[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 137 (Friday, July 17, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42546-42547]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17565]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

[OMB Number 1123-0011]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection 
eComments Requested; Revision and Extension of a Currently Approved 
Collection; Department of Justice Equitable Sharing Agreement and 
Certification

AGENCY:  Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section, Department of 
Justice.

ACTION:  60-day notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Justice (DOJ), Criminal Division, Asset 
Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section, will be submitting the 
following information collection request to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted for 60 days until 
September 15, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have additional comments 
especially on the estimated public burden or associated response time, 
suggestions, or need a copy of the proposed information collection 
instrument with instructions or additional information, please contact 
Jennifer Bickford, Acting Assistant Deputy Chief, Asset Forfeiture and 
Money Laundering Section, 1400 New York Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20005 (phone: 202-514-1263).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Written comments and suggestions from the 
public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of 
information are encouraged. Your comments should address one or more of 
the following four points:

--Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary 
for the proper performance of the functions of the Bureau of Justice

[[Page 42547]]

Statistics, 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;
--Evaluate whether and if so how the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected can be enhanced; and
--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, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses.

Overview of This Information Collection

    1. Type of Information Collection: Revision and extension of a 
currently approved collection of the Department of Justice Equitable 
Sharing Agreement and Certification, a previously approved collection 
for which approval will expire on January 31, 2018.
    2. The Title of the Form/Collection: Department of Justice 
Equitable Sharing Agreement and Certification.
    3. The agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of 
the Department sponsoring the collection: There is not an agency form 
number. The applicable component within the Department of Justice is 
the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section, in the Criminal 
Division.
    4. Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as 
well as a brief abstract:
    The Attorney General is required by statute to ``assure that any 
property transferred to a State or local law enforcement agency . . . 
will serve to encourage further cooperation between the recipient State 
or local agency and Federal law enforcement agencies.'' 21 U.S.C. 
881(e)(3). The Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section (AFMLS) 
ensures such cooperation by requiring that all such ``equitably 
shared'' funds be used only for law enforcement purposes and not be 
distributed to other governmental agencies by the recipient law 
enforcement agencies. By requiring that law enforcement agencies that 
participate in the Equitable Sharing Program (Program) file an 
Equitable Sharing Agreement and Certification (ESAC), AFMLS can readily 
ensure compliance with its statutory obligations.
    The ESAC requires information regarding the receipt and expenditure 
of Program funds from the participating agency. Accordingly, it seeks 
information that is exclusively in the hands of the participating 
agency.
    5. An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of 
time estimated for an average respondent to respond: An estimated 7,600 
state and local law enforcement agencies electronically file the ESAC 
annually with AFMLS. It is estimated that it takes 30 minutes per year 
to enter the information. All of the approximately 7,600 agencies must 
fully complete the form each year to maintain compliance and continue 
participation in the Department of Justice Equitable Sharing Program.
    6. An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated 
with the collection: The estimated public burden associated with this 
collection is 3,800 hours. It is estimated that respondents will take 
30 minutes to complete the form. (7,600 participants x 30 minutes = 
3,800 hours).
    If additional information is required contact: Jerri Murray, 
Department Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice, 
Justice Management Division, Policy and Planning Staff, Two 
Constitution Square, 145 N Street NE., 3E.405B, Washington, DC 20530.

    Dated: July 14, 2015.
Jerri Murray,
Department Clearance Officer for PRA, U.S. Department of Justice.
[FR Doc. 2015-17565 Filed 7-16-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4410-14-P