[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 18 (Friday, January 28, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4086-4087]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1616]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Feasibility of Computer Matching in the National 
School Lunch Program

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, Department of Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Food and Nutrition Service's intention to request 
Office of Management and Budget approval of a new information 
collection from State Child Nutrition (CN), Education, and Medicaid 
agencies, as well as School Food Authorities (SFAs). The study will 
collect information to examine the feasibility of using computer 
matching in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) to help improve 
program integrity and operational efficiency.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by March 29, 
2005, to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection 
of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions 
of the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate

[[Page 4087]]

of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (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 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments may be sent to Alberta Frost, Director, Office of 
Analysis, Nutrition, and Evaluation, Food and Nutrition Service, 
Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014, 
Alexandria, VA 22302.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the 
information collection. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the proposed information collection forms should be directed 
to Alberta Frost at (703) 305-2017.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Feasibility of Computer Matching in the National School 
Lunch Program.
    OMB Number: Not yet assigned.
    Expiration Date: Not applicable.
    Type of Request: New collection of information.
    Abstract: The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is seeking to 
improve the process by which SFAs determine and verify the children 
eligible for free and reduced-price school meals. Recent studies 
suggest that a significant number of ineligible children are being 
approved for free and reduced-price meals. Congress expressed concern 
about these issues in the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act 
of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-265) (the Act). Section 105(a) requires USDA to 
conduct a study on the feasibility of using computer technology to 
reduce errors, waste, fraud, and abuse in the NSLP. The study will 
collect and analyze data through mail surveys of all states and in-
depth telephone interviews with six selected States to: Assess current 
and planned use of computer matching for NSLP certification and 
application verification; identify benefits, challenges, and barriers 
to computer matching; collect information on statewide student 
information systems and education matches with Medicaid and wage data; 
and identify the types of information maintained by the Medicaid 
program that could be useful for NSLP certification and verification.
    Estimate of Burden: The public reporting burden for the survey of 
State CN Program directors is estimated at 40 minutes for the mail 
survey. The public reporting burden for the survey of State Education 
Agency (SEA) liaisons to the National Center for Education Statistics 
(NCES) is estimated to be 15 minutes for the mail survey. The public 
reporting burden for the survey of State Medicaid Directors is 
estimated to be 30 minutes for the mail survey.
    For the in-depth telephone interviews, the burden estimates per 
respondent in each of the six States are: State CN officials, 60 
minutes; State Student Information Systems administrators, 60 minutes; 
State Food Stamp Program (FSP) agency officials, 60 minutes; State 
Medicaid agency officials, 60 minutes; State Wage Information 
Collection Agency (SWICA) officials, 60 minutes; and SFA 
administrators, 60 minutes.
    Respondents: Respondents for the mail survey are State CN 
Directors, SEA NCES liaisons, and State Medicaid Directors. Respondents 
for the in-depth telephone interviews include: State CN officials; 
State Student Information Systems administrators; State FSP agency 
officials; State Medicaid agency officials, SWICA officials, and SFA 
administrators.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: Mail surveys will be conducted 
with 51 State CN Program Directors, 51 SEA NCES liaisons, and 51 State 
Medicaid Directors.
    In-depth telephone interviews will be conducted with: 12 State CN 
agency officials; 12 State Student Information Systems administrators; 
12 State FSP agency officials; 12 State Medicaid agency officials; 12 
SWICA officials; and 12 SFA administrators.
    Number of Responses per Respondent: One response per respondent per 
data collection effort.
    Estimated Time per Response:

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                         Respondents                                Number          Minutes       Total minutes
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State CN Directors: Mail Survey..............................               51               40            2,040
SEA NCES Liaisons: Mail Survey...............................               51               15              765
State Medicaid Directors: Mail Survey........................               51               30            1,530
State CN Officials: Telephone Interview......................               12               60              720
State Student Information System Administrators: Telephone                  12               60              720
 Interview...................................................
State FSP Officials: Telephone Interview.....................               12               60              720
State Medicaid Officials: Telephone Interview................               12               60              720
SWICA Officials: Telephone Interview.........................               12               60              720
SFA Administrators: Telephone Interview......................               12               60              720
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    Total Respondent Burden..................................  ...............  ...............            8,655
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 144 hours.

    Dated: January 21, 2005.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 05-1616 Filed 1-27-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P