[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 135 (Thursday, July 14, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41449-41450]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-17773]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

July 8, 2011.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
regarding (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of burden 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 are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), [email protected] or 
fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, 
Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these 
information collections are best assured of having their full effect if 
received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the 
submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8958.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Study to Assess the Effect of Supplemental Nutrition 
Assistance Program Participation on Food Security in the Post-American 
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Environment.

[[Page 41450]]

    OMB Control Number: 0584-New.
    Summary of Collection: Section 17 (7 U.S.C. 2026) (a) (1) of the 
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 provides general legislative authority 
for the planned data collection. This section authorizes the Secretary 
of Agriculture to enter into contracts with private institutions to 
undertake research that will help to improve the administration and 
effectiveness of SNAP in delivering nutrition related benefits. More 
specific legislative authority is found in the ARRA economic stimulus 
package implemented in April 2009 (Pub. L. No. 111-5, Section 101(c) 
(1)), which provides administrative funds to the Food and Nutrition 
Service (FNS) for management and oversight and for managing the 
integrity and evaluation of the stimulus changes. The implementation of 
ARRA presents a unique opportunity to measure the impact of increased 
benefits on food insecurity. Over the past few years, SNAP 
participation has increased over 26 percent and is now at record high 
levels with over 20.7 million households across the nation enrolled in 
the program in January 2011. The prevalence of food insecurity is also 
at a record high level, at 14.6 percent in 2009, as noted in the latest 
annual report on household food insecurity. A unique opportunity to 
measure the impact of increased benefits on food insecurity has been 
presented by the implementation of the ARRA economic stimulus package 
of 2009, which temporarily increased the maximum allotments provided to 
SNAP participants by 13.6 percent, eased eligibility requirements for 
childless adults without jobs, and provided additional funding to state 
agencies responsible for administering the program.
    Need and Use of the Information: This evaluation of the effect of 
SNAP participants on food security will provide new information on the 
extent to which food insecurity declines with SNAP participation in a 
post-ARRA environment. This will produce important new evidence on the 
program's impact, will inform policy decisions regarding the size of 
SNAP allotments for eligible households, and inform related operational 
decisions regarding the likely impact of allotment changes on the 
propensity to participate. The purpose of this data is to allow 
analysis that will support the following study objectives: (1) To 
determine how, if at all, the prevalence of household food insecurity 
and amount of food expenditures vary with SNAP participation. (2) To 
determine how, if at all, the observed results vary by key household 
characteristics and circumstances. (3) To determine what factors 
distinguish between food secure and food insecure SNAP households with 
children.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or household.
    Number of Respondents: 15,408.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 8,266.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-17773 Filed 7-13-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P