[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 19, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40985-40987]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-6365]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request: Disclosure of Children's Free and Reduced Price Meals 
and Free Milk Eligibility Information in the Child Nutrition Programs

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 
U.S.C. 3507, this notice invites the general public and other public 
agencies to comment on proposed information collections.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received or postmarked 
by September 18, 2006.

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; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
are to respond, including use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.
    Comments may be sent to Melissa Rothstein, Chief, Program Analysis 
and Monitoring Branch, Child and Nutrition Division, Food and Nutrition 
Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 640, Alexandria, Virginia 
22302-1594. Comments may also be submitted via fax to the attention of 
Melissa Rothstein at (703) 305-2879 or via e-mail to 
[email protected].
    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: Request for additional information or 
copies of this information collection should be directed to Melissa 
Rothstein at the address above or by telephone at 703-305-2590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Disclosure of Children's Free and Reduced Price Meals and 
Free Milk Eligibility Information in the Child Nutrition Programs.
    OMB Numbers: 0584-0280, 0584-0055 and 0584-0026, respectively.
    Expiration Date: 12/31/07, 08/31/08, and 10/31/06, respectively.
    Type of Request: Revision of currently approved information 
collections.
    Abstract: FNS is amending the regulations for the Child Nutrition 
Programs to establish the requirements for the disclosure of children's 
free and reduced price meals or free milk eligibility information. The 
Child Nutrition Programs include the National School Lunch Program 
(NSLP), Special Milk Program (SMP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), 
Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), and Child and Adult Care Food 
Program (CACFP) at 7 CFR parts 210, 215, 220, 225 and 226, 
respectively. The regulation, Determining Eligibility for Free and 
Reduced Price Meals and Free Milk in Schools (7 CFR part 245), is also 
being amended to implement the disclosure provisions in the NSLP, SBP 
and SMP.
    The final rule will reflect the disclosure provisions of the 
Healthy Meals for Healthy Americans Act of 1994 and comments received 
on the proposed rule--Disclosure of Children's Eligibility 
Information--published July 25, 2000, at 65 FR 45725. Additionally, the 
final rule includes the regulatory disclosure provisions implementing 
the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 and comments received on 
the interim rule, Disclosure of Children's Eligibility Information to 
State Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program, 
issued January 11, 2001, at 66 FR 2195. The final rule will also 
implement nondiscretionary provisions of the Child Nutrition and WIC 
Reauthorization Act of 2004 that allow certain third party contractors 
access to children's eligibility status and allow school officials to 
communicate with Medicaid and SCHIP officials to verify that children 
are eligible for free and reduced price school meals or free milk. The 
regulations will affect State agencies and local program operators that 
administer the Child Nutrition Programs and households which apply for 
and/or are approved for free and reduced price meals or free milk.
    Regulations at 7 CFR part 245 establish the responsibilities of 
State agencies and school food authorities in providing free and 
reduced price meals and free milk in the National School Lunch Program 
( 7 CFR part 210), the School Breakfast Program (7 CFR part 220), and 
the Special Milk Program for Children (7 CFR part 215). Therefore, the 
burden associated with State agencies and school food authorities 
disclosing free and reduced price eligibility information for 7 CFR 
parts 210, 215 and 220 is carried in the information collection for 7 
CFR part 245.

                                      Estimated Annual Recordkeeping Burden
                                       [7 CFR Part 225 OMB No. 0584-0280]
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                                                                              Number
                                                                 Annual     responses    Hours per      Total
                                              Section          number of       per        response      burden
                                                              respondents   respondent
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State agencies or sponsors must
 enter into a written agreement with
 the party requesting children's
 free and reduced price eligibility
 information:
    Total existing State agencies...  7 CFR 225.15(k).......           53            0            0            0

[[Page 40986]]

 
    Total proposed State agencies...  7 CFR 225.15(k).......           53            1          .25           13
    Total existing Sponsors.........  7 CFR 225.15(k).......        3,763            0            0            0
    Total proposed Sponsors.........  7 CFR 225.15(k).......        3,763            1         .083          312
State agencies or sponsors that plan
 to use or disclose information in
 ways not permitted by statute must
 obtain written consent from the
 child's parent or guardian prior to
 use or disclosure:
    Total existing State agencies...  7 CFR 225.15(j).......           53            0            0            0
    Total proposed State agencies...  7 CFR 225.15(j).......           53            1          .25           13
    Total existing Sponsors.........  7 CFR 225.15(j).......        3,763            0            0            0
    Total proposed Sponsor..........  7 CFR 225.15(j).......        3,763            1          .25          941
    Total existing Households.......  7 CFR 225.15(j).......      128,369            0            0
    Total proposed Households.......  7 CFR 225.15(j).......      128,369            1         .083       10,655
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    Affected Public: State Local or Tribal Government, Individuals or 
Households, Business or other for-profit institutions, Not-for-profit 
institutions, and Federal government.
    Estimated Number of recordkeepers: 132,185.
    Estimated annual hours per recordkeeper: .09.
    Estimated recordkeeping hours: 11,934.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 716,348.

                               Estimated Annual Recordkeeping and Reporting Burden
                                       [7 CFR Part 226 OMB No. 0584-0055]
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                                                                              Number
                                                                 Annual     responses    Hours per      Total
                                              Section          number of       per        response      burden
                                                              respondents   respondent
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State agencies or SFAs must enter
 into a written agreement with the
 party requesting children's free
 and reduced price eligibility
 information:
    Total existing State agencies...  7 CFR 226.23(m).......           55            0            0            0
    Total proposed State agencies...  7 CFR 226.23(m).......           55            1          .25           14
    Total existing Institutions.....  7 CFR 226.23(m).......       21,224            0            0            0
    Total proposed Institutions.....  7 CFR 226.23(m).......       21,224            1         .083        1,762
State agencies or SFAs that plan to
 use or disclose information in ways
 not permitted by statute must
 obtain written consent from the
 child's parent or guardian prior to
 use or disclosure:
    Total existing State agencies...  7 CFR 226.23(l).......           55            0            0            0
    Total proposed State agencies...  7 CFR 226.23(l).......           55            1          .25           14
    Total existing Institutions.....  7 CFR 226.23(l).......       21,224            0  ...........            0
    Total proposed Institutions.....  7 CFR 226.23(l).......       21,224            1          .25        5,306
    Total existing Households.......  7 CFR 226.23(l).......      887,419            0            0            0
    Total proposed Households.......  7 CFR 226.23(l).......      887,419            1         .083       75,656
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    Affected Public: State Local or Tribal Government, Individuals or 
Households, Business or other for-profit institutions, Not-for-profit 
institutions, and Federal government.
    Number of recordkeepers: 908,698.
    Estimated annual hours per recordkeeper: .09.
    Estimated recordkeeping hours: 82,752.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 6,672,835.

                               Estimated Annual Recordkeeping and Reporting Burden
                                       [7 CFR Part 245 OMB No. 0584-0026]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             Number
                                                                Annual     responses    Hours per       Total
                                             Section          number of       per        response      Burden
                                                             respondents   respondent
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State agencies or SFAs must enter
 into a written agreement with the
 party requesting children's free
 and reduced price eligibility
 information:

[[Page 40987]]

 
    Total existing State agencies..  7 CFR 245.6(j)........           54            0            0         0
    Total proposed State agencies..  7 CFR 245.6(j)........           54            2          .25        27
    Total existing SFAs............  7 CFR 245.6(j)........       20,710            0            0         0
    Total proposed SFAs............  7 CFR 245.6(j)........       20,710            2         .083     3,438
State agencies or SFAs that plan to
 use or disclose information in
 ways not permitted by statute must
 obtain written consent from the
 child's parent or guardian prior
 to use or disclosure:
    Total existing State agencies..  7 CFR 245.6(i)........           54            0            0         0
    Total proposed State agencies..  7 CFR 245.6(i)........           54            2          .25        27
    Total existing SFAs............  7 CFR 245.6(i)........       20,710            0  ...........         0
    Total proposed SFAs............  7 CFR 245.6(i)........       20,710            2          .25    10,355
    Total Existing Households......  7 CFR 245.6(i)........    4,138,810            0            0         0
    Total Proposed Households......  7 CFR 245.6(i)........    4,138,810            2         .083   687,042
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    Affected Public: State Local or Tribal Government, Individuals or 
Households, Business or other for-profit institutions, Not-for-profit 
institutions, and Federal government.
    Estimated Number of recordkeepers: 4,159,574.
    Estimated annual hours per recordkeeper: .17.
    Estimated recordkeeping hours: 700,889.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 1,758,167.

    Dated: July 6, 2006.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 06-6365 Filed 7-18-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P