[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8212-8213]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-01570]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

[OMB Number 1121-0314]


Bureau of Justice Statistics; Agency Information Collection 
Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Extension Without 
Change, of a Previously Approved Collection Firearm Inquiry Statistics 
(FIST) Program

AGENCY: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Department of Justice.

ACTION: 60-Day notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY:  The Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs, 
Bureau of Justice Statistics, 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 
March 27, 2017.

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 
Allina D. Lee, Statistical Policy Advisor, Bureau of Justice 
Statistics, 810 Seventh Street NW., Washington, DC 20531 (phone: 202-
305-2696).

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 
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

[[Page 8213]]

or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses.

Overview of This Information Collection

    1. Type of Information Collection: Extension of a currently 
approved collection.
    2. The Title of the Form/Collection: 2016 Firearm Inquiry 
Statistics Program: Annual Survey of Background Checks for Firearm 
Transfers and Permits.
    3. The agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of 
the Department sponsoring the collection: There is no agency form 
number at this time. The applicable component within the Department of 
Justice is the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in the Office of Justice 
Programs.
    4. Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as 
well as a brief abstract: Through the Firearm Inquiry Statistics (FIST) 
Program, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) obtains information 
from state and local checking agencies responsible for maintaining 
records on the number of background checks for firearm transfers or 
permits that were issued, processed, tracked, or conducted during the 
calendar year. Specifically, state and local checking agencies are 
asked to provide information on the number of applications and denials 
for firearm transfers received or tracked by the agency, and reasons 
why an application was denied. BJS combines these data with the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) National Instant Criminal Background 
Check System transaction data to produce comprehensive national 
statistics on firearm application and denial activities resulting from 
the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 (the Brady Act) and 
similar state laws governing background checks and firearm transfers. 
BJS also collects information from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, 
Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) on FBI denials screened and referred to 
ATF field offices for investigation and possible prosecution. BJS began 
the FIST program in 1995 and collects FIST data annually. BJS publishes 
FIST data on the BJS Web site in statistical tables and uses the 
information to respond to inquiries from Congress, federal, state, and 
local government officials, researchers, students, the media, and other 
members of the general public interested in in criminal justice 
statistics.
    5. An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of 
time estimated for an average respondent to respond: An estimated 1,044 
checking agencies will take part in the 2016 FIST survey, including the 
34 state agency reporters that provide complete statewide counts of 
applications of firearm transfers or permits and denials, a full census 
of local checking agencies in 9 states where the local agencies are the 
FIST points-of-contact, and a sample of agencies in 3 states where 
local checking agencies are responsible for conducting background 
checks. Based on testing of the current survey form and BJS's extensive 
history conducting the FIST collection, BJS estimates that the burden 
will vary depending on the number of permit or transfer types the 
respondent agency conducts background checks: 20 minutes for agencies 
that conduct background checks for 1 type; 30 minutes for agencies that 
conduct background checks for 2 types; and 30 minutes for state 
reporting agencies. The overall estimated burden is 25 minutes, which 
is consistent with the burden associated with the 3 most recent 
collections (2012, 2014, and 2015).
    6. An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated 
with the collection: The estimated public burden associated with this 
collection is 435 hours annually. It is estimated that respondents will 
take 25 minutes to complete a questionnaire. The burden hours for 
collecting respondent data sum to 435 hours (1,044 respondents x 25 
minutes = 435 hours).
    If additional information is required contact: Melody Braswell, 
Department Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice, 
Justice Management Division, Policy and Planning Staff, Two 
Constitution Square, 145 N Street NE., 3E.405A, Washington, DC 20530.

    Dated: January 18, 2017.
Melody Braswell,
Department Clearance Officer for PRA, U.S. Department of Justice.
[FR Doc. 2017-01570 Filed 1-23-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4410-18-P