[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 97 (Friday, May 20, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29270-29271]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10051]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Waivers Under Section 6(o) of the Food Stamp Act

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment 
on proposed information collections. Section 6(o) of the Food Stamp Act 
of 1977, as amended by Section 824 of the Personal Responsibility and 
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, establishes a time limit 
for the receipt of food stamp benefits for certain able-bodied adults 
who are not working. The provision authorizes the Secretary of 
Agriculture, upon a State agency's request, to waive the provision for 
any group of individuals if the Secretary determines ``that the area in 
which the individuals reside has an unemployment rate of over 10 
percent, or does not have a sufficient number of jobs to provide 
employment for the individuals.'' As required in the statute, in order 
to receive a waiver the State agency must submit sufficient supporting 
information so that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 
can make the required determination as to the area's unemployment rate 
or sufficiency of available jobs. This collection of information is 
therefore necessary in order to obtain waivers of the food stamp time 
limit.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before July 19, 2005.

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 shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate 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; (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
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 Patrick 
Waldron, Chief, Certification Policy Branch, Program Development 
Division, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be 
faxed to the attention of Mr. Waldron at (703) 305-2486. The Internet 
address is: [email protected]. All written comments will be 
open for public inspection at the office of the Food and Nutrition 
Service during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday) at 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia, 22302, 
Room 812.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will be a matter of public 
record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Mr. Waldron at (703) 305-2495.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Waiver Guidance for Food Stamp Time Limits.
    OMB Number: 0584-0479.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Expiration Date: 8/31/05.
    Type of Request: Revision of a previously approved collection.
    Abstract: Section 824 of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA), Pub. L. 104-193, 110 
Stat. 2323 amended Section 6(o) of the Food

[[Page 29271]]

Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2015(o)) to establish a time limit for the 
receipt of food stamp benefits for certain able-bodied adults who are 
not working. The provision authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture, 
upon a State agency's request, to waive the provision for any group of 
individuals if the Secretary determines ``that the area in which the 
individuals reside has an unemployment rate of over 10 percent, or does 
not have a sufficient number of jobs to provide employment for the 
individuals.'' As required in the statute, in order to receive a waiver 
the State agency must submit sufficient supporting information so that 
USDA can make the required determination as to the area's unemployment 
rate or sufficiency of available jobs. This collection of information 
is therefore necessary in order to obtain waivers of the food stamp 
time limit. During the last three years, the Food and Nutrition Service 
(FNS) has received on average 48 requests for waivers from an average 
of 45 State agencies. Each request submitted by a State agency to 
exempt individuals residing in specified areas is considered by FNS to 
be a separate request, since the requested exemptions may be based on 
different criteria, are submitted at different times, and require 
separate analysis. Although State agencies have submitted significantly 
fewer multiple requests since the last time that this reporting burden 
was extended, in order to ensure that all areas that potentially 
qualify for exemptions are included in their waiver requests, State 
agencies are employing a more sophisticated analysis covering multiple 
timeframes and multi-county geographical and labor market areas, 
requiring more time for the preparation and evaluation of each request. 
In addition, the number of State agencies requesting waivers has risen 
from an annual average of 40 to an annual average of 45. Since these 
waivers must be renewed on an annual basis and new ones may be 
submitted to reflect changing labor market conditions, FNS anticipates 
receipt of approximately the same number of waiver requests every year.
    Affected Public: State and local governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 45.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 48.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.1.
    Estimated Time per Response: 35 hours.
    Estimated Total Burden: 1680 hours.

    Dated: May 13, 2005.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 05-10051 Filed 5-19-05; 8:45 am]
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