[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 30, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69603-69604]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26379]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

Proposed Projects

    Title: Information Collections Related to Reunificiation Procedures 
for Unaccompanied Alien Children.
    OMB No: New Collection.
    Description: Following the passage of the 2002 Homeland Security 
Act (Pub. L. 107-296), the Administration for Children and Families 
(ACF), Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), is charged with the care 
and placement of unaccompanied alien children in Federal custody, and 
implementing a policy for the release of these children, when 
appropriate, upon the request of suitable sponsors while awaiting 
immigration proceedings. In order for ORR to make determinations 
regarding the release of these children, the potential sponsors must 
meet certain conditions pursuant to section 462 of the Homeland 
Security Act and the Flores v. Reno settlement agreement, No. CV85-
4544-RJK (C.D. Cal. 1997). ORR considers the suitability of a sponsor 
based on the sponsor's ability

[[Page 69604]]

and agreement to provide for the physical, mental and financial well-
being of an unaccompanied minor and the sponsor's assurance to appear 
before immigration courts. To ensure the safety of the children, 
sponsors must undergo a background check. Suitable sponsors may be 
parents, close relatives, friends or entities concerned with the 
child's welfare. In this Notice, ACF announces that it proposes to 
employ the use of several information collections for recording: (1) 
The Sponsor's Agreement to Conditions of Release, which collects the 
sponsor's affirmation to the terms of the release; (2) the Verification 
of Release, which collects the children's affirmation to the terms of 
their release; (3) the Family Reunification Packet, which collects 
information related to the sponsor's ability to provide for the 
physical, mental and financial well-being of the child(ren); and (4) 
the Authorization for Release of Information, which collects 
information to be utilized for a background check.
    Respondents: Potential sponsors of unaccompanied alien children and 
unaccompanied alien children in Federal custody.

                                             Annual Burden Estimates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Number of        Average
                   Instrument                        Number of     responses per   burden hours    Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent     per response        hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sponsor's Agreement.............................           3,000               1         .166666             500
Verification of Release.........................           3,000               1         .166666             500
Family Reunification Packet.....................           3,000              20             .05           3,000
Authorization for Release of Information........           3,000              12             .05           1,800
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,800.
    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 
Administration, Office of Information Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, 
SW., Washington, DC 20447, 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: November 24, 2004.
Robert Sargis,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-26379 Filed 11-29-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M