[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 211 (Thursday, November 1, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61890-61891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-21537]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice; 60-day notice and request for comments; revision of a 
currently approved collection, OMB Number 1660-0011, FEMA Form 22-13.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites 
the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity 
to comment on a proposed revised information collection. In accordance 
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments 
concerning an information collection system for disaster program 
accounts and debts receivable. The automated portion of the system is 
an accounts receivable system and is complimented by a manual technique 
that collects personal financial data directly from individual debtors 
by their completion of FEMA Form 22-13.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: When errors in payments occur or reviews and 
audits determine that overpayments were made in various disaster 
entitlements, FEMA's Disaster Finance Branch (DFB), Office of the Chief 
Financial Officer (CFO) records pertinent receivable data, including 
individuals' personal data, within an automated, commercial, off-the-
shelf (COTS) accounts receivable system--ACCPAC. Using various screens, 
a receivable is established to bill, monitor payments and produce 
reports. If, for lack of payment, an account receivable becomes a debt, 
ACCPAC continues as the receivable billing and collection system, but 
additional personal financial information is gathered and used to 
determine an ability to pay in setting requirements of installment 
payment agreements. DHS debt collection regulations, 6 CFR part 11, 
require FEMA to maintain current credit data on FEMA's debtors. To 
determine debtors' financial condition, this includes the individual 
debtors' own financial statements, executed under penalty for false 
claim, concerning their assets and liabilities and their income and 
expenses. FEMA Form 22-13 is the vehicle used to collect such data 
directly from the individual debtor.

[[Page 61891]]

FEMA uses this data to understand the debtors' financial conditions to 
accurately determine their ability to pay debts, to set arrangements 
for installment payments of debts, or to compromise/terminate debt 
collection. This data is also used to locate debtors' assets should it 
become necessary when referring debts to the Treasury Department for 
collection.

Collection of Information

    Title: Debt Collection Financial System.
    Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved 
collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-0011.
    Form Numbers: FEMA Form 22-13, Debt Collection Financial Statement.
    Abstract: FEMA may request debtors to provide personal financial 
information on FEMA Form 22-13 concerning their current financial 
position. With this information, FEMA evaluates whether to allow 
debtors to pay the FEMA debts under installment repayment agreements 
and if so, under what terms. FEMA also uses this data to determine 
whether to compromise, suspend, or completely terminate collection 
efforts on respondent's debts. This data is also used to locate the 
debtor's assets if the debts are sent for judicial enforcement.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 750 hours.

                                               Annual Hour Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Data collection activity/        Number of     Frequency of     Hour burden       Annual       Total annual
           instrument               respondents      responses     per response      responses     burden hours
                                             (A)             (B)             (C)   (D) = (A x B)         (C x D)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEMA Form 22-13, Debt Collection           1,000               1             .75           1,000             750
 Financial Statement............
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................           1,000               1             .75           1,000             750
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Cost: There are no costs to the respondents resulting 
from the collection of information since debtor-respondents provide the 
necessary data either from memory or from their own records that they 
already maintain. Cost to the respondents for the hour burdens is 
$10,597.50.
    Comments: Written comments are solicited to (a) evaluate whether 
the proposed data collection is necessary for the proper performance of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) evaluate 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) enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
(d) 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, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses. Comments must be submitted on or before 
December 31, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons should submit written comments to, Office 
of Management, Records Management Division, Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, 500 C Street, SW., Room 609, Washington, DC 20472.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Michael Komack, Policy 
Analyst, Financial Policy Branch, Office of the CFO, 202 646-4164 for 
additional information. You may contact the Records Management Branch 
for copies of the proposed collection of information at facsimile 
number (202) 646-3347 or e-mail address: [email protected].

    Dated: October 23, 2007.
John A. Sharetts-Sullivan,
Director, Office of Records Management, Office of Management, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
 [FR Doc. E7-21537 Filed 10-31-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-49-P