[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 7, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32106-32107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-16039]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S. Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Current 
Population Survey (CPS), Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC)

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, 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 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before September 8, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 7845, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Michelle Wiland, U.S. Census Bureau, DSD/CPS HQ-
7H108E, Washington, DC 20233-8400, (301) 763-3806.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau plans to request clearance for the collection of 
data concerning the Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) to be 
conducted in conjunction with the February, March, and April Current 
Population Survey (CPS). The Census Bureau has conducted this 
supplement annually for over 50 years. The Census Bureau, the Bureau of 
Labor Statistics, and the Department of Health and Human Services 
sponsor this supplement.
    In the ASEC, we collect information on work experience, personal 
income, noncash benefits, health insurance coverage, and migration. The 
work experience items in the ASEC provide a unique measure of the 
dynamic nature of the labor force as viewed over a one-year period. 
These items produce statistics that show movements in and out of the 
labor force by measuring the number of periods of unemployment 
experienced by people, the number of different employers worked for 
during the year, the principal reasons for unemployment, and part-/
full-time attachment to the labor force. We can make indirect 
measurements of discouraged workers and others with a casual attachment 
to the labor market.
    The income data from the ASEC are used by social planners, 
economists, government officials, and market researchers to gauge the 
economic well-being of the country as a whole and selected population 
groups of interest. Government planners and researchers use these data 
to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of various assistance 
programs. Market researchers use these data to identify and isolate 
potential customers. Social planners use these data to forecast 
economic conditions and to identify special groups that seem to be 
especially sensitive to economic

[[Page 32107]]

fluctuations. Economists use ASEC data to determine the effects of 
various economic forces, such as inflation, recession, recovery, and so 
on, and their differential effects on various population groups.
    A prime statistic of interest is the classification of people in 
poverty and how this measurement has changed over time for various 
groups. Researchers evaluate ASEC income data not only to determine 
poverty levels but also to determine whether government programs are 
reaching eligible households.
    New questions are proposed for the ASEC, beginning in 2010. The 
questions are related to: (1) Medical expenditures; (2) presence and 
cost of a mortgage on property; (3) child support payments; and (4) 
amount of child care assistance received. These questions will enable 
analysts and policymakers to obtain better estimates of family and 
household income, and to gauge poverty status more precisely. To offset 
respondent burden, some questions will be removed from the ASEC. Those 
removed include questions on transportation assistance, child care 
services, and questions on receipt of government assistance related to 
welfare reform.
    Congressional passage of the State Children's Health Insurance 
Program (SCHIP), or Title XXI, led to a mandate from Congress, in 1999, 
that the sample size for the CPS, and specifically the ASEC, be 
increased to a level whereby more reliable estimates can be derived for 
the number of individuals participating in this program at the state 
level. By administering the ASEC in February, March, and April, rather 
than only in March as in the past, we have been able to achieve this 
goal. The total number of respondents has not been upwardly affected by 
this change.

II. Method of Collection

    The ASEC information will be collected by both personal visit and 
telephone interviews in conjunction with the regular February, March 
and April CPS interviewing. All interviews are conducted using 
computer-assisted interviewing.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0354.
    Form Number: There are no forms. We conduct all interviewing on 
computers.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 78,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 25 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 32,500.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: There are no costs to the respondents 
other than their time to answer the CPS questions.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Section 182; and 
Title 29, United States Code, Sections 1-9.

IV. Request for Comments

    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 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(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 respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: July 2, 2009.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E9-16039 Filed 7-6-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P