[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 149 (Wednesday, August 4, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46899-46901]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19074]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--In-Depth Case Studies of Advanced Modernization 
Initiatives

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 a proposed information collection. This proposed collection is for 
``In-Depth Case Studies of Advanced Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 
Program (SNAP) Modernization Initiatives'' and is a revision of a 
currently approved data collection entitled ``Enhancing Food Stamp 
Certification: Food Stamp Modernization Efforts.'' The proposed 
collection will build on the data collection efforts of the currently 
approved collection, which is a purely descriptive study. This 
comprehensive data collection will allow for the analyses of the 
potential impact of advanced modernization efforts on Program outcomes 
in selected States.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before October 4, 2010.

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; and (c) ways to minimize the burden 
of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments may be sent to: Steven Carlson, Director, Office of 
Research and Analysis, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and 
Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014, Alexandria, VA 
22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to the attention of 
Steven Carlson at 703-305-2576 or via e-mail to

[[Page 46900]]

[email protected]. Comments will also be accepted through the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to http://www.regulations.gov, and 
follow the online instructions for submitting comments electronically.
    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, 
Room 1014, Alexandria, Virginia 22302.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will 
be a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of this information collection should be directed to Steven 
Carlson at 703-305-2017.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: In-Depth Case Studies of Advanced SNAP Modernization 
Initiatives.
    OMB Number: 0584-0547.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Expiration Date: April 30, 2011.
    Type of Request: Revision of currently approved data collection.
    Abstract: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) 
(formerly known as the Food Stamp Program) is a critical source of 
support for many low-income families and individuals. In recent years, 
States have implemented new procedures and policies, commonly referred 
to as modernization, that focus on reducing SNAP administrative costs 
while maintaining or improving program access. Though State efforts 
vary, common initiatives include expanded use of technology, 
partnerships with community organizations, policy simplifications, and 
administrative restructuring.
    In order to examine how modernization potentially affects key 
outcome measures--efficiency, access, and integrity--and establish if, 
and to what extent, the goals of States were met by their modernization 
efforts, six States have been selected for comprehensive case studies. 
The selection process employed a modernization index designed to 
identify States with the most advanced modernization initiatives. 
Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin were 
selected and have agreed to participate in this study. The study will 
ultimately yield a comprehensive picture of each State's experiences 
with modernization and assess the potential impacts of modernization. 
Specifically, the study will identify the steps States have taken to 
implement modernization changes, the challenges States experienced, and 
the perceptions of SNAP staff and participants regarding the changes. 
This information can be used by federal and State policymakers to 
identify important lessons. Project findings will help these 
policymakers understand the implications of modernization changes and 
identify effective modernization practices while avoiding 
implementation pitfalls.
    The project has seven research objectives: (1) Update the existing 
State profiles of modernization efforts and identify the geographic and 
caseload coverage affected by modernization changes; (2) describe how 
key certification, recertification, and case management functions have 
changed; (3) describe the current roles and responsibilities of State 
and local SNAP staff, vendors, and partners and how they have changed; 
(4) document the relationship between SNAP modernization initiatives 
and stakeholder satisfaction; (5) describe the current performance of 
each State's modernization initiatives and the level of outcome 
variability within each State; (6) compare pre-, current, and post-
modernization performance; and (7) document the main takeaway points 
for use by other States and for future study consideration.
    Data collection strategies include multiple site visits, during 
which we will conduct interviews of SNAP staff at all levels, visit 
multiple local offices, hold focus groups with current participants and 
eligible nonparticipants, and meet with community-based partner 
organizations and vendors that contract with State SNAP agencies. 
Tailored protocols will be used for the interviews. Members for the 
SNAP participant focus groups will be selected using State SNAP 
administrative data for current participants. Members of the eligible 
nonparticipant focus groups will be recruited at local food banks. 
Potential focus group members will be offered $25 for their 
participation and $5 for transportation to and from the focus group 
location. Working parents will be offered an additional $15 for child 
care. To examine how within-State participation patterns vary with 
within-State differences in modernization, the study will also collect 
and analyze monthly State case record extant data. Each of the six 
States will receive remuneration of $75,000 to offset the costs of 
participating in the study.
    Interview and focus group questions will be kept as simple and 
respondent-friendly as possible. Responses to all questions will be 
voluntary. The contractor will take the following steps to treat the 
data provided in a confidential manner: (1) No data will be released in 
a form that identifies individual respondents by name; and (2) 
information collected through interviews will be combined across other 
respondents in the same category and reported only in aggregate form. 
Respondents will be notified of these confidentiality measures during 
data collection.
    Affected Public: State, local or tribal government; businesses or 
other for-profits; not-for-profit institutions; individuals or 
households. Respondent groups identified include: (1) SNAP staff at the 
State, regional, and local levels, including staff of call centers and 
other specialized units; (2) staff from community partners and vendors 
or businesses assisting with modernization efforts; and (3) current 
SNAP participants and eligible non-participants.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: The study will collect data from a 
total of 606 respondents across all States. This number represents the 
sum of 33 State-level SNAP staff interviews; 84 district/county SNAP 
staff interviews; 21 interviews at SNAP call center staff or other 
centralized operation units staff; 154 local office SNAP staff 
interviews; 14 interviews with vendors; 60 interviews with staff 
members from community partners involved in modernization; and 120 SNAP 
participants and 120 eligible non-participants.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Time per Response: For all interviews of State SNAP 
staff, district/county SNAP staff, SNAP call center staff or 
centralized operation units staff, local office SNAP staff, vendor 
staff, and community partner staff, the burden estimate is 1.5 hours 
and includes respondents' time to prepare for and complete the 
interview. For all participating members in the focus groups, the 
burden estimate is 1.667 hours (100 minutes) and includes respondents' 
time to be screened, receive a reminder call, read a reminder letter, 
and to participate in the group. For all persons who decline to 
participate in the focus groups, the burden estimate is .0835 hours (5 
minutes) and includes the respondents' time to be screened (see table 
below).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents and Non-Responders: 
Total of 1,009.1 hours, including: State SNAP staff, 49.5 hours; 
district/county SNAP staff, 126 hours; SNAP call center staff or 
centralized operation units staff,

[[Page 46901]]

31.5 hours; local office SNAP staff, 231 hours; vendor staff, 21 hours; 
community partner staff, 90 hours; SNAP participants, 200 hours; 
eligible non-participants, 200 hours. In addition, respondents who 
elect not to participate in the focus groups (refusers), the estimated 
total burden is 60.1 hours. The number of refusers is based on the 
assumption that in order to have 240 respondents ultimately attend the 
focus groups, 480 persons will need to be recruited. And in order for 
480 persons to be recruited, twice as many persons, or 960, will need 
to be contacted initially.

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                                                                                                                          Estimated avg.
                                                                             Estimated       Responses     Total annual      number of       Estimated
              Affected public                      Respondent type            number       annually per      responses       hours per      total hours
                                                                            respondents     respondent                       response
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State, Local and Tribal Agencies..........  State SNAP staff............              33               1              33          1.5               49.5
                                            District/County SNAP staff..              84               1              84          1.5              126.0
                                            Call Center staff or                      21               1              21          1.5               31.5
                                             centralized operation unit
                                             staff.
                                            Local office SNAP staff.....             154               1             154          1.5              231.0
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Business (for and not-for-                  Vendor staff................              14               1              14          1.5               21.0
 profit).                                   Community partner staff.....              60               1              60          1.5               90.0
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Individuals & Households..................  SNAP participants*..........             120               1             120          1.667            200.0
                                            SNAP eligible                            120               1             120          1.667            200.0
                                             nonparticipants*.
                                            Non-Responders (Focus group)             720               1             720          0.0835            60.1
                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.................................  ............................           1,326  ..............           1,326  ..............         1,009.1
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* Focus Group members will participate in a brief screening call or interview, participate in the focus group, and receive a reminder call and letter
  prior to the focus group.
** Focus Group refusers will participate in a brief screening call or interview.


    Dated: July 23, 2010.
Julia Paradis,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-19074 Filed 8-3-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P