[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 131 (Monday, July 9, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31716-31722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-14538]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request: 
Assessment of Mandatory Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 
Employment & Training (E&T) Programs

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA.

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 proposed information collection for the Assessment of Mandatory 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment &Training 
(E&T) Programs. This collection is a new information collection.
    This study will help identify how specific E&T processes and 
services affect a participant's likelihood of participating or being 
sanctioned, with particular attention to potential leakage points, such 
as initial referral, intake, and orientation. This study also will 
describe what data exists on how well mandatory programs help SNAP 
participants gain skills, certificates and credentials and gain stable, 
well-paying employment.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before September 7, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: Jordan Younes, Food and Nutrition 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 
1024, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to 
the attention of Jordan Younes at 703-305-2576 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 responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will 
be a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of this information collection should be directed to Jordan 
Younes at 703-305-2935.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
that were used; (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 those who are to respond, including 
use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Title: Assessment of Mandatory Employment and Training (E&T) 
Programs.
    Form Number: N/A.
    OMB Number: 0584-XXXX.
    Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Abstract: Section 17 [7 U.S.C. 2026] (a)(1) of the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended, provides general legislative 
authority for the planned data collection. It authorizes the Secretary 
of Agriculture to enter into contracts with private institutions to 
undertake research that will help to improve the administration and 
effectiveness of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) 
in delivering nutrition-related benefits.
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service 
(FNS) has funded the Assessment of Mandatory E&T Programs to examine 
program features and administrative practices of mandatory State SNAP 
E&T programs

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and assess how those features and practices may affect E&T 
participation, sanctions, and outcomes for mandatory E&T participants. 
While the intent of the mandatory E&T program is to assist SNAP 
participants in ``gaining skills, trainings, or experience that will 
increase their ability to obtain regular employment,'' little is known 
about whether or how specific E&T processes and services affect a 
participant's likelihood of participating or being sanctioned. In 
particular, little is known on whether complex intake or referral 
processes, rather than a lack of interest in participating in E&T, may 
negatively impact participation in mandatory programs. This study also 
seeks to understand what data exists on how well mandatory programs 
help SNAP participants gain skills, certificates, and credentials as 
well as stable, good-paying jobs. The findings from this study will 
identify lessons learned and best practices for operating mandatory E&T 
programs.
    To address these issues, FNS is conducting a study to accomplish 
three objectives:
    1. Understand the process for screening and notifying participants 
and enrolling them in mandatory E&T programs.
    2. Determine the main reasons why mandatory E&T participants are 
sanctioned, with particular attention to program drop-off points that 
result in sanctions.
    3. Assess how well mandatory programs help SNAP E&T participants 
gain skills, certificates, and credentials; gain stable, well-paying 
employment; and move toward economic self-sufficiency.
    The study will gather data through site visits to six States 
operating mandatory E&T programs and from administrative caseload data. 
Data will be collected in each of the six study States through: (1) 
Interviews with the State SNAP director and E&T manager; (2) in-person 
interviews, process-mapping group discussions, and observations at two 
local SNAP offices; and (3) in-person interviews and observations at 
three local E&T providers. These data will provide information on 
overall State policies, client flow through the process, and staff 
perspectives on the effects of different practices on participation and 
sanctions. SNAP administrative caseload data will also be requested 
from the six study States, and if available, from E&T providers to 
obtain quantitative data to complement the interviews. Administrative 
data will be used to examine the characteristics of mandatory E&T 
participants in each State and to assess the E&T services, sanctions, 
case closures, and other outcomes associated with their E&T 
participation.
    Affected Public: (1) State, Local and Tribal Governments; (2) 
Business or Other For-Profit; and (3) Not-For-Profit.
    Respondent groups identified include:
    1. State, Local, and Tribal Government: State SNAP directors, State 
E&T managers, State database administrators, and State E&T provider 
staff and database administrators in six study States \1\; and Local 
SNAP office staff in six study States;
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    \1\ The study assumes information will be collected from 6 
States. Information will be collected from 1 State SNAP agency per 
State for a total of 6 State offices; 2 local SNAP offices per State 
for a total of 12 local offices; and 3 E&T providers per State for a 
total of 18 E&T provider organizations. The 3 E&T providers are 
assumed to be a mix of State, Business or Other For-Profit, and Not-
For-Profit organizations (i.e., 1 State, 1 For-Profit, and 1 Not-
For-Profit E&T provider per State). Interviews will be conducted 
with all 3 of the E&T providers in each State (i.e., interviews will 
be conducted with staff at a total of 18 E&T providers), but only 1 
of the 3 E&T providers will provide administrative data in each 
State (i.e., data files will be obtained from a total of 6 E&T 
providers comprised of 2 State, 2 Business, and 2 Not-For-Profit E&T 
providers). The 3 E&T providers in each State will indicate which 1 
will provide administrative data in the initial contact with the E&T 
provider.
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    2. Business or Other For-Profit: Business E&T provider staff and 
database administrators in six study States;
    3. Not-For-Profit: Not-For-Profit E&T provider staff and database 
administrators in six study States
    Note that the E&T providers are assumed to be a mix of State, 
Business or Other For-Profit, and Not-For-Profit organizations (i.e., 1 
State, 1 For-Profit, and 1 Not-For-Profit E&T provider per State).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of 
respondents is 147 (includes 101 State and Local Government staff, 23 
Business or Other For-Profit staff, and 23 Not-For-Profit staff). Out 
of the 147 contacted, 138 are estimated to be responsive and 9 are 
estimated to be nonresponsive. The breakout is as follows:
    1. 101 State and Local Government staff: (out of 12 State SNAP 
staff contacted, 12 are estimated to be responsive; out of 6 State 
database administrators contacted, 6 are estimated to be responsive; 
out of 23 State E&T provider staff contacted, 20 are estimated to be 
responsive; out of 60 Local office staff contacted, 60 are estimated to 
be responsive.)
    2. 23 Business or Other For-Profit staff: (out of 23 Business E&T 
provider staff contacted, 20 are estimated to be responsive.)
    3. 23 Not-For-Profit staff: (out of 23 Not-For-Profit E&T provider 
staff contacted, 20 are estimated to be responsive.)
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.5714 (based on 231 
total annual responses (222 responsive and 9 nonresponsive) made by the 
147 respondents (138 responsive and 9 nonresponsive). See table below 
for the estimated number of responses per respondent for each type of 
respondent.
    The breakout is as follows:
    1. State SNAP Staff: The estimated number of responses per State 
SNAP staff is 1.5:
     6 State SNAP directors will respond to advance materials 
and scheduling; the same 6 State SNAP directors plus 6 additional State 
E&T managers will take part in an interview.
    2. State Database Administrators: The estimated number of responses 
per State Database Administrator is two:
     6 State SNAP database administrators will respond to 
advance materials and scheduling; the same 6 State SNAP database 
administrators will submit an administrative data file.
    3. State E&T Provider Staff: The estimated number of responses per 
State E&T provider staff is 1.4:
     6 State E&T provider staff will respond to advance 
materials and scheduling, the same 6 E&T provider staff plus 12 
additional E&T provider staff will take part in an interview (3 other 
State E&T provider staff will not respond).
     2 State E&T provider database administrators will respond 
to advance materials and scheduling; the same 2 State SNAP database 
administrators will submit an administrative data file.
    4. Local SNAP Office Staff: The estimated number of responses per 
Local SNAP office staff is 1.8:
     12 Local SNAP office staff will respond to advance 
materials and scheduling, the same 12 Local SNAP office staff plus 24 
additional Local SNAP office staff will take part in an interview; 36 
of the Local SNAP office staff plus 24 additional Local SNAP office 
staff will take part in a group mapping exercise.
    5. Business E&T Provider Staff: The estimated number of responses 
per Business E&T provider staff is 1.4:
     6 Business E&T provider staff will respond to advance 
materials and scheduling, the same 6 Business E&T provider staff plus 
12 additional Business E&T provider staff will take part in an 
interview (3 other Business E&T provider staff will not respond).
     2 Business E&T provider database administrators will 
respond to advance materials and scheduling; the same 2

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Business SNAP database administrators will submit an administrative 
data file.
    6. Not-For-Profit E&T Provider Staff: The estimated number of 
responses per Not-For-Profit E&T provider staff is 1.4:
     6 Not-For-Profit E&T provider staff will respond to 
advance materials and scheduling, the same 6 Not-For-Profit E&T 
provider staff plus 12 additional Not-For-Profit E&T provider staff 
will take part in an interview (3 other Not-For-Profit E&T provider 
staff will not respond).
     2 Not-For-Profit E&T provider database administrators will 
respond to advance materials and scheduling; the same 2 Not-For-Profit 
SNAP database administrators will submit an administrative data file.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 230.9958 (222 annual responses 
for responsive participants and 9 annual responses for nonresponsive 
participants).
    Estimated Time per Response: 1.33047619 hours (1.38239 hours for 
responsive participants and 0.45 hours for nonresponsive participants). 
The estimated time of response varies from 0.05 hours to 8.7 hours 
depending on respondent group and activity, as shown in the table 
below.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 307.34 hours (306.89 
hours for responsive participants, and 0.45 hours for nonresponsive 
participants). See the table below for estimated total annual burden 
for each type of respondent.
 BILLING CODE 3410-30-P

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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN09JY18.000


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    Dated: June 28, 2018.
Brandon Lipps,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-14538 Filed 7-6-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-30-C