[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 13, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77474-77475]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-31861]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

 December 7, 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: 7 CFR part 235 State Administrative Expense Funds.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0067.
    Summary of Collection: Because the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) 
is accountable for State Administrative Expense (SAE) funds by fiscal 
year, State Agencies (SAs) are requested to report their SAE budget 
information on that basis. If the State budgets coincide with a fiscal 
year other than that used by the Federal government, the SA must 
convert its State budget figures to amounts to be used during the 
applicable Federal fiscal year for this purpose. In 7 CFR part 235, 
State Administrative Expense Funds, there are five reporting 
requirements, which necessitate the collection of information. They are 
as follows: SAE Plan, Reallocation Report, Coordinated Review Effort 
(CRE) Data Base Update, Report of SAE Funds Usage, and Responses to 
Sanctions. SAs also must maintain records pertaining to SAE. These 
include Ledger Accounts, Source Documents, Equipment Records and Record 
on State Appropriated Funds. FNS will collect information using forms 
FNS-74 and 525.
    Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect information on 
the total SAE cost the SA expects to incur in the course of 
administering the Child Nutrition Programs (CNPs); the indirect cost 
rate used by the SA in charging indirect cost to SAE, together with the 
name of the Federal agency that assigned the rate and the date the rate 
was assigned; breakdown of the current year's SAE budget between the 
amount allocated for the current year and the amount carried over from 
the prior year; and the number and types of personnel currently 
employed in administering the CNPs. The information is used to 
determine whether SA intends to use SAE funds for purposes allowable 
under OMB Circular A-87, Cost Principles for State and Local 
Governments; does SA's administrative budget provide for sufficient 
funding from State sources to meet the Maintenance of Effort 
requirement; and is SA's staff adequate to effectively administer the 
programs covered by the SA's agreement with FNS.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 88.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 13,525.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment 
and Training (E & T) Program Activity Report.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0339.
    Summary of Collection: The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 
105-33), enacted on August 5, 1997, modified the Employment and 
Training (E&T) Program so that States' efforts are now focused on a 
particular segment of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 
(SNAP) (formerly known as the Food Stamp Program) population--able-
bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs). Section 6(d) of the Food 
Stamp Act of 1977 and 7 CFR 273.7

[[Page 77475]]

require each SNAP household members who is not exempt shall be 
registered for employment by the State agency at the time of 
application and once every twelve months thereafter, as a condition of 
eligibility. This requirement pertains to non-exempt SNAP household 
members age 16 to 60. Each State agency must screen each work 
registrant to determine whether to refer the individual to its E&T 
Program. States' E&T Programs are federally funded through an annual 
E&T grant. Both the Food Stamp Act and regulations require States to 
file quarterly reports about their E&T Programs so that the Food and 
Nutrition Service (FNS) can monitor their performance.
    Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collect quarterly reports 
about their E&T programs so that the Department can monitor State 
performance to ensure that the program is being efficiently and 
economically operated. Without the information FNS would be unable to 
make adjustments or allocate exemptions in accordance with the statute.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 53.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Quarterly; 
Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 26,083.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Waivers Under Section 6(o) of the Food and Nutrition Act.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0479.
    Summary of Collection: Section 824 of the Personal Responsibility 
and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Public Law 104-193 
(PRWORA) establishes a time limit for the receipt of Supplemental 
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly known as the Food Stamp 
Program) benefits for certain able-bodied adults who are not working. 
The provision authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture, upon a State 
agency's request, to waiver the provision for any group of individuals 
if the Secretary determines ``that the areas 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.''
    Need and Use of the Information: The Food and Nutrition Service 
uses the information provided by State SNAP agencies to evaluate 
whether the statutory requirements for a waiver of the SNAP time limit 
have been met and to determine specifically whether the designated 
areas' unemployment rate is over ten percent or if there is a lack of 
sufficient jobs available. If the information is not collected, the 
State SNAP agencies could not obtain waivers of time limits contained 
in Section 6(o) of the Act.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government; 
Individuals or household; Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 48.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion, Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,308.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Pre-
Screening Tool.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0519.
    Summary of Collection: Consistent with Section 5 of the Food Stamp 
Act of 1977, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has initiated this 
program to enable potential Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 
(SNAP) (formerly known as the Food Stamp Program) applicants to assess 
their eligibility and the order of magnitude of the potential benefit 
they may qualify for. This Pre-Screening Tool also enables citizen 
advocacy groups to help constituents assess their benefit eligibility. 
This will also help the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 
fulfill its role as a means-tested program in accordance with Section 5 
of the Food Stamp Act and Part 273 of the SNAP regulations.
    Need and Use of the Information: This SNAP Pre-Screening Tool will 
be accessible to the public as an online Web-based system. The user 
will be prompted to enter household size, income, expenses and resource 
information, and the tool will calculate and provide the user with an 
estimated range of benefits that the household may be eligible to 
receive. This information will help FNS determine the degree and type 
of system usage as well as potential areas for further study.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; State, 
Local, or Tribal Government; Not-for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 396,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 66,132.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: FNS User Access Request Form.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0532.
    Summary of Collection: The Office of Management and Budget Circular 
No. A-130, Appendix III, Security of Federal Automated Information 
Resources, dated February 8, 1996, established a minimum set of 
controls to be included in Federal automated information security 
programs. Establishing personal controls to screen users to allow 
access to an authorized system is directed in this appendix. The Food 
and Nutrition Service (FNS) User Access Request Form, FNS-674, is 
designed for this purpose and will be used in all situations where 
access to an FNS computer system is required, where current access is 
required to be modified, or where access is no longer required and must 
be deleted. Users who access FNS systems are: State agencies, other 
Federal agencies, FNS Regional offices, FNS Field offices, FNS 
Compliance Offices, staff contractors, and FNS headquarters staff.
    Need and Use of the Information: The State Coordinator is 
responsible for ensuring that State users and entities comply with the 
FNS Information Systems Security Guidelines and the Procedures Handbook 
702 developed for State systems for their use in maintaining proper 
controls over FNS security features used by State clients. The 
information to be collected is: Name, e-Authentication ID, telephone 
number, home zip code, email address, contract expiration date, 
temporary employee expiration date, office address, State/locality 
codes, system name, form type, type of access, action requested, 
comments and special instructions. If access were not granted, users 
would be denied access to systems needed to deliver FNS programs.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government; 
Federal Government; Businesses or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 225.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 73.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-31861 Filed 12-12-11; 8:45 am]
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