[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 78 (Tuesday, April 24, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20318-20319]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-7715]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 78 / Tuesday April 24, 2007 / 
Notices  

[[Page 20318]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Extension of Proposed 
Collection; Comment Request--Food Stamp Program State Agency Options

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 the proposed extension of this collection relating to State agency 
calculations of household expenses for Food Stamp Program purposes. The 
information collection requirement described in this notice is OMB 
Number 0584-0496: State Agency Options.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before June 25, 2007.

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, Branch 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 800.
    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: Food Stamp Program: State Agency Options.
    OMB Number: 0584-0496.
    Form Number: None.
    Expiration Date: 7/31/07.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Title 7, Part 273 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR) sets forth the Food Stamp Program requirements for the 
application, certification and continued eligibility for food stamp 
benefits. This notice extends the collection burden to account for 
changes required by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 
(FSRIA), pending the issuance of a final rule.
    Establishing and reviewing standard utility allowances. The 
regulations at 7 CFR 273.9(d)(6)(iii)(B) allow State agencies to 
establish standard utility allowances (SUA) and once established 
requires State agencies to review and adjust SUAs annually to reflect 
changes in the cost of utilities. Many State agencies already have one 
or more approved standards, which they update annually. State agencies 
may use information already available from case files, quality control 
reviews or other sources and from utility companies. State agencies may 
make adjustments based on cost-of-living increases. The information 
will be used to establish standards to be used in place of actual 
utility costs in the computation of the excess shelter deduction. State 
agencies are required to submit the amounts of these standards and 
methodologies used in developing and updating the standards to FNS when 
they are developed or changed.
    Estimates of burden: Currently 52 State agencies have a standard 
that includes heating or cooling costs and 41 have a standard for 
utility costs other than heating or cooling. In addition, 51 State 
agencies have a telephone allowance standard. State agencies are 
required to review the standards yearly to determine if increases are 
needed due to the cost of living. We estimate a minimum of 2.5 hours 
annually to make this review and adjustment (2.5 hours x 52 State 
agencies = 130 hours). Total burden for this provision is estimated to 
be 130 hours per year.
    Self-employment costs. The regulations at 7 CFR 273.11(b) allow 
self-employment gross income to be reduced by the cost of producing 
such income. The regulations allow the State agencies, with approval 
from FNS, to establish the methodology for offsetting the costs of 
producing self-employment income, as long as the procedure does not 
increase Program costs. State agencies may submit a request to FNS to 
use a method of producing a reasonable estimate of the costs of 
producing self-employment income in lieu of calculating the actual 
costs for each household with such income. Different methods may be 
proposed for different types of self-employment. The proposal shall 
include a description of the proposed method, the number and type of 
households and percent of the caseload affected, and documentation 
indicating that the proposed procedure will not increase program costs. 
State agencies may collect this data from household case records or 
other sources that may be available.
    Estimates of burden: We estimate that 10 State agencies will submit 
a request of this type each year for the next three years. It is 
estimated that these States will incur a one-time burden of at least 10 
working hours gathering and analyzing data, developing the methodology, 
determining the cost implication, and submitting a request to FNS for a 
total burden of 100 hours annually. State agencies are not required to 
periodically review their approved methodologies. We do not anticipate 
that State agencies will voluntarily review their methodologies for 
change on a regular basis, thus burden is not being assessed for this 
purpose at this time.

[[Page 20319]]

    Record keeping burden only: Each State agency would be required to 
keep a record of the information gathered and submitted to FNS. We 
estimate this to be 7 minutes per year for the 53 State agencies to 
equal a total of 6 burden hours annually. (53 x 7 minutes/60 minutes 
per hour = 6 hours annual burden).
    Summary of burden hours:
    Affected Public: State agencies and local governments administering 
the Food Stamp Program.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 53.
    Estimated Number of Responses Per Respondent: 2.16.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 115.
    Estimated Hours Per Response: 2.05.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 236.

    Dated: April 17, 2007.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. E7-7715 Filed 4-23-07; 8:45 am]
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