[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 106 (Thursday, June 4, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 26869]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-13017]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Proposed Projects:
    Title: Emergency Contingency Fund for Temporary Assistance for 
Needy Families (TANF) Programs.
    OMB No.: New Collection.
    Description: On February 17, 2009, the President signed the 
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), which 
establishes the Emergency Contingency Fund for State TANF Programs 
(Emergency Fund) as section 403(c) of the Social Security Act (the 
Act). This legislation provides up to $5 billion to help States, 
Territories, and Tribes in fiscal year (FY) 2009 and FY 2010 that have 
an increase in assistance caseloads and basic assistance expenditures, 
or in expenditures related to short-term benefits or subsidized 
employment. The Recovery Act made additional changes to TANF--extending 
supplemental grants through FY 2010, expanding flexibility in the use 
of TANF funds carried over from one fiscal year to the next, and adding 
a hold-harmless provision to the caseload reduction credit for States 
and Territories serving more TANF families.
    The Emergency Fund is intended to build upon and renew the 
principles of work and responsibility that underlie successful welfare 
reform initiatives. The Emergency Fund provides resources to States, 
Territories, and Tribes to support work and families during this 
difficult economic period.
    We plan to issue a Program Instruction accompanied by the Emergency 
Fund Request Form (OFA-100), and instructions for jurisdictions to 
complete the OFA-100 to apply for emergency funds.
    Failure to collect this data would compromise ACF's ability to 
monitor caseload and expenditure data that must increase in order for 
jurisdictions to receive awards under the Emergency Fund.
    Documentation maintenance on financial reporting for the Emergency 
Fund is governed by 45 CFR 92.20 and 45 CFR 92.42.
    Respondents: State, Territory, and Tribal agencies administering 
the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program that are 
applying for the Emergency Fund.

                                             Annual Burden Estimates
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                                                                  Number of     Average  burden
                 Instrument                     Number of      responses  per      hours  per     Total  burden
                                               respondents       respondent         response          hours
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TANF Emergency Fund Request Form, OFA-100..              93                 5               24           11,160
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 11,160.
    In compliance with the requirements of Section 506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and 
Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the 
information collection described above. Copies of the proposed 
collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded 
by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of 
Administration, Office of Information Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, 
SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. E-mail 
address: [email protected]. All requests should be identified 
by the title of the information collection.
    The Department specifically requests comments 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; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection 
of information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. 
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted 
within 60 days of this publication.

    Dated: June 1, 2009.
Janean Chambers,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-13017 Filed 6-3-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P