[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 118 (Wednesday, June 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34701-34702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13739]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Waivers Under Section 6(o) of the Food Stamp Act

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment 
on proposed information collections. The proposed collection is a 
revision of a currently approved collection.
    The purpose of Section 6(o) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, as 
amended by Section 824 of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, is to establish a time limit 
for the receipt of food stamp benefits for certain able-bodied adults 
who are not working. The provision authorizes the Secretary of 
Agriculture, upon a State agency's request, to waive the provision for 
any group of individuals if the Secretary determines ``that the area in 
which the individuals reside has an unemployment rate of over 10 
percent, or does not have a sufficient number of jobs to provide 
employment for the individuals.'' As required in the statute, in order 
to receive a waiver the State agency must submit sufficient supporting 
information so that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 
can make the required determination as to the area's unemployment rate 
or sufficiency of available jobs. This collection of information is 
therefore necessary in order to obtain waivers of the food stamp time 
limit.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before August 18, 2008.

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, 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 e-mail 
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 812.
    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: Waiver Guidance for Food Stamp Time Limits.
    OMB Number: 0584-0479.
    Expiration Date: August 31, 2008.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: Section 824 of the Personal Responsibility and Work 
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA), Public Law 104-193, 
110 Stat. 2323 amended Section 6(o) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 
U.S.C. 2015(o)) to establish a time limit for the receipt of food stamp 
benefits for certain able-bodied adults who are not working. The 
provision authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture, upon a State 
agency's request, to waive the provision for any group of individuals 
if the Secretary determines ``that the area in which the individuals 
reside has an unemployment rate of over 10 percent, or does not have a 
sufficient number of jobs to provide employment for the individuals.'' 
As required in the statute, in order to receive a waiver the State 
agency must submit sufficient supporting information so that USDA can 
make the required determination as to the area's unemployment rate or 
sufficiency of available jobs. This collection of information is 
therefore necessary in order to obtain waivers of the food stamp time 
limit. During the last three years, the Food and Nutrition Service 
(FNS) has received on average 48 requests for waivers from an average 
of 48 State agencies. We wish to note that FNS has granted a limited 
number of 2-year waivers and that the estimated average of 48 
submissions a year is based on multiple annual submissions from some 
State agencies and less biannual submissions from other State agencies. 
Each request submitted by a State agency to exempt individuals residing 
in specified areas is considered by FNS to be a separate request, since 
the requested exemptions may be based on different criteria, are 
submitted at different times, and require separate analysis. Although 
State agencies have submitted significantly fewer multiple requests 
since the last time that this reporting burden was extended, in order 
to ensure that all areas that potentially qualify for exemptions are 
included in their waiver requests, State agencies are employing a more 
sophisticated analysis covering multiple timeframes and multi-county 
geographical and labor market areas, requiring more time for the 
preparation and evaluation of each request.
    Affected Public: State and Local governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 48.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 48.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.

[[Page 34702]]

    Estimated Time per Response: 35 hours.
    Estimated Total Burden: 1680 hours.

    Dated: June 12, 2008.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. E8-13739 Filed 6-17-08; 8:45 am]
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