[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 58 (Thursday, March 26, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15990-15991]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06883]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

U.S. Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Current 
Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before May 26, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Aaron Cantu, U.S. Census Bureau, DSD/CPS HQ-
7H108D, Washington, DC 20233-8400, (301) 763-3806 (or via the Internet 
at [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau plans to request clearance for the collection of 
data concerning the Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) to be 
conducted in conjunction with the February, March, and April Current 
Population Survey (CPS). The Census Bureau has conducted this 
supplement annually for more than 50 years. The Census Bureau and the 
Bureau of Labor Statistics sponsor this supplement.
    The ASEC data collection underwent a transition period from 2013 to 
2015, in which it was redesigned to include a new series of questions 
relating to (1) income; and (2) health insurance. For 2016, the data 
collection questions and design will remain unchanged from the previous 
year.
    For this data collection, information on work experience, personal 
income, noncash benefits, current and previous year health insurance 
coverage, employer-sponsored insurance take-up, and migration is 
collected. The work experience items in the ASEC provide a unique 
measure of the dynamic nature of the labor force as viewed over a one-
year period. These items produce statistics that show movements in and 
out of the labor force by measuring the number of periods of 
unemployment experienced by people, the number of different employers 
worked for during the year, the principal reasons for unemployment, and 
part-/full-time attachment to the labor force. We can make indirect 
measurements of discouraged workers and others with a casual attachment 
to the labor market.
    The income data from the ASEC are used by social planners, 
economists, government officials, and market researchers to gauge the 
economic well-being of the country as a whole, and selected population 
groups of interest. Government planners and researchers use these data 
to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of various assistance 
programs. Market researchers use these data to identify and isolate 
potential customers. Social planners use these data to forecast 
economic conditions and to identify special groups that seem to be 
especially sensitive to economic fluctuations. Economists use ASEC data 
to determine the effects of various economic forces, such as inflation, 
recession, recovery, and so on, and their differential effects on 
various population groups.
    A prime statistic of interest is the classification of people in 
poverty and how this measurement has changed over time for various 
groups. Researchers evaluate ASEC income data not only to determine 
poverty levels but also to determine whether government programs are 
reaching eligible households.
    The ASEC also contains questions related to: (1) Medical 
expenditures; (2) presence and cost of a mortgage on property; (3) 
child support payments; and (4) amount of child care assistance 
received. These questions enable analysts and policymakers to obtain 
better estimates of family and household income, and more precisely 
gauge poverty status.

II. Method of Collection

    The ASEC information will be collected by both personal visit and 
telephone interviews in conjunction with the regular February, March 
and April CPS interviewing. All interviews are conducted using 
computer-assisted interviewing.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0354.
    Form Number: There are no forms. We conduct all interviewing on 
computers.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 78,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 25 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 32,500.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: There are no costs to the respondents 
other than their time to answer the CPS questions.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, section 182; and 
title 29, United States Code, sections 1-9.

[[Page 15991]]

    This information collection request may be viewed at 
www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view Department of Commerce 
collections currently under review by OMB.

IV. Request for Comments

    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 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(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 respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: March 20, 2015.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-06883 Filed 3-25-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-07-P