[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 102 (Tuesday, May 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24659-24664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-11029]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Assessment of States' Use of Computer Matching 
Protocols in SNAP

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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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 this NEW information collection request. This study will conduct a 
census of all 53 State Agencies that administer the Supplemental 
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to catalog and describe how States 
are currently using or planning to use computer matching strategies to 
reduce recipient fraud, payment errors, and administrative burden for 
both applicants and eligibility workers.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before July 31, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Comments are invited on (1) 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; (2) 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; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) 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 Danielle Deemer, Office of Policy Support, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, 3101 Park 
Center Drive, Room 10.1008, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be 
submitted via fax to the attention of Danielle Deemer at 703-305-2952 
or via email to [email protected]. Comments will also be 
accepted 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 
office of the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) during regular business 
hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) at 3101 Park 
Center Drive, Room 10.1008, Alexandria, VA 22302.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. All 
comments will be a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the proposed information collection forms should be directed 
to Danielle Deemer at 703-305-2952.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Assessment of States' Use of Computer Matching Protocols in 
SNAP.
    Form Number: Not applicable.
    OMB Number: 0584--NEW.
    Expiration Date: Not yet determined.
    Type of Request: New information collection request.
    Abstract: Almost all Federal and State programs use computer data 
matching to determine or verify eligibility for benefits. For SNAP, 
States also use computer data matching to ensure program integrity. In 
order to receive SNAP, households must meet financial and non-financial 
eligibility criteria and provide information and verification about 
their household circumstances. State Agencies administering SNAP use 
data matching to verify information submitted at the application and 
recertification stages of an application process and to monitor changes 
in benefit recipients' household circumstances. This information 
collection will build on existing knowledge 1 2 3 by 
conducting an assessment of computer matching capabilities and 
activities to describe the data matches, systems, purposes, and 
administrative costs in each State agency and the challenges facing 
States and counties in effective data matching.
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    \1\ Borden, William S., and Robbi L. Ruben-Urm. (2002, January). 
``An Assessment of Computer Matching in the Food Stamp Program.'' 
Final Report. Alexandria, VA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food 
and Nutrition Service.
    \2\ U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2014). 
``Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Enhanced Detection 
Tools and Reporting Could Improve Efforts to Combat Recipient 
Fraud'', GAO-14-641, a report to Ranking Member, Committee on the 
Budget, U.S. Senate.
    \3\ U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2016). ``More 
Information on Promising Practices Could Enhance States' Use of Data 
Matching for Eligibility'', GAO-17-222, a report to the Chairman, 
Committee on Agriculture, House of Representatives.
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    The primary purpose of this study is to assess the computer 
matching strategies used by State Agencies and to prepare an updated 
nationwide data-matching inventory to inform effective practices for 
SNAP.
    This project has four research objectives:
    1. To inventory all data matches that State SNAP offices currently 
use and plan to use in the future.
    2. To identify and describe all data systems used for matching by 
each SNAP State agency. Such systems include automated systems, web-
based systems, and/or software that integrate data from multiple 
sources.
    3. To identify and describe the purposes for which States pursue 
each data match.
    4. To calculate the annual and per-usage costs incurred in carrying 
out data matches, in total and, when possible, for each individual 
match.
    To address the study objectives, three types of data will be 
collected and analyzed: (1) Extant documentation on State data-matching 
procedures; (2) extant documentation on administrative costs of data 
matching; and (3) survey data on all 53 State agencies collected via 
the National Survey of State SNAP Data-Matching Methods. The study will 
result in both a report for public release and a database that catalogs 
data matches and can be updated on an ongoing basis.
    Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal government: Respondent 
group types identified includes: (1) 53 administrative staff at the 
State level and (2) 350 administrative staff at the county level.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 403 State, Local or Tribal 
Respondents (53 State Agencies and 350 County/Local SNAP Staff 
members). The National Survey of State SNAP Data-Matching Methods will 
be a self-administered web survey that will include all 50 States, the 
District of Columbia, and two territories (U.S. Virgin Islands and 
Guam). We anticipate a 100 percent response rate to the State portion 
of the survey. There are 350 County/Local SNAP Staff members and we 
anticipate 50 percent response rate for their portion of the survey. 
The estimates are delineated in Table 1.
    Of the 53 State agencies, 43 administer SNAP at the State level and 
10 administer SNAP at the county level. Therefore, the survey will also 
collect data at the county level from the 10 States that have county-
administered SNAP to account for variations in processes and procedures 
at the county level. Due to the many and varied systems States use to 
match data for initial and continuing program eligibility, 
participation, and integrity checks, we anticipate that any particular 
State with county-administered SNAP could have multiple county/local 
respondents who can best answer system, process, technical, and cost-
related questions. We estimate that about half of the 10 States with 
county-administered SNAP will ask county administrators to complete the 
sections of the survey about county-level processes and procedures.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: All administrative 
staff at the State level and administrative staff at the county level 
will be asked to participate in one survey--the National Survey of 
State SNAP Data-Matching Methods. The survey will be web-based and will 
be completed by the respondents in a secured web portal.

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    Estimated Number of Total Annual Responses: FNS anticipates 403 
estimated total number of annual responses. We anticipate 228 responses 
and 175 non-responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: The response times vary depending on 
the respondent type identified for county respondents. The time ranges 
from approximately 15 minutes (0.25), approximately 24 minutes (0.4008) 
and approximately 42 minutes (0.7014). The breakout is in Table 1.
    There is a slight difference in the time required for State and 
county staff to complete the survey due to several additional items on 
the State survey. Time per response for State SNAP staff completing the 
state portion of the survey only varies from approximately 20 minutes 
(0.334), approximately 30 minutes (0.50) and approximately 45 minutes 
(0.75). Time per response for counties completing the county portion of 
the survey ranges from approximately 15 minutes (0.25), to 
approximately 24 minutes (0.40), to approximately 42 minutes (0.70). 
The length of time per response for state SNAP staff completing the 
survey for states and counties ranges from approximately 30 minutes 
(0.50), to approximately 60 minutes (1.00), to approximately 72 minutes 
(1.20).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents and Non-Respondents: 
The total estimated annual burden for respondents is approximately 
135.55 burden hours (117.05 hours for respondents and 17.50 for non-
respondents) which includes the amount of time to read an email, review 
a few questions, and decide to exit the survey.
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P

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    Dated: May 18, 2017.
Jessica Shahin,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-11029 Filed 5-26-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-30-P