[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 144 (Friday, July 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45173-45176]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17997]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Enhancing Completion Rates for Supplemental Nutrition 
Assistance Program (SNAP) Quality Control Reviews

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), 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 this proposed information collection. This is a new collection for 
Enhancing Completion Rates for SNAP Quality Control Reviews.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before September 24, 
2013.

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 that were 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 Steven Carlson, Office of Research and 
Analysis, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
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 email to [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 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) at 3101 Park Center 
Drive, Room 1014, Alexandria, VA 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: Enhancing Completion Rates for SNAP 
(Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Quality Control Reviews.
    OMB Number: Not yet assigned.
    Expiration Date: Not yet determined.
    Type of Request: New collection of information.
    Abstract:
    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. It authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into 
contracts with private institutions to undertake research that will 
help improve the administration and effectiveness of SNAP in delivering 
nutrition-related benefits.
    States conduct monthly quality control (QC) reviews of a 
statistical sample of households participating in SNAP to assess the 
validity of SNAP cases and, ultimately, the error rate for SNAP. This 
requires completing as many reviews as possible. However, beginning in 
1985, the completion rate of sampled QC reviews decreased nationally, 
reaching a low in FY 2006. The completion rate has increased somewhat 
since then, but not to previous levels. Completion rates vary 
considerably among States as well. This research will identify the 
factors associated with incomplete reviews in active SNAP cases and 
recommend ways to enhance completion rates for SNAP QC reviews.
    Primary data collected from persons involved in conducting and 
monitoring the QC reviews and extant State administrative data, will be 
analyzed to compare information across the States; provide descriptive 
estimates of the contribution to payment error associated with 
incomplete reviews; and assess the need to adjust the current 
procedures for treating incomplete cases.
    The information collection includes site visits at six State 
agencies, in-depth (semi-structured) interviews with SNAP QC staff 
during those site visits, and Web and telephone interviews with SNAP QC 
staff in the remaining 47 States not being visited. The SNAP QC 
director, up to two SNAP QC supervisors and up to five State QC 
reviewers from each State will be interviewed.\1\
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    \1\ Additional information contributing to this research will be 
collected from FNS regional offices and staff acting in their 
official capacities (not subject to OMB approval) and SNAP 
participants sampled for QC with incomplete reviews (OMB approval 
previously granted for the QC Review Schedule (0584-0299) and 
Worksheet for QC Reviews (0584-0074)).
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    The specific research objectives are to: describe the process of 
conducting a QC review at the State and Federal levels; describe the 
characteristics of incomplete cases and compare them to complete cases 
using extant administrative case file data; describe the challenges and 
best practices in the QC review process at the State level; determine 
whether incomplete cases are being reviewed and processed correctly; 
determine the impact of incomplete cases on overall payment error; and 
determine the extent to which incomplete cases bias the data in the QC 
database.
    Affected Public:
    State Employees: Respondent groups identified include (1) State QC 
directors, if the position exists or State SNAP directors, in all 53 
SNAP States; (2) State QC supervisors in 53 SNAP States, up to 2 per 
State (if more than 2 in a State, selected as a sample of convenience); 
and (3) State QC reviewers from 53 SNAP States, up to 5 per State (if 
more than 5 in a State, selected as a sample of convenience).
    Estimated Number of Respondents:
    The total estimated number of respondents is 424. This includes 53 
State QC or State SNAP directors (1 in the pretest, 100 percent of whom 
will complete interviews; 6 in person, 100 percent of whom will 
complete interviews; and 46 online or by telephone, 78 percent of whom 
will complete surveys); 106 State QC supervisors (3 in the pretest, 100 
percent of whom will complete interviews; 12 in person, 100 percent of 
whom will complete interviews; and 91 online or by telephone, 81 
percent of whom will complete surveys); and 265 State QC reviewers (5 
in the pretest, 100 percent of whom will complete interviews; 30 in 
person, 100 percent of whom will complete interviews; and 230 online or 
by telephone, 81 percent of whom will complete surveys).
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent:

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    All respondents (State SNAP QC directors or State SNAP directors, 
State SNAP QC supervisors, and State SNAP QC reviewers) will respond 
once each, either one in-person interview or one Web or telephone 
survey. In addition, all SNAP QC directors will be contacted with an 
advance letter and six will receive follow-up communications to arrange 
site visits.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses:
    The estimated total annual responses is 1,040, including initial 
recruitment and coordination communications, pretests and completed 
interviews and surveys.
    Estimated Time per Response:
    Response times may vary from 0.05 to 1 hour depending on actual 
activity and respondent group. The estimated time per interview is 0.5 
hours to 1 hour, depending on respondent group and interview mode, as 
shown in the table below.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents:
    The estimated total annual burden on respondents is 255.60 hours 
(including recruitment communications and completed and attempted 
interviews and surveys). See the table below for estimated total annual 
burden for each type of respondent.
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P

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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN26JY13.013


    Dated: July 16, 2013.
Audrey Rowe,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-17997 Filed 7-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-C