[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 36 (Thursday, February 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9081-9082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3506]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Submission for OMB Review; 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 some 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 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. A new column, ``Adults of Unknown Age'' will be added. The three 
age groups of adults--``Adults Age Years 59 and Younger,'' ``Adults Age 
60 Years and Older,'' and ``Adults of Unknown Age''--should equal the 
total number of adults in the ``Total Adults'' column.
    4. The recipients columns will be reordered so that when reading 
left to right, the four ages of recipients--children, adults age 59 
years and younger, adults age 60 years and older, and adults of unknown 
age--are listed prior to total adults and 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 are distributed among the various services. State or local SSBG 
agencies (i.e., county, city or regional offices) may province 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 must be submitted either six 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 
six-month period. The report must address (1) the number of individuals 
(as well as the number of children and the number of adults) who 
receive services paid for in whole or in part with Federal funds under 
the SSBG; (2) the amount of SSBG funds spent in providing each service; 
(3) the total amount of Federal, State and local funds spent in 
providing each service, including SSBG 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 needy individuals.
    Respondents: This report is completed once annually by a 
representative of the agency that administers the SSBG 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSBG Postexpenditure Report.................               56                1              110            6,160
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,160.
    Additional Information:
    Copies of the proposed collection of information may be obtained by 
writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of 
Information Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 
20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. All requests should be 
identified by the title of the information collection. E-mail address: 
[email protected].
    OMB Comment:
    OMB is required to make a decision concerning the collection of 
information between 30 and 60 days after

[[Page 9082]]

publication of this document in the Federal Register. Therefore, a 
comment is best assured of having its full effect if OMB receives it 
within 30 days of publication. Written comments and recommendations for 
the proposed information collection should be sent directly to the 
following: Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction 
Project, Attn: Desk Officer for ACF, E-mail address: Katherine T. 
[email protected].

    Dated: February 17, 2005.
Bob Sargis,
Reports Clearance, Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-3506 Filed 2-23-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M