[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
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Number of Average
Instrument Number of responses per burden hours Total burden
respondents respondent per response hours
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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
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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]
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