[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 241 (Monday, December 16, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76149-76150]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-29767]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

Proposed Projects

    Title: Social Services Block Grant Post-Expenditure Report.
    OMB No.: 0970-0234
    Description: The purpose of this information collection is to (1) 
extend the collection of post-expenditure data using the current OMB 
approved reporting form (OMB No. 0970-0234) past the current expiration 
date of July 31, 2011; (2) make one chnage to the current post-
expenditure reporting form; and (3) request that States voluntarily use 
the post-expenditure reporting form to estimate expenditures and 
recipients, by service category, as part of the required annual 
intended use plan. The Social Services Block Grant program (SSBG) 
provides funds to assist States in delivering critical services to 
vulnerable older adults, persons with disabilities, at-risk adolescents 
and young adults, and children and families. Funds are allocated to the 
States in proportion to their populations. States have substantial 
discretion in their use of funds and may determine what services will 
be provided, who will be eligible, and how funds will be distributed 
among the various services. State or local SSBG agencies (i.e., county, 
city, regional offices) may provide the services or may purchase them 
from qualified agencies, organizations or individuals. States report as 
recipients of SSBG-funded services any individuals who receive a 
service funded in whole or in part by SSBG. States are required to 
report their annual SSBG expenditures on a standard post-expenditure 
reporting form. The current form includes a yearly total of adults and 
children served and annual expenditures in each of 29 service 
categories. The annual report is submitted within six months of the end 
of the period covered by the report, and must address: (1) The number 
of individuals (including number of children and number of adults) who 
receive services paid for, in whole or in part, with Federal funds 
under the SSBG; (2) The amount of SSBG funds spent in providing each 
service; (3) The total amount of Federal, State, and local funds spent 
in providing each service, including SSBG funds; and (4) The method(s) 
by which each service is provided, showing separately the services 
provided by public and private agencies. These reporting requirements 
can be found at 45 CFR 96.74. Information collected on the post-
expenditure report is analyzed and described in an annual report on 
SSBG expenditures and recipients produced by the Office of Community 
Services (OCS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF). The 
information contained in this report is used for program planning and 
management. The data establish how SSBG funding is used for the 
provision of services in each State to each of many specific 
populations of needy individuals. Federal regulation and reporting 
requirements for the SSBG also require each State to develop and submit 
an annual intended use plan that describes how the State plans to 
administer its SSBG funds for the coming year. This report is to be 
submitted 30 days prior to the start of the fiscal year (June 1 if the 
State operates on a July-June fiscal year, or September 1 if the State 
operates on a Federal fiscal year). No specific format is required for 
the intended use plan. The intended use of SSBG funds, including the 
types of activities to be supported and the categories and 
characteristics of individuals to be served, must be provided. States 
vary greatly in the information they provide and the structure of the 
report. States are required to submit a revised intended use plan if 
the planned use of SSBG funds changes during the year. In order to 
provide a more accurate analysis of the extent to which funds are spent 
``in a manner consistent'' with each of the States plan for their use, 
as required by 42 U.S.C. 1397e(a), ACF is requesting that States 
voluntarily use the format of the post-expenditure report form to 
provide estimates of the amount of expenditures and the number of 
recipients by service category, that the State plans to use SSBG funds 
to support as part of the intended use plan. Many States are already 
doing this.
    Respondents: States.

                                             Annual Burden Estimates
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                                                                     Number of    Average burden
                   Instrument                        Number of     responses per     hours per     Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent       response          hours
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Use of Post-Expenditure Report Form as Part of                56               1               2             112
 the Intended Use Plan..........................
Post-Expenditure Report.........................              56               1             110           6,160
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,272.
    In compliance with the requirements of Section 506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and 
Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the 
information collection described above. Copies of the proposed 
collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded 
by writing

[[Page 76150]]

to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, 
Research and Evaluation, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW., Washington, DC 
20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. Email address: 
[email protected]. All requests should be identified by the 
title of the information collection.
    The Department specifically requests comments 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; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection 
of information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. 
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted 
within 60 days of this publication.

Robert Sargis,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-29767 Filed 12-13-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P