[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 180 (Tuesday, September 17, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57127-57128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-22572]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 180 / Tuesday, September 17, 2013 / 
Notices  

[[Page 57127]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Form FNS-46, 
Issuance Reconciliation

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is publishing for public comment a 
summary of a proposed information collection. This is a revision of a 
currently approved collection for form FNS-46, Issuance Reconciliation 
Report, which concerns benefit issuance operations in the Supplemental 
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The form will be modified and 
simplified. FNS plans to update the form FNS-46, to capture Disaster 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefit issuances 
and returns data. This form update will ensure D-SNAP data will be more 
readily available, enabling FNS to respond to requests from multiple 
agencies on contributions to Federal disaster relief efforts. The form 
will be simplified since it no longer captures coupon issuances and 
returns. (Food stamp coupons were deobligated in 2009.) Instead it will 
summarize Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) issuances and returns.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before November 18, 
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 will 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 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 through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Comments may be sent to Shanta Swezy, Chief, Retailer Management 
and Issuance Branch, Retailer Policy and Management Division, Food and 
Nutrition Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center 
Drive, Room 426, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be faxed to 
the attention of Ms. Swezy at (703) 305-1863; 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 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 Ms. Elvira 
May, Program Analyst, Retailer Management and Issuance Branch at (703) 
605-1534.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  Title: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 
Program: Form FNS-46, Issuance Reconciliation.
    Form Number: FNS-46.
    OMB Number: 0584-0080.
    Expiration Date: March 31, 2014.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: Section 7(d) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as 
amended, (the Act) (7 U.S.C. 2016(d)), requires State agencies to 
report on their SNAP benefit issuance operations not less than monthly. 
Section 11(a) of the Act (7 U.S.C. 2020(a)) requires State agencies to 
assume responsibility for the issuance, control and accountability of 
SNAP benefits.
    Regulations at 7 CFR 274.4(a) and 274.4(b)(2) require State 
agencies to account for all issuance through the reconciliation process 
and to submit a report on this process using Form FNS-46, Issuance 
Reconciliation Report. These reports must be submitted to the Food and 
Nutrition Service (FNS) monthly and must reach FNS no later than 90 
days following the end of each report month. The FNS-46 report reflects 
the total issuance, returns and unauthorized issuance amounts resulting 
in the net Federal obligation.
    Disaster assistance through SNAP is authorized by sections 402 and 
502 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) and the temporary emergency provisions 
contained in Section 5 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, and in 7 
CFR Part 280 of the SNAP regulations. In accordance with 7 CFR 274.4, 
State agencies shall keep records and report SNAP participation and 
issuance totals to FNS.
    Historically, form FNS-292B, Report of Disaster Supplemental 
Nutrition Assistance Program Benefit Issuance, has been used by SNAP 
State agencies to report to FNS, the number of households and persons 
who were certified for the Disaster SNAP, and also to report the value 
of benefits issued to those households. Form FNS-292B must be submitted 
to the agency within 45 days following termination of disaster 
assistance.
    The information collection burden for the FNS-292B, is included in 
OMB 0584-0037, expiration date July 31, 2014. However, recent 
evaluation of Federal disaster response efforts has identified a 
critical need for timely periodic reporting while a disaster response 
is ongoing. Updating the FNS-46, to include separate reporting of D-
SNAP benefit issuance and participation will ensure estimates are 
available on a monthly basis. Requiring monthly D-SNAP estimates on the 
FNS-46, will not duplicate any data collection currently in place, as 
the FNS-292B, serves as a final summary and closeout of the disaster 
response and is not meant to provide periodic updates.
    The update to form FNS-46, is occurring in coordination with an 
update to form FNS-388, State Issuance and Participation Estimates (OMB 
0584-0081, expiration date July 31, 2016). The alignment of these two 
forms will ensure that the monthly D-SNAP issuances and returns 
collected on the FNS-46, will have associated and

[[Page 57128]]

corresponding final issuance reconciliations on the FNS-388.
    While we are adding D-SNAP estimates on the FNS-46, we are removing 
the reporting requirement of paper coupons. Therefore, FNS estimates 
the burden hours associated with completing the FNS-46 will remain at 4 
hours.
    Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal Government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 54.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 12.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 648.
    Estimated Time per Response: 4.0 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 2592 hours annually.

    Dated: September 10, 2013.
Jeffrey J. Tribiano,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-22572 Filed 9-16-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P