[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 57 (Monday, March 26, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14072-14073]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-5442]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Food Stamp Program: Federal Collection of State Plan 
of Operations, Operating Guidelines and Forms

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is publishing for public comment, a 
summary of a proposed information collection relating to several State 
Agency Food Stamp Program administrative matters. The proposed 
collection is a revision of a collection currently approved under OMB 
No. 0584-0083.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by May 25, 2007, to be 
assured of consideration.

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 through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Send comments and requests for copies of this information 
collection to Barbara Hallman, Chief, State Administration Branch, Food 
Stamp Program, Food and Nutrition Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center 
Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302.
    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: Barbara Hallman at (703) 305-2383.

[[Page 14073]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Operating Guidelines, Forms and Waivers.
    OMB Number: 0584-0083.
    Expiration Date: July 2007.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: In accordance with section 11(e) of the Food Stamp Act of 
1977 (the Act), 7 U.S.C. 2020(e), State agencies are required to submit 
a Plan of Operation specifying the manner in which the Food Stamp 
Program will be conducted. The State Plan of Operations, in accordance 
with current rules at 7 CFR 272.2, consists of a Federal/State 
Agreement, annual budget and activity statements, and specific 
attachments relating to the State Plan of Operation. State Plans of 
Operation are a one-time effort with updates that are provided as 
necessary.
    Under section 16 of the Act, 7 U.S.C. 2025, the Secretary is 
authorized to pay each State agency an amount equal to 50 percent of 
all administrative costs involved in each State agency's operation of 
the FSP. Under corresponding FSP regulations at 7 CFR 272.2, the State 
agencies must submit annually to FNS for approval, a Budget Projection 
Statement (Form FNS-366A), which projects the total costs for major 
areas of FSP operations, and a Program Activity Statement (Form FNS-
366B), which provides a summary of FSP operations during the preceding 
fiscal year. The reports are required to substantiate the costs the 
State agency expects to incur during the next fiscal year. Form FNS-
366A is submitted annually by August 15, for the upcoming fiscal year 
and Form FNS-366B must be submitted no later than 45 days after the end 
of each State agency's fiscal year.
    Since October 2002, FNS has used the quality control (QC) data to 
collect information about timeliness of application processing. On 
February 7, 2005, the final rule on high performance bonuses was 
published in the Federal Register (70 FR 6313), and included a 
provision regarding the use of QC data to determine each State's rate 
of application processing timeliness. Accordingly, in March 2005, FNS 
notified State agencies that it was eliminating the application 
timeliness data on the FNS-366B, and instead will continue to rely on 
the QC data to determine States' application timelines processing 
rates.
    In fiscal year (FY) 2006, 49 percent of State agencies submitted 
the FNS-366A electronically and 51 percent submitted a paper report. 
For FY 2005, a total of 60 percent of State agencies submitted the FNS-
366B electronically with the remaining 40 percent submitting paper 
reports.
    Finally, State agencies are required to submit certain other 
documents to FNS for review relating to certain specific activities 
that the State agency may choose to do. These other submissions include 
a written action plan, called an Advance Planning Document (APD), if 
the State agency wishes to acquire proposed automated data processing 
(ADP) services, systems or equipment, an outreach plan if the State 
elects to do program information activities, and updates related to 
options exercised under the Food Stamp Act, as amended.
    Respondents: State agencies that administer the FSP.
    Number of Respondents: 53.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent:
    Plan of Operation Updates: 53 State agencies once a year.
    Form FNS-366A: 53 State agencies once a year.
    Form FNS-366B: 53 State agencies once a year.
    Other APD, Plan, or Update Submissions: Up to 53 State agencies may 
submit one or more APD, plan or update submission averaging 4.75 
submissions per respondent per year or 252 total responses.
    Estimate of Burden:
    Plan of Operation Updates: The State agencies submit Plan updates 
at an estimate of 10 hours per respondent, or 530 total hours.
    Form FNS-366A: The State agencies submit Form FNS-366A at an 
estimate of 13 hours per respondent, or 689 total hours.
    Form FNS-366B: The total burden for the collection of information 
for Form FNS-366B is 18 hours per respondent, or 954 hours.
    Other APD, Plan, or Update Submissions: We estimate that up to 53 
States may submit one or more submissions for an APD, plan, or update 
submission for a total of 252 annual responses at an average estimate 
of 2.681 hours per respondent, or 675.6 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: The total annual 
reporting and recordkeeping burden for OMB No. 0584-0083 is estimated 
to be 2,848.5 hours, an increase of 100 hours. The increase is due to a 
re-estimate of the time it takes for Other APD, Plan, or Update 
submissions.

    Dated: March 20, 2007.
George A. Braley,
Acting Administrator Food and Nutrition Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-5442 Filed 3-23-07; 8:45 am]
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