[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 149 (Monday, August 4, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45841-45842]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-19793]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4818-N-08]


Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment on 
the Quality Control for Rental Assistance Subsidy Determinations

AGENCY: Office of Policy Development and Research, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement described 
below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department 
is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

DATES: Comments Due Date: October 3, 2003.

ADDRESS: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB 
Control Number and should be sent to: Reports Liaison Officer, Office 
of Policy Development and Research, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 7th Street SW., Room 8226, Washington, DC 20410.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph P. Riley, Director, Economic 
Market Analysis Division, Office of Policy Development and Research, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Room 
8222, Washington, DC 20410; telephone 202-708-9426, extension 5861 
(This is not a toll-free number). Copies of the proposed forms and 
other available documents submitted to OMB may be obtained from Mr. 
Riley.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department will submit the proposed 
information collection to OMB for review, as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended).
    This Notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and 
affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information to: 
(1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including if the information will have practical utility; (2) Evaluate 
the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information; (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Minimize the burden 
of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of appropriate automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology that will reduce respondent burden 
(e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses).
    This Notice also provides the following information:
    Title of Proposal: Quality Control for Rental Assistance Subsidy 
Determinations.
    Description of the Need for Information and Proposed Use: The 
Department is conducting under contract a study to update its estimates 
of the extent and type of errors associated with income, rent, and 
subsidy determinations for the 4.4 million households covered by Public 
Housing and Section 8 housing subsidies. The Quality Control process 
involves selecting a nationally representative sample of assisted 
households to measure the extent and types of errors in rent and income 
determinations, which in turn cause subsidy errors. On-site tenant 
interviews, file reviews, third-party income verifications, and income 
matching with other Federal data are conducted. The data obtained are 
used to identify the most serious problems and their associated costs. 
HUD program offices are then responsible for designing and implementing 
corrective actions. In addition to providing current estimates of 
error, results will be compared with those from the 2000 study. These 
comparisons will indicate whether corrective actions initiated since 
the 2000 study have been effective and if changes in priorities are 
needed.
    The first QC study found that about one-half of the errors measured 
using

[[Page 45842]]

on-site tenant interviews and file reviews could not be detected with 
the 500\58/50059 form data collected by the Department, which is why 
HUD and other agencies with means-tested programs have determined that 
on-site reviews and interviews are an essential complement to remote 
monitoring measures. The 2000 study showed that the calculation errors 
detectable with 50058/50059 data had further decreased, probably 
because this data was increasingly subject to automated computational 
checks.
    This study will provide current information on the quality of 
tenant interviewing (e.g., whether they are they being asked about all 
sources of income) and the reliability of eligibility determinations 
and income verification. Legislation passed in 2002 requires that the 
Department report on the error measurements annually. A 2003 study is 
being completed, and this proposed data collection approval is for the 
next three studies.
    Members of the Affected Public: Recipients of Public Housing and 
Section 8 Housing Assistance subsidies.
    Estimation of the Total Number of Houses Needed With Those Surveyed 
to Conduct the Information Collection, Including Number of Respondents, 
Frequency of Response, and Hours of Response: The researchers will 
survey approximately 550 PHA/program sponsor staff about 
(re)certification procedures, training, interview procedures, and 
problems encountered in conducting (re)certifications. Although more 
than one staff member may need to be contacted to obtain answers to all 
questions, the questionnaire will be administered once at each 
participating project and the interviews are expected to take less than 
35 minutes. Researchers will survey approximately 3,000 program 
participants to obtain information on household composition, expenses, 
and income. the time required for these interviews will vary, but is 
estimated to require an average of about 50 minutes per interview.
    The time estimates provided are based on the 2000 QC survey. This 
survey will again make use of Computer Assisted Interviewing (CAI) 
questionnaires and equipment, which are being used in part because they 
are known to reduce interview times. This software also provides for 
consistency checks and ensures that all needed data have been 
collected, thereby reducing the need for follow-up contacts.
    Status of the Proposed information Collection: Pending OMB 
approval.

    Authority: Section 3506 of the paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended.

    Dated: July 29, 2003.
Alberto F. Trevi[ntilde]o,
Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research.
[FR Doc. 03-19793 Filed 8-1-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-62-M