents 
from 177,784 respondents.
    Although we expect the ID burden to end in January 2005, we will 
leave the estimate of the burden the same for all three of the renewal 
periods.
    Affected Public: State agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 44,134.
    Estimated Number of Responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 minute.

[[Page 44281]]

    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 735.6 hours annually.

Roberto Salazar,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 03-19080 Filed 7-25-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P