[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