[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 210 (Monday, November 1, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63401-63402]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-24349]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed information Collection Activity; Comment Request

Proposed Projects

    Title: Social Services Block Grant Postexpenditure Report.
    OMB No. 0970-0234.
    Description:
    Purpose: To improve the quality of Social Services Block Grant 
(SSBG) expenditure data, the postexpenditure reporting form and 
instructions need minor formatting revisions to reduce confusion and 
reporting inconsistencies that have resulted from the current form. As 
a block grant, SSBG provides the States with a flexible source of funds 
for social service needs. Accurate accounting of how these funds are 
used and whom they serve is critical to ensure that necessary and 
sufficient funding continues to be allocated. For

[[Page 63402]]

this reason, the following changes are being proposed to the current 
form:

1. The expenditures columns will be reordered so that when reading left 
to right, the three types of funding that sum to total expenditures--
SSBG allocation, funds transferred into SSBG, and expenditures of all 
other Federal, State, and local funds--are listed prior to total 
expenditures.
2. A space will be added, and referenced in item 29, where States can 
report more detail about other services. This added information will 
help to define the specific services funded under this service 
category.
3. The column for total adults will be removed. A new column, ``Adults 
of Unknown Age'' will be added. The three age groups of adults--
``Adults Age 59 and younger,'' ``Adults Age 60 and older,'' and 
``Adults of Unknown Age''--should equal the total number of adults.
4. The recipients columns will be reordered so that when reading left 
to right, the four ages of recipients--children, adults age 59 and 
younger, adults age 60 and older, and adults of unknown age--are listed 
prior to total recipients.

    The SSBG program provides funds to assist States in delivering 
social services directed toward the needs of children and adults in 
each State. Funds are allocated to the States in proportion to their 
populations. States, including the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto 
Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American 
Samoa, have substantial discretion in their use of funds and may 
determine what services will be provided, who will be eligible, and how 
funds will be distributed among the various services. State or local 
SSBG agencies (i.e., county, city, or regional offices) may provide the 
services or may purchase them from qualified agencies, organizations, 
or individuals. States report as recipients of SSBG-funded services any 
individuals who receive a service funded at least partially by SSBG.
    States are required to report their annual SSBG expenditures on a 
standard postexpenditure report, which includes a yearly total of 
adults and children served and annual expenditures in each of 29 
service categories. Reporting requirements for SSBG were originally 
described in the Federal Register, Volume 58, Number 218, on Monday, 
November 15, 1993. The report is due either 6 months after the end of 
the reporting period or at the time the State submits the 
preexpenditure report for the reporting period beginning after that 6 
month period. The report must address: (1) The number of individuals 
(as well as number of children and number of adults) who receive 
services paid for in whole or in part with Federal funds under the 
Social Services Block Grant; (2) The amount of Social Services Block 
Grant funds spent in providing each service; (3) The total amount of 
Federal, State, and local funds spent in providing each service, 
including Social Services Block Grant funds; and (4) The method(s) by 
which each service is provided, showing separately the services 
provided by public agencies and private agencies.
    Information collected on the postexpenditure report is analyzed and 
described in an annual report on SSBG expenditures and recipients 
produced by the Office of Community Services. The information contained 
in this report is used to establish how SSBG funding is used for the 
provision of services in each State to each of many specific 
populations of needy individuals.
    Respondents: This report is completed once annually by a 
representative of the agency that administers the Social Services Block 
Grant at the State level in each State, the District of Columbia, and 
the Territories.

                                             Annual Burden Estimates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Number of     Average  burden
                 Instrument                      Number of      responses per      hours per       Total burden
                                                respondents       respondent        response          hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Postexpenditure Report......................              56                1              110            6,160
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,160.
    In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and 
Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the 
information collection described above. Copies of the proposed 
collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded 
by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of 
Information Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 
20477, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. E-mail 
address:[email protected]. All requests should be identified by the 
title of the information collection.
    The Department specifically requests comments on: (a) Whether the 
proposed 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 proposed collection of 
information; (c) 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. 
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted 
within 60 days of this publication.

    Dated: October 26, 2004.
Robert Sargis,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-24349 Filed 10-29-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M