[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 203 (Friday, October 19, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53062-53063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-22751]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Community Living


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Public Comment Request; Independent Living Services Program Performance 
Report (0985-0043)

AGENCY: Administration for Community Living, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is announcing an 
opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed collection of 
information listed above. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(the PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish a notice in the 
Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, 
including each proposed extension of an existing collection of 
information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the 
notice.
    This proposed Extension with Changes of a Currently Approved 
Collection (ICR Rev) solicits comments on the information collection 
requirements relating to the Independent Living Services (ILS) program 
under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 701, et seq.

DATES: Comments on the information collection request must be submitted 
electronically by 11:59 p.m. (EST) or postmarked by December 18, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit electronic comments on the information collection 
request to: Peter Nye at [email protected]. Submit written comments 
on the collection of information to Administration for Community 
Living, Washington, DC 20201, Attention: Peter Nye.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Nye, Administration for 
Community Living, Washington, DC 20201, (202) 795-7606 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal 
agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. 
``Collection of information'' is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 
1320.3(c) and includes agency requests or requirements that members of 
the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a 
third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) 
requires Federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal 
Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including 
each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, 
before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with 
this requirement, ACL is publishing a notice of the proposed collection 
of information set forth in this document.
    With respect to the following collection of information, ACL 
invites comments on our burden estimates or any other aspect of this 
collection of information, including:
    (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of ACL's functions, including whether the 
information will have practical utility;
    (2) the accuracy of ACL's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used to determine burden estimates;
    (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 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques when appropriate, and other forms of information technology.
    In the context of ACL, IL programs are supported through funding 
authorized by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (The Act). 
Title VII, chapter 1 of the Act states the current purpose of the 
program is to ``promote a philosophy of independent living including a 
philosophy of consumer control, peer support, self-help, self-
determination, equal access, and individual and system advocacy, in 
order to maximize the leadership, empowerment, independence, and 
productivity of individuals with disabilities, and the integration and 
full inclusion of individuals with disabilities into the mainstream of 
American society.''
    The ILS program provides financial assistance, through formula 
grants, to states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and outlying 
areas for providing, expanding, and improving the provision of IL 
services. The Designated State Entity (DSE) is the agency that, on 
behalf of the state, receives, accounts for, and disburses funds 
received under Subchapter B of the Act. Funds are also made available 
for the provisions of training and technical assistance to SILCs.
    The Act of 1973 requires three IL program reports: (1) State Plan 
for Independent Living, (2) ILS PPR, and (3) Centers for Independent 
Living PPR. The ILS PPR and CIL PPR were previously combined into one 
submission. However, for the purposes of this data collection, the ILS 
PPR and CIL PPR are being submitted separately because they are 
separate collections of different information from different parties. 
Separating these PRA processes reduces confusion and increases the 
Independent Living Administration's ability to identify issues specific 
to DSEs and SILCs. This request is for the ILS PPR, which is submitted 
annually by the Statewide Independent Living Council and DSE in every 
state that receives Subchapter B funds. The ILS PPRs are used by ACL to 
assess grantees' compliance with title VII of the Act, with 45 CFR part 
1329 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and with applicable provisions 
of the HHS Regulations at 45 CFR part 75. The ILS PPR serves as the 
primary basis for ACL's monitoring activities in fulfillment of its 
responsibilities under sections 706 and 722 of the Act. The PPR is also 
used by ACL to design CIL and SILC training and technical assistance 
programs authorized by section 721 of the Act.
    The current version of the ILS PPR that ILA is requesting an 
extension for was approved by OMB, but will expire on December 31, 
2018. ILA plans to

[[Page 53063]]

publish a revised ILS program data collection instrument and 
instructions prior to the expiration of the extension request.
    The proposed data collection tools may be found on the ACL website 
for review at https://www.acl.gov/about-acl/public-input.

Estimated Program Burden

    ACL estimates the burden of this collection of information as 
follows: Fifty-six jurisdictions--specifically, the fifty states, 
Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and the outlying areas--will 
each complete ILS PPRs annually, and it will take an estimated 35 hours 
per jurisdiction per ILS PPR. The 56 jurisdictions combined will take 
an estimated 1,960 hours per year to complete ILS PPRs. This burden 
estimate is based on what DSEs and SILCs have told ILA about how long 
filling out ILS PPRs took in previous reporting years.

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                                                    Number of     Responses per      Hours per     Annual burden
      Respondent/data collection activity          respondents      respondent       response          hours
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SILCs and DSEs.................................              56      1 (for each              35           1,960
                                                                    SILC and DSE
                                                                       combined)
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    Total......................................              56                1              35           1,960
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    Dated: October 9, 2018.
Mary Lazare,
Principal Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2018-22751 Filed 10-18-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4154-01-P