[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 56 (Monday, March 24, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15936-15940]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-06282]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Repayment 
Demand and Program Disqualification

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 the proposed information collection. This is a revision of currently 
approved information collection requirements associated with initiating 
collection actions against households who have received an overissuance 
in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 23, 2014.

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 use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Comments may be sent to: Jane Duffield, Chief, State Administration 
Branch, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
3101 Park Center Drive, Room 822, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may 
also be submitted via email to [email protected], or 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 FNS 
office located at 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 822, Alexandria, 
Virginia 22302, during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
Monday through Friday).
    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 Kelly 
Stewart at 703-305-2425.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 
Program Repayment Demand and Program Disqualification
    OMB Number: 0584-0492
    Form Number: None
    Expiration Date: September 30, 2014
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: Section 13(b) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as 
amended (7 U.S.C. 2022(b)), and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 
Program (SNAP) regulations at 7 CFR 273.18(a)(2) require State agencies 
to initiate collection action against households that have been 
overissued benefits. To initiate collection action, State agencies must 
provide an affected household with written notification informing the 
household of the claim and demanding repayment. This process is 
automated in most State agencies. Note that for overissuance claims, 
this information collection only covers the activities associated with 
initiating collection. The burden associated with reporting collections 
and other claims management information on form FNS-209 is covered 
under currently approved OMB number 0584-0069, expiration date 9/30/
2015. The burden associated with referring delinquent claims and 
receiving collections through the Treasury Offset Program is covered 
under currently approved OMB number 0584-0446, expiration date 4/30/
2016.
    SNAP regulations at 7 CFR 273.16(a)(1) require State agencies to 
investigate any case of suspected fraud and, where applicable, make an 
intentional Program violation (IPV) determination either 
administratively or judicially. Notifications and activities involved 
in the IPV process include:
     7 CFR 273.16(e)(3)--The State agency providing written 
notification informing an individual suspected of committing an IPV of 
an impending administrative disqualification hearing or court action;
     7 CFR 273.16(f)(2) and 273.16(h)(2)--An individual opting 
to accept the disqualification and waiving the right to an 
administrative disqualification hearing or court action by signing 
either a waiver to an administrative disqualification hearing or a 
disqualification consent agreement in cases of deferred adjudication 
and returning it to the State agency; and
     7 CFR 273.16(e)(9)--Once a determination is made regarding 
an IPV, the State agency sending notification to the affected 
individual of the action taken on the administrative disqualification 
hearing or court decision.
    SNAP regulations at 7 CFR 273.16(i)(4) require State agencies to 
use disqualified recipient data to ascertain the correct penalty for 
IPVs, based on prior disqualifications. State agencies determine this 
by accessing and reviewing records located in the

[[Page 15937]]

Electronic Disqualified Recipient System (eDRS). eDRS is an automated 
system developed by FNS that contains records of disqualifications in 
every State. State agencies are also responsible for updating the 
system, as required at 273.16(i)(2)(i), which includes reporting 
disqualifications in eDRS as they occur and updating eDRS when records 
are no longer accurate, relevant, or complete.

Summary of Estimated Burden

    The burden consists of two major components: the initiation of 
overissuance collection and actions associated with IPV determinations. 
The estimated total annual burden for this collection is 207,833 hours 
(141,506 SA reporting hours + 33,455 SA recordkeeping hours + 32,872 
household reporting hours). The net aggregate change to this collection 
is an increase of 41,487 total burden hours from the currently approved 
burden of 166,346 hours. The burden hours associated with overissuance 
collection initiation have increased due to an increase in the amount 
of claims established in fiscal year (FY) 2012. The burden hours 
associated with IPV activity have decreased slightly as a result of a 
decreased number of SNAP households that States initiated IPV activity 
against in FY 2012.
Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal government (SA); Individual/
Households (I/H),
Respondent Type: SNAP participants

SA Reporting Burden

Estimated Number of Respondents: 53
Estimate Total Number of Responses per Respondent: 20,660.730
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 1,095,018
Estimated Time per Response: 0.12923
Estimated Total Annual Reporting Burden: 141,506.314

Initiation of Overissuance Collection

    For activities related to initiating collection on an overissuance, 
the estimated annual burden for State agency reporting is increased by 
30,616 hours (122,339 - 91,723 = 30,616).

IPV Determinations

    The State agencies' annual reporting burden for activities related 
to IPV hearing and disqualification notices decreased by -2,367 hours 
(15,381 - 13,014 = -2,367), and activities associated with accessing 
and updating eDRS decreased by -1,122 hours (7,275 - 6,153 = -1,122).

SA Recordkeeping Burden

Estimated Number of Recordkeepers: 53
Estimated Total Records per Recordkeeper: 18,938.606
Estimated Total Annual Records: 1,003,746
Estimated Average # of Hours per Response: 0.03333
Estimated Total Recordkeeping Hours: 33,454.854

Initiation of Overissuance Collection

    For activities related to initiating collection on an overissuance, 
we are increasing the estimated annual burden for State agency 
recordkeeping by 7,652 hours (30,583 - 22,931 = 7,652).

IPV Determinations

    States' annual recordkeeping burden for the IPV related activities 
decreased by -523 burden hours (3,395 - 2,872 = -523). There are no 
State agency recordkeeping requirements for eDRS.

I/H Reporting Burden

Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,030,013
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.0
Total Number of Annual Responses: 1,030,013
Estimated Time per Response: 0.03191
Estimated Total Annual Reporting Burden: 32,872.537

Initiation of Overissuance Collection

    For activities related to initiating collection on an overissuance, 
we are increasing the household reporting burden by 7,652 hours (30,583 
- 22,931 = 7,652).

IPV Hearing Notices and Disqualifications

    The household annual reporting burden for the activities related to 
IPV disqualifications has also decreased by -420 hours (2,710 - 2,290 = 
-420). There is no household reporting burden for eDRS.
Grand Total Burden Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden: 207,833.705

[[Page 15938]]



                                                                                 State Agency--Reporting Burden
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                                                                                                  Estimated avg.
                                 CFR Section of     Estimated      Responses per   Total annual      number of       Estimated      Previously    Due to program     Due to an         Total
             Title                regulations         number        respondent       responses       hours per      total hours      approved         change        adjustment      difference
                                                   respondents                      (Col. DxE)       response       (Col. FxG)
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Demand Letter for Overissuance     273.18(a)(2)               53       17,312.57      917,566.00         0.13333     122,339.075      91,722.931           0.000      30,616.144      30,616.144
Notice for Hearing or              273.16(e)(3)               53          825.34       43,743.00         0.13333       5,832.254       6,892.361           0.000      -1,060.107      -1,060.107
 Prosecution..................
Action Taken on Hearing or         273.16(e)(9)               53          800.70       42,437.00         0.16667       7,072.975       8,362.665           0.000      -1,289.690      -1,289.690
 Court Decision: For IPV
 Findings.....................
Action Taken on Hearing or         273.16(e)(9)               53           24.64        1,306.00         0.08333         108.829         126.328           0.000         -17.499         -17.499
 Court Decision: For No IPV
 Findings.....................
Electronic Disqualified         273.16(i)(2)(i)               53          800.70       42,437.00         0.08333       3,536.275       4,181.483           0.000        -645.208        -645.208
 Recipient System Breakout:
 For eDRS Reporting...........
Electronic Disqualified         273.16(i)(2)(i)               53           96.08        5,092.00         0.16667         848.684       1,003.520           0.000        -154.836        -154.836
 Recipient System Breakout:                   )
 For Editing and Resubmission.
Electronic Disqualified            273.16(i)(4)               53          800.70       42,437.00         0.04167       1,768.222       2,090.717           0.000        -322.495        -322.495
 Recipient System Breakout:
 For Penalty Checks using
 Mainframe....................
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    Total State Agency          ...............               53      20,660.730   1,095,018.000         0.12923     141,506.314     114,380.005           0.000      27,126.309      27,126.309
     Reporting Burden.........
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                                                                                          Recordkeeping
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             Title                    Estimated      Records per  Annual records  Estimated avg.       Estimated      Previously  Due to program       Due to an           Total
                                         number     recordkeeper                       number of    total annual        approved          change      adjustment      difference
                                  recordkeepers                                        hours per         records
                                                                                         records
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Recordkeeping Breakout: For            272.1(f)               53       17,312.57      917,566.00         0.03333      30,582.475      22,930.504           0.000       7,651.971       7,651.971
 initiating Collection Action.
Recordkeeping Breakout: For            272.1(f)               53        1,626.04       86,180.00         0.03333       2,872.379       3,395.699           0.000        -523.320        -523.320
 IPVs.........................
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    Total State Agency          ...............               53      18,938.606   1,003,746.000         0.03333      33,454.854      26,326.203           0.000       7,128.651       7,128.651
     Recordkeeping Burden.....
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                                                                                                  Estimated avg.
                                 CFR section of     Estimated      Responses per   Total annual      number of       Estimated      Previously    Due to program     Due to an         Total
                                  regulations         number        respondent       responses       hours per      total hours      approved         change        adjustment      difference
                                                   respondents                                       response
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        TOTAL STATE AGENCY      ...............               53      39,599.321   2,098,764.000         0.08336     174,961.168     140,706.208           0.000      34,254.960      34,254.960
         BURDEN...............
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             Title                                     Estimated   Responses per    Total annual  Estimated avg.       Estimated      Previously  Due to program       Due to an           Total
                                                          number      respondent       responses       number of     total hours        approved          change      adjustment      difference
                                                     respondents                      (Col. DxE)       hours per      (Col. FxG)
                                                                                                        response
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                                                                                            HOUSEHOLD
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                                                                                        Reporting Burden
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Demand Letter for Overissuance     273.18(a)(2)       917,566.00            1.00      917,566.00         0.03333      30,582.475      22,930.504           0.000       7,651.971       7,651.971
Notice for Hearing or              273.16(e)(3)        43,743.00            1.00       43,743.00        0.016667         729.065         861.532           0.000        -132.467        -132.467
 Prosecution..................
Administrative                     273.16(f)(2)        18,112.00            1.00       18,112.00         0.03333         603.673         711.062           0.000        -107.389        -107.389
 Disqualification Hearing
 Waiver.......................
Disqualification Consent           273.16(f)(2)         6,849.00            1.00        6,849.00         0.03333         228.277         275.706           0.000         -47.429         -47.429
 Agreement....................
Action Taken on Hearing or         273.16(e)(9)        42,437.00            1.00       42,437.00        0.016667         707.281         836.297           0.000        -129.016        -129.016
 Court Decision: For IPV
 Findings.....................
Action Taken on Hearing or         273.16(e)(9)         1,306.00            1.00        1,306.00        0.016667          21.767          25.266           0.000          -3.499          -3.499
 Court Decision: For No IPV
 Findings.....................
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[[Page 15939]]

 
    Total Household Reporting   ...............        1,030,013         1.00000   1,030,013.000         0.03191      32,872.537      25,640.367           0.000       7,232.170       7,232.170
     Burden...................
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                                                                                        SUMMARY OF BURDEN
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    State Agency Level........  ...............               53  ..............   2,098,764.000  ..............     174,961.168     140,706.208           0.000      34,254.960      34,254.960
    Household.................  ...............        1,030,013  ..............   1,030,013.000  ..............      32,872.537      25,640.367           0.000       7,232.170       7,232.170
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        TOTAL BURDEN THIS       ...............        1,030,066         3.03745   3,128,777.000         0.06643     207,833.705     166,346.575           0.000      41,487.130      41,487.130
         COLLECTION...........
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[[Page 15940]]

     Dated: March 14, 2014.
Audrey Rowe,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-06282 Filed 3-21-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P