[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 237 (Wednesday, December 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73281-73282]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-28912]


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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE


Information Collection; Submission for OMB Review, Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has 
submitted a public information collection request (ICR) entitled 
AmeriCorps Member Exit Questionnaire for review and approval in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, 
(44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). Copies of this ICR, with applicable supporting 
documentation, may be obtained by calling the Corporation for National 
and Community Service, Diana Epstein at 202-606-7564 or email to 
[email protected]. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for 
the deaf (TTY-TDD) may call 1-800-833-3722 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 
p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted, identified by the title of the 
information collection activity, to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Attn: Ms. Sharon Mar, OMB Desk Officer for the 
Corporation for National and Community Service, by any of the following 
two methods within 30 days from the date of publication in the Federal 
Register:
    (1) By fax to: 202-395-6974, Attention: Ms. Sharon Mar, OMB Desk 
Officer for the Corporation for National and Community Service; or
    (2) By email to: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The OMB is particularly interested in 
comments which:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of CNCS, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     Evaluate 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;
     Propose ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity 
of the information to be collected; and
     Propose 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

    A 60-day Notice requesting public comment was published in the 
Federal Register on September 17, 2014. This comment period ended 
November 17, 2014. Two public comments were received from this Notice.
    One commenter suggested engaging state service commissions in the 
survey planning process to avoid duplicating efforts to collect member 
experience data. CNCS engages state service commissions on a regular 
basis.
    The second commenter offered the following suggestions.
    Survey Question 3a. Public comment: Recommend spelling out the 
acronyms PSO and CTI. CNCS response: This change was discussed with our 
working group and with pilot respondents participating in cognitive 
interviewing, but was found not to be needed. Respondents to whom the 
acronyms did not apply simply ignored them.
    Survey Questions 5a, 5b, and 5c. Public comment: Is it truly the 
frequency that you're interested in or whether or not the program 
provided them with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform those 
activities? CNCS response: Though we certainly are interested in 
whether programs are providing members with the training and 
opportunities needed to develop these skills, we chose to assess 
frequency of skill usage
    Survey Question 6. Public comment: Item a, when referencing co-
worker are you referring to a fellow AmeriCorps member or other 
employees at the service location? CNCS response: Co-worker could refer 
to any individual in a service or workplace setting.
    Survey Question 7. Public comment: Do you want the respondent to 
answer this based on their AmeriCorps experience or in general? May 
want to have a lead-in clause similar to question 8. CNCS response: 
Answers to this survey should be based on the member's AmeriCorps 
experience.
    Question 11: Public comment. Although the question specifically 
references discussions with friends and family, a member may believe 
some of the selections within this question are leading them to answer 
about potential involvement in prohibited activities.
    If trying to assess whether or not AmeriCorps has led them to be 
more civically engaged in the last 12 months, might want to rephrase 
the introduction statement/question. CNCS response: We have eliminated 
all questions referencing potentially prohibited activities.
    Question 18. Public comment: Item c, may want to add a few examples 
or a national nonprofit (e.g., Red Cross, City Year, etc.) or change 
language to ask about affiliation with the legal applicant as not all 
program operators are nonprofits. CNCS response: Since we did not 
uncover confusion in our cognitive interviews or qualitative analysis, 
we decided not to add examples.
    Question 19. Public comment: Is it beneficial to add a selection 
for VISTA members that elect to receive the cash stipend in lieu of an 
education award? CNCS response: Based on feedback from our cognitive 
interviews, this response option has been added.
    Public comment: The commenter also wondered if CNCS was interested 
in knowing about how members' benefits (e.g. childcare or healthcare 
coverage) impacted the service experience or satisfaction. CNCS 
response: This was not indicated as an area of interest by the working 
group or other internal stakeholders, so no questions related to 
benefits will be included in this survey. It is possible that future 
projects or survey supplements could ask about the impact of member 
benefits. Public comment: The commenter also suggested that we include 
a question that could identify the specific states where members 
served, for use in reporting findings for state offices and 
commissions. CNCS response: Rather than include another question in the 
survey, we are exploring mechanisms to connect exit survey data to 
existing data on member service locations.
    Description: CNCS is seeking approval of AmeriCorps Member Exit 
Questionnaire, CNCS seeks to renew the current information collection. 
The questionnaire submitted for clearance is a combination of new and 
existing content from the previously cleared exit questionnaire. The 
new content reflects changing agency and program priorities. In 
addition, some approved questions have been edited to make them easier 
to understand and to provide more useful information for programs. The 
new

[[Page 73282]]

questions include data points on problem-solving and cross-cultural 
communication skills. The information collection will otherwise be used 
in the same manner as the existing application. CNCS also seeks to 
continue using the current application until the revised application is 
approved by OMB.
    Type of Review: Renewal.
    Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service.
    Title: Performance Measurement in AmeriCorps.
    OMB Number: 3045-0094.
    Agency Number: None.
    Affected Public: AmeriCorps members.
    Total Respondents: 80,000.
    Frequency: Annual.
    Average Time per Response: Averages 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 20,000.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): None.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): None.

    Dated: December 4, 2014.
Stephen Plank,
Director, Office of Research and Evaluation.
[FR Doc. 2014-28912 Filed 12-9-14; 8:45 am]
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