[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 237 (Wednesday, December 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68936-68937]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30584]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

    In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 concerning opportunity for public comment on proposed 
collections of information, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Services Administration will publish periodic summaries of proposed 
projects. To request more information on the proposed projects or to 
obtain a copy of the information collection plans, call the SAMHSA 
Reports Clearance Officer on (301) 443-7978.
    Comments are invited on:

[[Page 68937]]

    (a) Whether the proposed collections of information are 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 
proposed collection of information;
    (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 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.

Proposed Project: Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant 
Synar Report Format, FFY 2005-2007

    (OMB No. 0930-0222; Revision)--Section 1926 of the Public Health 
Service Act [42 U.S.C. 300x-26] stipulates that funding Substance Abuse 
Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant agreements for alcohol and 
drug abuse programs for fiscal year 1994 and subsequent fiscal years 
require States to have in effect a law providing that it is unlawful 
for any manufacturer, retailer, or distributor of tobacco products to 
sell or distribute any such product to any individual under the age of 
18. This section further requires that States conduct annually, random, 
unannounced inspections to ensure compliance with the law; that the 
State submit annually a report describing the results of the 
inspections, and the activities carried out by the State to enforce the 
required law, the success the State has achieved in reducing the 
availability of tobacco products to individuals under the age of 18, 
and the strategies to be utilized by the State for enforcing such law 
during the fiscal year for which the grant is sought.
    Before making an award to a State under the SAPT Block Grant, the 
Secretary must make a determination that the State has maintained 
compliance with these requirements. If a determination is made that the 
State is not in compliance, penalties shall be applied. Penalties range 
from 10 percent of the Block Grant in applicable year 1 to 40 percent 
in applicable year 4 and subsequent years. Respondents include the 50 
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the 
U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands.
    Regulations that implement this legislation are at 45 CFR 96.130, 
are approved by OMB under control number 0930-0163, and require that 
each State submit an annual Synar report to the Secretary describing 
their progress in complying with section 1926 of the PHS Act. The Synar 
report, due December 31 following the fiscal year for which the State 
is reporting, describes the results of the inspections and the 
activities carried out by the State to enforce the required law; the 
success the State has achieved in reducing the availability of tobacco 
products to individuals under the age of 18; and the strategies to be 
utilized by the State for enforcing such law during the fiscal year for 
which the grant is sought.
    SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention will request OMB 
approval of revisions to the current report format associated with 
section 1926 (42 U.S.C. 300x-26). The report format is changing 
significantly. Any changes in either formatting or content are being 
made to simplify the reporting process for the States and to clarify 
the information as the States report it; both outcomes will facilitate 
consistent, credible, and efficient monitoring of Synar compliance 
across the States and will reduce the reporting burden by the States. 
All of the information required in the new report format is already 
being collected and reported by the States.

                                             Annual Reporting Burden
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                                          Number of        Responses per        Hours per         Total hours
           45 CFR citation             respondents \1\       respondent          response            burden
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Annual Report (Section I--States and                 59                  1                 15                885
 Territories) 96.130(e)(1-3)........
State Plan (Section II--States and                   59                  1                  3                177
 Territories) 96.130(e)(4, 5).......
196.130(g)..........................                 59                  1                  1                 59
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    Total...........................                 59  .................                 18             1,121
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\1\ Red Lake Indian Tribe is not subject to tobacco requirements.

    Send comments to Nancy Pearce, SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer, 
Room 16-105, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. 
Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

    Dated: December 3, 2003.
Anna Marsh,
Acting Executive Officer, SAMHSA.
[FR Doc. 03-30584 Filed 12-9-03; 8:45 am]
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