[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 230 (Friday, November 29, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65777-65779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25639]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Assessment of the 
Collection, Analysis, Validation, and Reporting of Supplemental 
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training (E&T) Data

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. This collection is a new 
collection for the assessment of the collection, analysis, validation, 
and reporting of SNAP E&T data collected by States.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before January 28, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: Leigh Gantner, Food and Nutrition 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room, 
Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted via email to 
[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 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 Leigh 
Gantner by email at [email protected] or by phone at (703) 305-
2822.

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: Assessment of the Collection, Analysis, Validation, and 
Reporting of SNAP Employment and Training Data project.
    Form Number: None.
    OMB Number: 0584-NEW.
    Expiration Date: Not yet determined.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Abstract: 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.
    Under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), States 
are required to operate an Employment and Training (E&T) program to 
help participants gain skills, education, training, and experience that 
lead to employment and greater economic self-sufficiency. The U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) uses 
several methods to collect information on State SNAP E&T programs: 
annual State SNAP E&T plans, quarterly FNS-583 SNAP E&T Program 
Activity Report data forms (OMB 0584-0594, currently undergoing 
review), and annual outcome reporting measures. FNS has found that 
reported data are often inconsistent, incomplete, and inaccurate. This 
makes it challenging for FNS to analyze these data to determine the 
outcomes of SNAP E&T participants and to assist States in improving 
their programs.
    FNS will: (1) Identify and describe the current State and Federal 
systems that collect, validate, and analyze E&T data; (2) assess the 
current and future E&T data needs of Federal, Regional, and State 
staff; and (3) recommend a plan to improve how Federal, Regional, and 
State staff collect and use data for E&T program improvement and 
reporting. The assessment will include two main data collection 
activities: (1) 10 in-person meetings with a range of staff from 
Federal agencies \1\ to better understand the systems for collecting 
and analyzing SNAP E&T data, assess the current and future data needs 
of SNAP E&T stakeholders, and identify options to improve the 
collection and analysis of data; and (2) site visits in seven States to 
observe their SNAP E&T business, data collection, and analysis 
processes, and to assess the current and future data needs from the 
perspective of a range of State and local staff, including local 
organizations that provide E&T activities.
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    \1\ Discussions with Federal agencies do not require OMB 
clearance and are therefore not included in the burden estimates in 
this notice.
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    The data collection effort will culminate in a comprehensive final 
report of recommendations for FNS to meet its current and future data 
needs for the SNAP E&T program. The report will describe the current 
Federal, Regional, and State data systems and processes; the current 
and future data needs and goals of SNAP E&T and the gaps between the 
current systems and data needs. In addition, the report will recommend 
methods to address these gaps through changes to data systems and 
information technology (IT) solutions, improved business processes, and 
expanded technical assistance.
    Affected Public: FNS will reach out to eight State agencies, and 
anticipates that seven of these State agenices will agree to 
participate in the study. Approximately, 284 respondents within these 
seven States will be contacted to participate in the data collection. 
Of these 284 respondents, FNS anticipates 251 will agree to 
participate. Members of the public affected by the data collection 
include State, Local and Tribal governments and the private sector 
(Business-for-profit and not-for-profit). Respondent groups identified 
include the following:
     Directors and managers from State, Local, and Tribal 
government agencies supporting the SNAP E&T programs (35; 32 
respondents and 3 non-respondents).
     Policy staff from State, Local, and Tribal government 
agencies supporting the SNAP E&T programs (28; 26 respondents and 2 
non-respondents).
     Frontline staff from State, Local, and Tribal government 
agencies providing direct services to SNAP E&T participants (56; 50 
respondents and 6 non-respondents).
     Data and IT staff from State, Local, and Tribal government 
agencies supporting the E&T programs (28; 26 respondents and 2 non-
respondents).
     Directors and managers from private sector for-profit 
businesses providing SNAP E&T services (21; 18 repondents and 3 non-
respondents).
     Frontline staff from private sector for-profit businesses 
providing SNAP E&T services (21; 18 repondents and 3 non-respondents).
     Data and IT staff from private sector for-profit 
businesses providing SNAP E&T services (11; 9 respondents and 2 non-
respondents).
     Directors and managers from private sector not-for-profit 
agencies providing SNAP E&T services (35; 30 respodnets and 5 non-
respondents).

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     Frontline staff from private sector not-for-profit 
businesses providing SNAP E&T services (35; 30 respondents and 5 non-
respondents).
     Data and IT staff from private sector not-for-profit 
businesses providing SNAP E&T services (14; 12 respondents and 2 non-
respondents).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of 
respondents is 284. This includes the following:

 35 State, Local, or Tribal agency directors and managers will 
be asked to participate in an interview (21 of which will also be asked 
to participate in a mapping discussion)
 28 State, Local, or Tribal agency policy staff will be asked 
to participate in an interview (21 of which will also be asked to 
participate in a mapping discussion)
 56 State, Local, or Tribal agency direct services staff will 
be asked to participate in an interview (56 of which will also be asked 
to participate in a mapping discussion)
 28 State, Local, or Tribal agency data and IT staff will be 
asked to participate in an interview (21 of which will also be asked to 
participate in a mapping discussion, and 7 will also provide extant 
data)
 21 private sector for-profit business directors and managers 
will be asked to participate in a mapping discussion (7 of which will 
also be asked to participate in an interview)
 21 private sector for-profit business direct services staff 
will be asked to participate in a mapping discussion (7 of which will 
also be asked to participate in an interview)
 11 private sector for-profit business data and IT staff will 
be asked to participate in a mapping discussion (11 of which will also 
be asked to participate in an interview)
 35 private sector not-for-profit agency directors and managers 
will be asked to participate in a mapping discussion (14 of which will 
also be asked participate in an interview)
 35 private sector not-for-profit agency direct services staff 
will be asked to participate in a mapping discussion (14 of which will 
also be asked to participate in an interview)
 14 private sector not-for-profit agency data and IT staff will 
be asked to participate in a mapping discussion (14 of which will also 
be asked to participate in an interview)

    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent Some respondents will 
be asked to participate in one in-person interview only (28 
respondents), others will be asked to particiate in a group mapping 
discussion only (70 respondents), and the remainder will be asked to 
participate in an interview and group mapping discussion (186 
respondents).
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 1074.
    Estimated Time per Response: The estimated time of response varies 
from 1 to 1.5 hours (60 to 90 minutes) depending on respondent group, 
as shown in the table that follows, with an average estimated time of 
1.17 hours (70.2 minutes) for all respondents. Those declining 
participation are anticipated to spend 0.167 hours (10 minutes) reading 
the email invitation to participate and declining participation.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 915.88 hours 
(54,953minutes). See the following table for estimated total annual 
burden for each type of respondent.

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                                                                                                Responsive                                                  Non-responsive
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                                                               Sample                Estimated                Number of   Estimated                Estimated                Number of  Estimated
           Respondent type                  Instrument          size     Estimated   frequency     Total        burden      total      Estimated   frequency      Total       burden     total
                                                                         number of       of        annual     hours per     burden     number of       of        annual     hours per    burden
                                                                        respondents   response   responses     response     hours     respondents   response    responses    response    hours
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State agency staff..................  Recruitment email.....        8             7          1            7        0.167       1.17             1          1             1      0.167      0.167
State, local, or Tribal agency        Interview discussion         35            32          1           32          1.5      48.00             3          1             3      0.167      0.501
 directors and managers.               guide.
                                      Mapping group                21            20          1           20          1.5      30.00             1          1             1      0.167      0.167
                                       discussion.
State, local, or Tribal agency        Interview discussion         28            26          1           26          1.5      39.00             2          1             2      0.167      0.334
 policy staff.                         guide.
                                      Mapping group                21            20          1           20          1.5      30.00             1          1             1      0.167      0.000
                                       discussion.
State, local or Tribal agency direct  Interview discussion         56            50          1           50          1.5      75.00             6          1             6      0.167      1.002
 services staff.                       guide.
                                      Mapping group                56            50          1           50          1.5      75.00             6          1             6      0.167      1.002
                                       discussion.
State, local, or Tribal agency data   Interview discussion         28            26          1           26            1      26.00             2          1             2      0.167      0.334
 and IT staff.                         guide.
                                      Mapping group                21            20          1           20          1.5      30.00             1          1             1      0.167      0.167
                                       discussion.
                                      Extant data collection        7             7          1            7            1       7.00             0          0             0          0      0.000
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
    Sub-Totals for SLT..............  ......................  .......           134  .........          258  ...........     361.17            13  .........            23  .........      3.674
Recruitment email for private sector  Recruitment email.....       21            18          1           18        0.167       3.01             3          1             3      0.167      0.501
 for-profit business.
Private sector for-profit business    Interview discussion          7             6          1            6            1       6.00             1          1             1      0.167      0.167
 directors and managers.               guide.
                                      Mapping group                21            18          1           18            1      18.00             3          1             3      0.167      0.501
                                       discussion.
Private sector for-profit business    Interview discussion          7             5          1            5            1       5.00             2          1             2      0.167      0.334
 direct services staff.                guide.
                                      Mapping group                21            18          1           18            1      18.00             3          1             3      0.167      0.501
                                       discussion.
Private sector for-profit business    Interview discussion         11             9          1            9            1       9.00             2          1             2      0.167      0.334
 data and IT staff.                    guide.
                                      Mapping group                11             9          1            9            1       9.00             2          1             2      0.167      0.334
                                       discussion.

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Recruitment email for not-for-profit  Recruitment email.....       35            30          1           30        0.167       5.01             5          1             5      0.167      0.835
 business.
Private sector not-for-profit agency  Interview discussion         14            12          1           12            1      12.00             2          1             2      0.167      0.334
 directors and managers.               guide.
                                      Mapping group                35            30          1           30            1      30.00             5          1             5      0.167      0.835
                                       discussion.
Private sector not-for-profit agency  Interview discussion         14            12          1           12            1      12.00             2          1             2      0.167      0.334
 direct services staff.                guide.
                                      Mapping group                35            30          1           30            1      30.00             5          1             5      0.167      0.835
                                       discussion.
Private sector not-for-profit agency  Interview discussion         14            12          1           12            1      12.00             2          1             2      0.167      0.334
 data and IT staff.                    guide.
                                      Mapping group                14            12          1           12            1      12.00             2          1             2      0.167      0.334
                                       discussion.
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    Sub-Totals for Business-for-not-  ......................  .......           117  .........          221  ...........     181.02            20  .........            39  .........      6.513
     for-Profit.
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        Grand Total Burden for both   ......................      284           251  .........          951  ...........     902.19            33  .........           123  .........     13.694
         SLT and Business.
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    Dated: November 4, 2019.
Pamilyn Miller,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-25639 Filed 11-27-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-30-P