[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 153 (Thursday, August 8, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38937-38941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-17016]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Reasons for Underredemption of the WIC Cash-Value 
Benefit

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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 Reasons for Underredemption 
of the WIC Cash-Value Benefit. This collection is a NEW information 
collection.
    This study informs the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and 
Nutrition Service (FNS) about the reasons behind underredemption of the 
cash-value benefit (CVB) issued to participants in the Special 
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). 
FNS is particularly interested in how CVB redemption rates are affected 
by State agency policies and practices.

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

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Ruth Morgan, Food and Nutrition 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 
1014, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to 
the attention of Ruth Morgan at 703-305-2576 or via email at 
[email protected]. Comments will also be accepted through the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal. Follow the online instructions at http://www.regulations.gov 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 Ruth Morgan 
at 703-457-7759.

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 
the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Title: Reasons for Underredemption of the WIC Cash-Value Benefit.
    Form Number: N/A.
    OMB Number: Not Yet Assigned.
    Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.
    Type of Request: New Collection.
    Abstract: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, 
Infants, and Children (WIC) provides nutritious supplemental foods, 
healthcare referrals, breastfeeding support, and nutrition education to 
low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants and 
children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk. A Final Rule was 
published in the Federal Register on March 4, 2014 (79 FR 12273) that 
revised the WIC food packages to add a monthly cash-value benefit (CVB) 
for the purchase of fruits and vegetables. This rule also detailed 
specific provisions for the value of the CVB, the types of fruits and 
vegetables authorized, and other State options for providing this 
benefit. Recent studies have estimated that redemption rates for CVBs 
range from 73 percent to 77 percent; 1 2 however, the 
reasons for

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underredemption of this benefit have not been fully explored. FNS has 
funded this study to determine the barriers to CVB redemption and the 
effects of State agency policies, practices, and other factors on CVB 
redemption rates.
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    \1\ Phillips, D., Bell, L., Morgan, R., & Pooler, J. (2014). 
Transition to EBT in WIC: Review of impact and examination of 
participant redemption patterns: Final report. Retrieved from 
https://altarum.org/sites/default/files/uploaded-publication-files/Altarum_Transition%20to%20WIC%20EBT_Final%20Report_071614.pdf.
    \2\ National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 
(2017). Review of WIC food packages: Improving balance and choice: 
Final report. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. DOI: 
https://doi.org/10.17226/23655.
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    There are a variety of WIC State agency policies and practices that 
may contribute to CVB underredemption, including but not limited to: 
vendor authorization and selection policies, the forms of fruits and 
vegetables allowed, vendor minimum stocking requirements, and 
participant tools and training available. Other State and household 
factors may also affect redemption rates, such as geographic access to 
WIC vendors or household preferences for certain types of fruits and 
vegetables.
    In order to identify the factors associated with CVB redemption and 
examine the effects of State agency policies and practices on CVB 
redemption rates, FNS is conducting a study in 12 States, with more in-
depth data collection occurring in 4 of these States. The study will 
gather data from WIC State plans and policy documents, administrative 
records, and WIC participants. State plan and policy document data will 
be collected from 12 States and used to identify variations in State 
agency policies and practices that may affect CVB redemption rates. 
Administrative record collection will be limited to electronic benefit 
transfer (EBT) data previously collected from 12 State agencies for the 
WIC Food Cost Containment Practices study (OMB Number 0584-0627, 
Expiration Date 09/30/2020). EBT data will be used to calculate rates 
in each of the 12 study State agencies and, in conjunction with the 
policy data, will be used to assess the ways in which redemption rates 
vary with differences in policies and practices. Participant and State 
agency staff interviews in 4 of the 12 States will be used to 
understand the factors that are most salient to participants in making 
decisions about purchasing fruits and vegetables with their CVB and 
barriers to redemption. FNS will select two States with low CVB 
redemption rates, one State with an intermediate redemption rate, and 
one State with a high redemption rate for participant and State agency 
staff interviews.
    Affected Public: (1) State, local, and tribal governments; (2) 
nonprofits; and (3) individuals. Identified respondent groups include 
the following:
    1. State, local, and tribal governments: State agency staff in four 
States, local agency staff at six local agencies, and clinic staff at 
six clinics.
    2. Nonprofits: Staff at two local agencies and two WIC clinics.\3\
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    \3\ Local agencies and clinics may be either government or 
nonprofit organizations. It is assumed that no contacted local 
agencies or clinics will refuse to participate.
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    3. Individuals: WIC participants in four study States.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of 
respondents is 317 (20 State and local government staff, 4 nonprofit 
staff, and 293 individuals). Of the 317 respondents to be contacted, 
257 are expected to be responsive, and 60 are expected to be 
nonresponsive. The breakout follows:
    1. 20 State and local government staff: Of 8 State agency staff to 
be contacted across 4 States, 8 are expected to be responsive; of 6 
local agency staff contacted across 6 local agencies, 6 are expected to 
be responsive; of 6 clinic staff contacted across 6 clinics, 6 are 
expected to be responsive.
    2. 4 nonprofit staff: Of 2 local agency staff contacted across 2 
local agencies, 2 are expected to be responsive; of 2 clinic staff to 
be contacted across 2 clinics, 2 are expected to be responsive.
    3. 293 individuals: 9 individuals are expected to participate in a 
pretest. Of 284 individuals to be contacted for the main study, 144 are 
expected to be responsive.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.5, based on the 
estimated 1,417 total annual responses (1,277 responsive and 140 
nonresponsive) to be made by the 317 respondents. See table 1 for the 
estimated number of responses per respondent for each type of 
respondent. The breakout follows:
    1. WIC State agency staff: The estimated number of responses per 
State agency staff is three. Four State agency staff will receive and 
respond to advance materials and scheduling; the same four State agency 
staff will take part in a recruitment call. Up to eight State agency 
staff will participate in a semistructured interview.
    2. WIC local agency staff (including state, local, and tribal 
governments and non-profits): The estimated number of responses per 
local agency staff is four. Eight local agency staff will receive and 
respond to advance materials and scheduling; the same eight local 
agency staff will take part in a recruitment call.
    3. WIC clinic staff (including state, local, and tribal governments 
and non-profits): The estimated number of responses per local clinic 
staff is four. Eight clinic staff will receive and respond to advance 
materials and scheduling; the same 8 clinic staff will take part in a 
recruitment call.
    4. Individuals (WIC participants): The estimated number of 
responses per individual is 5.10. In total, nine individuals will 
participate in a pretest. 284 individuals will receive a study 
brochure. Of the 164 who are eligible to participate, 112 will fill out 
the signup sheet for in-person interviews, and 52 will fill out the 
signup sheet for phone interviews. Of the 164 who fill out signup 
sheets, 20 will not respond.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 1,417 (1,277 annual responses for 
responsive participants and 140 annual responses for nonresponsive 
participants).
    Estimated Time per Response: The estimated average response time is 
0.12 hours for all respondents (0.12 hours for responsive participants 
and 0.05 hours for nonresponsive participants). The estimated time of 
response varies from 30 seconds (0.0083 hours) to 1 hour depending on 
respondent group and activity, as shown in table 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 163.38 hours (156.38 
hours for responsive participants, and 7.0 hours for nonresponsive 
participants). See table 1 for estimated total annual burden for each 
type of respondent.
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P

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    Dated: July 26, 2019.
Brandon Lipps,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-17016 Filed 8-7-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-30-C