[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 182 (Wednesday, September 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 58089]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23016]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

September 13, 2012.
    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: Community Eligibility Option Evaluation.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: Section 104(a) of the Healthy, Hunger Free 
Kids Act of 2010 provides the Community Eligibility Option (the CE 
Option) for Local Educational Authorities (LEAs) and schools, as an 
alternative to household applications for Free or Reduced Price meals. 
Under the CE Option, families are not required to submit application 
for free or reduced-price meals, and schools are required to provide 
free meals to all students. The potential benefits are that more 
students participate, meals are more nutritious, and LEAs may 
experience reductions in administrative burden and errors. In order to 
understand how the CE Option is implemented, incentives and barriers 
for LEAs and schools, as well as the impacts on LEAs, schools and 
children, Congress has mandated that the Food and Nutrition Service 
(FNS) conduct an evaluation of the CE Option.
    Need and Use of the Information: FNS will collection information 
from the study: To estimate the number of eligible LEAs and schools 
that do not choose the CE Options; To assess the barriers to 
participation in the CE Option in non-participating but eligible LEAs 
and schools; To describe the LEAs and schools participating in the CE 
Option; To examine the impacts of the CE Option on (1) Program 
integrity, (2) availability of School Breakfast program, (3) 
nutritional quality of meals, (4) program participation by students, 
(5) program administration, (6) foodservice revenues and costs; and To 
provide input to FNS deliberations about the key parameters for the CE 
Option: The multiplier for determining the percentage of meals 
reimbursed at the free rate and the threshold value of the ISP for 
determining eligibility to implement the option.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government; Not-
for-profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 3,574.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,383.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-23016 Filed 9-18-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-P