[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 168 (Wednesday, August 29, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 44055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-18760]
[[Page 44055]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
Proposed Projects
Title: Request for Certification for Adult Victims of Human
Trafficking.
OMB No.: 0970-0454.
Description: The Trafficking Victims Protection Act, Public Law
106-386 (TVPA) requires the Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) to certify adult alien (``foreign'') victims of severe forms of
trafficking in persons (``human trafficking'') who are willing to
assist law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of human
trafficking, unless unable to cooperate due to physical or
psychological trauma, and who have either made a bona fide application
for T nonimmigrant status that has not been denied or been granted
Continued Presence (CP) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
(DHS). The Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) within the HHS
Administration for Children and Families issues HHS Certification
Letters that grant adult foreign victims of human trafficking
eligibility for federal and state benefits and services to the same
extent as refugees.
In general, OTIP initiates the certification process when it
receives a notice from DHS that DHS has granted a foreign victim of
trafficking CP or T nonimmigrant status, or has determined an
application for T nonimmigrant status is bona fide. To issue HHS
Certification Letters, it is necessary for OTIP to collect information
from a victim, or a victim's representative, such as an attorney, case
manager, or law enforcement victim specialist, including an address to
send the HHS Certification Letter.
OTIP will ask if the victim is in need of a case management
services and the current location (city, state) of the victim, and
refer the victim to an appropriate service provider in his or her area,
if requested. OTIP will also ask about the victim's primary language
and urgent concerns, such as medical care or housing, and transmit this
information to the service provider with the victim's consent.
Finally, OTIP collects information, such as the victim's sex and
the type of human trafficking the victim experienced, to provide to
Congress in an annual report on U.S. Government activities to combat
trafficking that is prepared by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Congress requires HHS and other appropriate Federal agencies to report,
at a minimum, information on the number of persons who received
benefits or other services under subsections (b) and (f) of section
7105 of Title 22 of the U.S. Code in connection with programs or
activities funded or administered by HHS. HHS includes in these annual
reports additional aggregate information that it collects about the
victims when assisting each victim to obtain certification or
eligibility.
Previously, OTIP collected HHS Certification information via email.
However, as email is not a secure means of transfer, OTIP developed the
form to facilitate the submission of consistent information and improve
program reporting. The provider will fill out the form, and return the
form via password protected email or encryption. OTIP will store this
information and any other details regarding the victim's case in OTIP's
secure database. Other details maintained in the victim's file may
include OTIP staff actions, referrals, and notes regarding the victim's
interest in receiving services. Maintaining victim records within
OTIP's database will ensure efficient service delivery for victims,
allow OTIP staff to track victims' progress toward certification,
verify their eligibility for benefits, and organize information for
reporting aggregate data to Congress.
Respondents: Nongovernmental entities providing social or legal
services, or victim/survivors of trafficking may use this form to
submit a request for certification. The use of this form is optional;
the victim or his/her representative has the option to make a request
for certification via telephone.
Annual Burden Estimates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Average
Instrument Number of responses per burden hours Total burden
respondents respondent per response hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trafficking Victims Tracking System form........ 800 1 .25 200
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 200.
In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chap 35), the Administration for
Children and Families is soliciting public comment on the specific
aspects of the information collection described above. Copies of the
proposed collection of information can be obtained and comments may be
forwarded by writing to the Administration for Children and Families,
Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, 33 C Street SW,
Washington, DC 20201. Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. Email
address: [email protected]. All requests should be identified
by the title of the information collection.
The Department specifically requests comments 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; (c) 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.
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted
within 60 days of this publication.
Robert Sargis,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-18760 Filed 8-28-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-47-P