[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 3, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20004-20005]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7991]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Status of Claims Against Households (Form FNS-209)

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 the proposed information collection for the FNS-209, Status of 
Claims Against Households. This is a revision of an approved 
collection.
    The purpose of the Status of Claims Against Households is to 
provide a standardized format for State agencies submitting reports to 
the Food and Nutrition Service. Sections 11, 13, and 16 of the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008 (the Act) are the basis for the information 
collected on Form FNS-209, Status of Claims Against Households. Section 
11 of the Act requires that State agencies submit reports and other 
information that are necessary to determine compliance with the Act and 
its implementing regulations. Section 13 of the Act requires State 
agencies to establish claims and collect overpayments against 
households. Section 16 of the Act authorizes State agencies to retain a 
portion of what is collected. The FNS-209 is used as the mechanism for 
State agencies to report the claim establishment, collection and 
retention amounts.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before June 4, 2012.

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 has 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; (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 those who are to 
respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.
    Comments may be sent to Jane Duffield, Branch Chief, State 
Administration Branch, Program Accountability and Administration 
Division, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
3101 Park Center Drive, Room 818, Alexandria, VA 22302. You may also 
download an electronic version of this notice at http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/rules/regulations/default.htm and comment via 
email at [email protected] or use the Federal e-Rulemaking 
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 822, Alexandria, Virginia 22302.
    All comments to this notice will be included in the request for 
Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will also become 
a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection form and instruction should be 
directed to Jane Duffield at (703) 605-4385.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Status of Claims Against Households.
    OMB Number: 0584-0069.
    Form Number: FNS-209.
    Expiration Date: August 31, 2012.
    Type of Request: Extension of currently approved collections.
    Abstract: SNAP regulations at 7 CFR 273.18 require that State 
agencies establish, collect and efficiently manage SNAP recipient 
claims. Paragraph 7 CFR 273.18(m)(5) requires State agencies to submit 
at the end of every quarter the completed Form FNS-209, Status of 
Claims Against Households. The information required for the FNS-209 
report is obtained from a State accounting system responsible for 
establishing claims, sending demand letters, collecting claims, and 
managing other claim activity. In general, State agencies must report 
the following totals on the FNS-209: the current outstanding aggregate 
claim balance; claims established; collections; any balance and 
collection adjustments; and the amount to be retained for collecting 
non-agency error claims. The burden associated with establishing claims 
(demand letters) and the Treasury Offset Program, both which are also 
used to complete the FNS-209, are already approved under OMB burden 
numbers 0584-0492, expiration date 9/30/2014, and 0584-0446, expiration 
date 02/28/2013, respectively. The estimated annual burden is 636 
hours. This is the same as the currently approved burden. This estimate 
includes the time it takes each State agency to accumulate and tabulate 
the data necessary to complete the report four times a year. State 
agencies must retain the records that support the FNS-209 data for 3 
years; because this reflects three-year routine business practice and 
the Program is not imposing any recordkeeping hours in this data 
collection.
    Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal Government Agencies.
    Number of Respondents: 53 State Agencies.
    Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.

[[Page 20005]]

    Total Annual Responses: 212.
    Reporting Time per Response: 3 Hours.
    Estimated Annual Reporting Burden Hours: 636.

    Dated: March 26, 2012.
Audrey Rowe,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-7991 Filed 4-2-12; 8:45 am]
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