[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 3, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86-87]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-8195]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Form FNS-209, Status of Claims Against Households

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
Notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment 
on proposed information collections. Sections 11, 13, and 16 of the 
Food Stamp Act of 1977 (the Act) are the basis for the information 
collected on Form FNS-209, Status of Claims Against Households. Section 
11 of the Act requires that State agencies submit reports and other 
information that are necessary to determine compliance with the Act and 
its implementing regulations. Section 13 of the Act requires State 
agencies to establish claims and collect overpayments against 
households. Section 16 of the Act authorizes State agencies to retain a 
portion of what is collected. The FNS-209 is used as the mechanism for 
State agencies to report the claim establishment, collection and 
retention amounts.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before March 6, 2006 to 
be assured consideration.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Jane Duffield, Chief, Payment Accuracy 
Branch, Food and Nutrition Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 
818, Alexandria, Virginia, 22302.
    Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507), 
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

[[Page 87]]

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; 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.
    All comments will be summarized and included in the request for 
Office of Management and Budget approval of the information collection. 
All comments will become a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Leslie Byrd at (703) 305-2472 
for further information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Status of Claims Against Households
    OMB Number: 0584-0069.
    Form Number: FNS-209.
    Expiration Date: May 31, 2006.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection with 
no change in burden hours.
    Abstract: The Food Stamp Program (FSP) regulations at 7 CFR 273.18 
require that State agencies establish, collect and efficiently manage 
food stamp recipient claims. These processes are required by Sections 
11, 13 and 16 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, 7 U.S.C. 2020, 2022 and 
2025. Regulations at 7 CFR 273.18(m)(5) require State agencies to 
submit at the end of every quarter the completed Form FNS-209, Status 
of Claims Against Households. The information required for the FNS-209 
report is obtained from a State accounting system responsible for 
establishing claims, sending demand letters, collecting claims, and 
managing other claim activity. In general, State agencies must report 
the following information on the FNS-209: the current outstanding 
aggregate claim balance; claims established; collections; any balance 
and collection adjustments; and the amount to be retained for 
collecting non-agency error claims. The burden associated with 
establishing claims (demand letters) and the Treasury Offset Program, 
both of which are also used to complete the FNS-209, are already 
approved under OMB burden numbers 0584-0492 and 0584-0446 respectively.
    The estimated annual burden is 742 hours. This is the same as the 
currently approved burden. This estimate includes the time it takes 
each State agency to accumulate and tabulate the data necessary to 
complete the report four times per year.
    Affected Public: State agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 53.
    Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.
    Total Responses: 212.
    Estimated Time per Response: 3 hours.
    Reporting Burden: 636.
    Total Number of Recordkeepers: 53.
    Estimated Annual hours per Recordkeeper: 2.
    Recordkeeping Burden: 106.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 742.

    Dated: December 23, 2005.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. E5-8195 Filed 12-30-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P