[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 236 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71172-71173]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20890]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration on Aging


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Alzheimer's Disease Demonstration Grants to States 
Program Standardized Data Collection

AGENCY: Administration on Aging, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Administration on Aging (AoA) is announcing an opportunity 
for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by 
the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), 
Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register 
concerning each proposed collection of information, including each 
proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to 
allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice 
solicits comments on the information collection requirements relating 
to Alzheimer's Disease Demonstration Grants to States Program

DATES: Submit written or electronic comments on the collection of 
information by February 6, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Submit electronic comments on the collection of information 
to: [email protected]. Submit written comments on the 
collection of information to Administration on Aging, Washington, DC 
20201, ATTN: Lori Stalbaum.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori Stalbaum at 202-357-3452 or e-
mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal 
agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. 
``Collection of information'' is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 
1320.3(c) and includes agency request or requirements that members of 
the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a 
third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) 
requires Federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal 
Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including 
each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, 
before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with 
this requirement, AoA is publishing notice of the proposed collection 
of information set forth in this document. With respect to the 
following collection of information, AoA invites comments on: (1) 
Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of AoA's functions, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of AoA's 
estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, 
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques when appropriate, and other forms of information 
technology.
    The Alzheimer's Disease Demonstration Grants to States (ADDGS) 
Program is authorized through Sections 398, 399 and 399A of the Public 
Health Service (PHS) Act, as amended by Public Law 101-557 Home Health 
Care and Alzheimer's Disease Amendments of 1990. The ADDGS program 
funded through AoA helps states extend family support services provided 
by subgrantees to underserved populations, including those in rural 
communities.
    The PHS Act requires AoA to ``provide for an evaluation of each 
demonstration project for which a grant is made.'' The PHS Act further 
states

[[Page 71173]]

that ``not later than 6 months after the completion of such 
evaluations, submit a report to the Congress describing the findings 
made as a result of the evaluations.'' In compliance with the PHS Act, 
AoA developed a new State data collection protocol that will require 
future ADDGS state grantees (those funded starting in FY 2007) to 
transmit annual data information to AoA reported to the states by the 
project partners. Many of the elements for the ADDGS Data Program 
Report are the same as those collected for Older Americans Act Title 
III and Title VII programs administered by AoA. To ensure inclusion of 
essential information the ADDGS Project Officer first contacted all 
current ADDGS grantees to find out what type of information they are 
already collecting. Then, the ADDGS Project Officer solicited 
information on key data elements from experts familiar with the 
previous ADDGS Program evaluation. Following this input, modifications 
were made to the data collection tool and input was solicited from all 
ADDGS state Project Directors and their project partners. Twenty-three 
(23) of thirty-eight (38) states, approximately 60% responded to the 
request for feedback. Again, modifications were made to fine tune the 
data collection tool into a format that would minimize burden on state 
grantees. Finally, ten (10) ADDGS Project Directors participated in a 
telephone focus group. The ten Project Directors were selected based on 
the detail of their responses to the original request for feedback.
    The result of this input is the proposed data collection tool and 
accompanying definition of terms. AoA is aware that different states 
have different capabilities in terms of data collection. Thus, it is 
understood that following the approval of the proposed ADDGS data 
collection tool, AoA will need to work with ADDGS grantees to ensure 
easy access to a reporting system as well as offer regular training to 
state grantees to ensure minimal burden.
    AoA estimates the burden of this collection of information as 
follows: 950 hours.

    Dated: December 5, 2006.
Josefina G. Carbonell,
Assistant Secretary for Aging.
 [FR Doc. E6-20890 Filed 12-7-06; 8:45 am]
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