[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 67 (Monday, April 8, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13862-13867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-06879]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: The Role of Job Search 
as a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and 
Training (E&T) Component

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 Role of Job Search as a 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and 
Training (E&T) Component. This is a new information collection.
    This study informs the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food 
and Nutrition Service (FNS) about the types of job search activities 
offered through SNAP E&T programs and their effectiveness in moving 
participants toward employment.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before June 7, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Danielle Deemer, Food and Nutrition 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 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) 305-2576 or via email at 
[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.

[[Page 13863]]

    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 Danielle 
Deemer at (703) 305-2576.

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: The Role of Job Search as a Supplemental Nutrition 
Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training (E&T) Component.
    Form Number: N/A.
    OMB Number: 0584-NEW.
    Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.
    Type of Request: New Information Collection Request.
    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 SNAP in delivering nutrition-related benefits.
    USDA FNS has funded The Role of Job Search as a SNAP E&T Component 
to better understand the overall role of job search activities in 
serving SNAP E&T participants and to determine which job search 
activities are most effective in leading SNAP participants to self-
sufficiency. Although all States must operate a SNAP E&T program, they 
have flexibility in its design. For example, States may choose one or 
more of several SNAP E&T components, such as job search, on-the-job 
training, workfare, or vocational training, to offer to SNAP E&T 
participants. Of the possible activities, States most commonly report 
offering job search and job search training. Although studies suggest 
stand-alone job search activities do not lead to long-term self-
sufficiency, little is known about their effect on SNAP participants 
specifically. There is a lack of evidence about how States integrate 
job search activities with other SNAP E&T components, such as education 
or workfare, particularly within the SNAP E&T context, and if it is an 
effective strategy when they do.
    To address these issues, FNS is conducting a study to accomplish 3 
objectives:
    1. Document and describe job search activities offered and State-
level E&T policies and requirements.
    2. Conduct a process evaluation documenting implementation and 
operation of job search activities in the study States.
    3. Conduct an outcome evaluation to assess short- and long-term 
effects of job search activities on participants.
    FNS pre-selected and is recruiting for in-depth case studies 4 
States representing a range of SNAP E&T job search activities. No other 
States will be included in the study. The study will gather data 
through site visits to the 4 States and phone interviews with up to 200 
total current and former SNAP E&T job search participants (individuals/
households) in the study States. The study will also gather SNAP 
administrative caseload data and Unemployment Insurance (UI) quarterly 
wage data from the 4 study States. Data will be collected in each of 
the 4 study States through (1) interviews with the State SNAP director 
and E&T manager; (2) in-person interviews with staff, process-mapping 
group discussions with staff, and observations at 2 Local SNAP offices; 
and (3) in-person staff interviews and observations at 2 Local E&T 
providers (Business-for-not-for-profit). These data will provide 
information on overall State policies, the E&T process and client flow 
through the process, and staff perspectives on the effects of job 
search on participant outcomes. Phone interviews with up to 50 current 
and former SNAP E&T job search participants in each of the 4 study 
States will provide client perspectives on E&T activities and outcomes. 
SNAP administrative caseload data will be used to examine the 
characteristics of E&T participants in each State and will be linked 
with the UI wage data to assess short- and long-term outcomes 
associated with SNAP E&T job search participation.
    Affected Public: (1) State, Local and Tribal Governments; (2) 
Business-for-not-for-Profit; and (3) Individuals/Households.
    Respondent groups identified include the following:

    1. State, Local, and Tribal Government: State SNAP directors, State 
E&T managers, State SNAP database administrators, State UI database 
administrators, and State UI Agency liaisons in each of the 4 study 
States; Local SNAP office staff in each of 4 study States; staff at 3 
State E&T providers; and staff at other stakeholder organizations in 
each of the 4 study States, such as departments of labor \1\
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    \1\ The study assumes information will be collected from 4 
States.
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    2. Business For Profit: Staff at 2 Business E&T providers and Not 
For Profit: Staff at 3 Not-For-Profit E&T providers
    3. Individuals: SNAP Participants in 4 study States

    Note that the E&T providers are assumed to be a mix of State, 
Business for-Profit-not-for-Profit organizations (i.e., 3 State, 2 For-
Profit, and 3 Not-For-Profit E&T providers total).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of 
respondents in the 4 study States is 454 (98 State and Local Government 
staff, 12 Business for-Profit staff, 18 Business not-for-Profit staff, 
and 326 Individuals). Of the 454 contacted, 369 are estimated to be 
responsive and 85 are estimated to be nonresponsive. The breakout 
follows:
    1. 98 State and Local Government staff: All State and local 
government staff contacted in the 4 study States are expected to 
respond; of 8 State SNAP staff contacted, 8 are estimated to be 
responsive; of 4 State database administrators contacted, 4 are 
estimated to be responsive; of 4 UI Agency Database Administrators, 4 
are estimated to be responsive; of 4 UI Agency data usage agreement 
(DUA) Liaisons, 4 are expected to be responsive; of 4 stakeholder staff 
contacted, 4 are expected to be responsive; of 18 State E&T provider 
staff contacted, 18 are estimated to be responsive; of 56 Local office 
staff contacted, 56 are estimated to be responsive.
    2. 12 Business or Other For-Profit staff: Of 12 Business E&T 
provider staff contacted, 12 are estimated to be responsive.
    3. 18 Not-For-Profit staff: Out of 18 Not-For-Profit E&T provider 
staff contacted, 18 are estimated to be responsive.
    4. 326 Individuals: Of 326 individuals contacted, 241 are estimated 
to be responsive and 85 are non-responsive.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.62--based on 735 
total annual responses (625 responsive and

[[Page 13864]]

110 nonresponsive) made by the 454 respondents (369 responsive and 85 
nonresponsive). See table 1 for the estimated number of responses per 
respondent for each type of respondent.
    The breakout follows:
    1. State SNAP Staff: The estimated number of responses per State 
SNAP staff is 2:
     4 State SNAP directors will respond to advance materials 
and scheduling; the same 4 State SNAP directors plus 4 additional State 
E&T managers/directors will take part in interviews. The same 4 State 
E&T managers will complete the administrative cost worksheet.
    2. State SNAP Database Administrators: The estimated number of 
responses per State SNAP Database Administrator is 3:
     4 State SNAP database administrators will respond to 
advance materials and scheduling; the same 4 State SNAP database 
administrators will submit both a test and a final administrative data 
file.
    3. State UI Agency Database Administrators: The estimated number of 
responses per State UI Database Administrator is 2:
     4 State UI database Administrators will respond to advance 
materials and scheduling; the same 4 State UI database administrators 
will submit the UI wage data file.
    4. State UI Agency Liaisons: The estimated number of responses per 
State UI Agency Administrator is 1:
     4 State UI Agency liaisons will complete the data usage 
agreement (DUA) for the contractor to obtain the UI wage data.
    5. Stakeholder Agency Staff: The estimated number of responses per 
other Stakeholder staff is 2:
     4 Other Stakeholder staff will respond to advance 
materials and scheduling; the same 4 staff members take part in 
interviews.
    6. State E&T Provider Staff: The estimated number of responses per 
State E&T provider staff is 1.17:
     3 State E&T provider staff will respond to advance 
materials and scheduling; the same 3 E&T provider staff plus 12 
additional E&T provider staff will take part in interviews. Three 
additional E&T provider staff will participate in observations of the 
E&T process.
    7. Local SNAP Office Staff: The estimated number of responses per 
Local SNAP office staff is 1.43:
     8 Local SNAP office staff will respond to advance 
materials and scheduling; the same 8 Local SNAP office staff plus 16 
additional Local SNAP office staff will take part in interviews. 
Sixteen of the Local SNAP office staff plus 24 additional Local SNAP 
office staff will take part in a group process mapping exercise. Eight 
additional Local office staff will participate in observations of the 
E&T process.
    8. For-Profit E&T Provider Staff: The estimated number of responses 
per Business E&T provider staff is 1.17:
     2 For-Profit E&T provider staff will respond to advance 
materials and scheduling; the same 2 For-Profit E&T provider staff plus 
8 additional For-Profit E&T provider staff will take part in 
interviews. An additional 2 For-Profit E&T Provider staff will 
participate in observations of the E&T process.
    9. Not-For-Profit E&T Provider Staff: The estimated number of 
responses per Not-For-Profit E&T provider staff is 1.17:
     3 Not-For-Profit E&T provider staff will respond to 
advance materials and scheduling, the same 3 Not-For-Profit E&T 
provider staff plus 12 additional Not-For-Profit E&T provider staff 
will take part in interviews. An additional 3 Not-For-Profit E&T 
provider staff will participate in observations of the E&T process.
    10. Individuals (SNAP Participants). The estimated number of 
responses per Individual is 1.83:
     16 Individuals will participate in observations of the E&T 
process at Local offices or provider sites.
     310 Individuals will receive an advance letter and be 
recruited to participate in the interviews and 225 will respond and 
schedule an interview (85 other Individuals will not respond to the 
recruitment process). Of the 225 respondents, 200 will complete the 
interview (25 Individuals will not complete the interview).
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 735 (625 annual responses for 
responsive participants and 110 annual responses for nonresponsive 
participants).
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.6957142857 hours (0.81 hours for 
responsive participants and 0.05 hours for nonresponsive participants). 
The estimated time of response varies from 0.05 hours to 15 hours 
depending on respondent group and activity.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 511.35.
    See entire burden breakout in Table 1 below.

[[Page 13865]]



                                                                                                   Table 1--Total Public Burden Hours
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                                                                                                                                 Responsive                                               Nonresponsive                          Grand
                                                                                                        ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   total
                                                                        Instruments and         Sample                                                                                                                           annual
          Respondent category               Type of respondent             activities            size     Number of    Frequency     Total    Hours per    Annual    Number of    Frequency     Total    Hours per    Annual     burden
                                                                                                         respondents      of        annual     response    burden       non-         of        annual     response    burden    estimate
                                                                                                                       response    responses              (hours)   respondents   response    responses              (hours)    (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   State, Local, and Tribal Government
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State/Local/Tribal Government Sub-      State SNAP Staff.........  Advance materials and              4            4           1           4          3         12            0           0           0          0          0         12
 Total.                                                             preparation, including
                                                                    all conference and
                                                                    scheduling calls.
                                        State SNAP Staff.........  In-person semi-structured          8            8           1           8        1.5         12            0           0           0          0          0         12
                                                                    interviews with SNAP
                                                                    Directors and E&T
                                                                    Managers.
                                        State SNAP Staff.........  Administrative Cost                4            4           1           4          1          4            0           0           0          0          0          4
                                                                    Worksheet.
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Subtotal for State SNAP Staff (Unique)                        8            8           2          16       1.75         28            0           0           0          0          0         28
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        State SNAP Database        Advance materials and              4            4           1           4          3         12            0           0           0          0          0         12
                                         administrator.             preparation, including
                                                                    consultative data call.
                                        State SNAP Database        Submit test file.........          4            4           1           4          4         16            0           0           0          0          0         16
                                         administrator.
                                        State SNAP Database        Submit administrative              4            4           1           4         10         40            0           0           0          0          0         40
                                         administrator.             data file.
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Subtotal for State Database Administrator (Unique)            4            4           3          12       5.67         68            0           0           0          0          0         68
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        State UI Agency Database   Advance materials and              4            4           1           4          3         12            0           0           0          0          0         12
                                         Administrator.             preparation, including
                                                                    consultative data call.
                                        State UI Agency Database   Submit UI wage data file.          4            4           1           4         15         60            0           0           0          0          0         60
                                         Administrator.
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Subtotal for State UI Agency Database Administrator           4            4           2           8          9         72            0           0           0          0          0         72
                                         (Unique)
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        State UI Agency DUA        Complete UI Wage Data DUA          4            4           1           4          8         32            0           0           0          0          0         32
                                         Liaison.
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Subtotal UI Agency DUA Liaison (Unique)                       4            4           1           4          8         32            0           0           0          0          0         32
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        SNAP E&T Job Search        Advance materials and              4            4           1           4          1          4            0           0           0          0          0          4
                                         Stakeholder Agency.        preparation.
                                        SNAP E&T Job Search        In-person semi-structured          4            4           1           4          1          4            0           0           0          0          0          4
                                         Stakeholder Agency.        interview.
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        SNAP E&T Job Search Stakeholder Agency (Unique)               4            4           2           8          1          8            0           0           0          0          0          8
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        State E&T Provider.......  Advance materials and              3            3           1           3          1          3            0           0           0          0          0          3
                                                                    preparation.
                                        State E&T Provider.......  In-person semi-structured          3            3           1           3          1          3            0           0           0          0          0          3
                                                                    interviews with 1 SNAP
                                                                    director/manager at 3
                                                                    E&T providers.
                                        State E&T Provider.......  In-person semi-structured         12           12           1          12          1         12            0           0           0          0          0         12
                                                                    interviews with 4
                                                                    frontline staff at 3 E&T
                                                                    providers.
                                        State E&T Provider.......  Observations of E&T                3            3           1           3       0.05       0.15            0           0           0          0          0       0.15
                                                                    Process.
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Subtotal for State E&T Provider (Unique)                     18           18        1.17          21          1      18.15            0           0           0          0          0      18.15
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Local SNAP Office Staff..  Advance materials and              8            8           1           8          1          8            0           0           0          0          0          8
                                                                    preparation.
                                        Local SNAP Office staff..  In-person semi-structured          8            8           1           8          1          8            0           0           0          0          0          8
                                                                    interviews with 1 SNAP
                                                                    director/manager at 2
                                                                    sites over 4 States.
                                        Local SNAP Office staff..  In-person semi-structured         16           16           1          16          1         16            0           0           0          0          0         16
                                                                    interviews with 2
                                                                    frontline staff in 2
                                                                    sites over 4 States.

[[Page 13866]]

 
                                        Local SNAP Office staff..  Group mapping exercise            40           40           1          40        1.5         60            0           0           0          0          0         60
                                                                    with 5 local staff in 2
                                                                    sites over 4 States.
                                        Local SNAP Office staff..  Observations of E&T                8            8           1           8       0.05        0.4            0           0           0          0          0        0.4
                                                                    Process.
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Subtotal for Local SNAP office (Unique)                      56           56        1.43          80       1.16       92.4            0           0           0          0          0       92.4
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State/Local/Tribal Government Sub-Total (Unique)............................................         98           98        1.52         149       2.14      318.6            0           0           0          0          0      318.6
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                                                                                                      Business or Other For Profit
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Business or Other For Profit..........  E&T Provider.............  Advance materials and              2            2           1           2          1          2            0           0           0          0          0          2
                                                                    preparation.
                                        E&T Provider.............  In-person semi-structured          2            2           1           2          1          2            0           0           0          0          0          2
                                                                    interviews with 1 SNAP
                                                                    director/manager at 2
                                                                    E&T providers.
                                        E&T Provider.............  In-person semi-structured          8            8           1           8          1          8            0           0           0          0          0          8
                                                                    interviews with 4
                                                                    frontline staff at 2 E&T
                                                                    providers.
                                        E&T Provider.............  Observations of E&T                2            2           1           2       0.05        0.1            0           0           0          0          0        0.1
                                                                    Process.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Business or Other For Profit Sub-Total (Unique).............................................         12           12        1.17          14          1       12.1            0           0           0          0          0       12.1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                             Not for Profit
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Not for Profit........................  E&T Provider.............  Advance materials and              3            3           1           3          1          3            0           0           0          0          0          3
                                                                    preparation.
                                        E&T Provider.............  In-person semi-structured          3            3           1           3          1          3            0           0           0          0          0          3
                                                                    interviews with 1 SNAP
                                                                    director/manager at 3
                                                                    E&T providers.
                                        E&T Provider.............  In-person semi-structured         12           12           1          12          1         12            0           0           0          0          0         12
                                                                    interviews with 4
                                                                    frontline staff at 3 E&T
                                                                    providers.
                                        E&T Provider.............  Observations of E&T                3            3           1           3       0.05       0.15            0           0           0          0          0       0.15
                                                                    Process.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not For Profit Sub-Total (Unique)...........................................................         18           18        1.17          21          1      18.15            0           0           0          0          0      18.15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                               Individuals
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Individuals...........................  SNAP participants........  Observations of E&T               16           16           1          16       0.05        0.8            0           0           0          0          0        0.8
                                                                    Process.
                                        SNAP participants........  Advance Letter and other         310          225           1         225       0.25      56.25           85           1          85       0.05       4.25       60.5
                                                                    Participant Recruitment.
                                        SNAP participants........  Current and Former               225          200           1         200       0.50        100           25           1          25       0.05       1.25     101.25
                                                                    Participant Phone
                                                                    Interviews.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SNAP Participant Sub-Total (Unique).........................................................        326          241        1.83         441       0.36     157.05           85           2         110       0.05        5.5     162.55
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Total....................  .........................        454          369        1.69         625       0.81     505.85           85           1         110       0.05        5.5     511.35
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[[Page 13867]]

    Dated: March 28, 2019.
Brandon Lipp,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-06879 Filed 4-5-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-30-P