[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 231 (Monday, December 2, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65965-65967]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26043]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 231 / Monday, December 2, 2019 / 
Notices  

[[Page 65965]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): 
Operating Guidelines, Forms and Waivers

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 information collection. This is a revision of a currently 
approved collection. This information collection consists of five 
components of State agency reporting and/or recordkeeping: A budget 
projection statement, a program activity report, State plans of 
operation updates, waiver requests, and other plans and submissions 
such as advance planning documents for information systems and for 
electronic benefit transfer (EBT) systems.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before January 31, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: Jane Duffield, Branch Chief, State 
Administration Branch, Program Accountability and Administration 
Division, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
3101 Park Center Drive, Room 818, 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 Evan 
Sieradzki 703-605-3212.

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: Operating Guidelines, Forms and Waivers.
    OMB Number: 0584-0083.
    Forms: SNAP Waiver Request Template.
    Expiration Date: July 31, 2020.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: Section 16(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (the 
Act) authorizes 50 percent Federal reimbursement for State agency costs 
to administer the program. 7 CFR 272.2(a) of SNAP regulations states 
that State agencies shall periodically plan and budget program 
operations and establish objectives for the next year. The basic 
components of the State Plan of Operation are the Federal/State 
Agreement, the Budget Projection Statement (FNS-366A) and the Program 
Activity Statement (FNS-366B) (7 CFR 272.2(a)(2)). Under 7 CFR 
272.2(c), the State agency shall annually submit to FNS for approval a 
Budget Projection Statement which shall contain projections for each 
quarter of the next Federal Fiscal Year and a narrative justification 
document explaining the assumptions used to arrive at the projections. 
The reporting burden [a total of 3,876 burden hours and 267 total 
annual responses] for forms FNS-366A, has 696 burden hours and 55 total 
annual responses and FNS-366B has 3,180 total burden hours and 212 
total annual responses) was merged in the burden for the Food Programs 
Reporting System (OMB control number 0584-0594, expiration date 
September 30, 2019, currently under review); therefore, reporting hours 
associated with these forms are not included in this notice. However, 
recordkeeping requirements for these forms remains in this OMB Control 
Number. The State agency shall also submit quarterly a Program Activity 
Statement soliciting a summary of Program activity for the State 
agency's operations during the preceding reporting period. In addition, 
certain attachments to the plan as specified in subparagraphs (c) and 
(d) are to be submitted. As specified in subparagraph (f), State 
agencies only have to provide FNS with changes to these attachments as 
they occur. Consequently, these attachments are considered State plan 
updates. Under Section 11(o) of the Act, each State agency is required 
to develop and submit plans for the use of automated data processing 
(ADP) and information retrieval systems to administer SNAP. Section 
16(a) of the Act authorizes partial Federal reimbursement of State 
costs for State ADP systems that the Secretary determines will assist 
meeting the requirements of the Act, meets conditions prescribed by the 
Secretary, are likely to provide more efficient and effective 
administration of the program, and are compatible with certain other 
Federally-funded systems. Under 7 CFR 277.18(c)(1) of SNAP regulations, 
State agencies must obtain prior written approval from FNS when it 
plans to enhance, replace, or acquire Information System (IS) equipment 
with a total acquisition cost of $6 million or more in Federal and 
State funds. The State agency must submit an Advance Planning Document 
(APD) prior to acquiring planning services and an Implementation APD 
prior to acquiring ADP equipment or services. Additionally, State 
agencies administering SNAP may submit formal written requests, SNAP 
waiver requests, to obtain approval from FNS to deviate from a specific 
program rule or regulation. Current procedures require that in order 
for FNS to approve a SNAP waiver request, the State agency must submit 
the SNAP Waiver Request template to FNS. Due to ongoing

[[Page 65966]]

technical complications, the SNAP Workflow Information Management 
(SWIM) system has been suspended however, FNS may consider its use in 
the future. This suspension does not modify the currently approved 
burden hours in any way and States will continue to submit the SNAP 
Waiver Requests electronically via email.
    Burden Estimates: The burden within this collection consists of 
reporting and recordkeeping burden for the State Plan of Operation 
Updates and APD Plans or Updates; and only recordkeeping burden for 
forms FNS-366A and FNS-366B. The current burden is 1,095.76 hours 
(1,056.04 reporting hours and 39.72 recordkeeping hours. The 
calculation of the burden for each of these components is described 
below:

Reporting

    Reporting Burden Estimates: Affected Public: State, Local and 
Tribal Government Agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 53.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 8.35.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 442.3.
    Estimated Reporting Time per Response: 2.3876.
    Estimated Annual Reporting Burden Hours: 1,056.04.
    State Plan of Operation Updates. 53 State agencies submit one 1 
response annually for a total of 53 annual responses. The reporting 
burden for submission of updates to State Plans of Operation is 6.58 
hours per respondent, resulting in estimated burden hours of 348.74 (53 
x 6.58 = 348.74).
    APD Plans or Updates. We estimate that up to 53 State agencies may 
submit on an average of 4 APD, plan, or update submission for a total 
of 212 annual responses at an average estimate of 2.5 hours per 
respondent. The reporting burden is 530 hours.
    SNAP Waiver Requests. FNS estimates that out of 53 State agencies 
45 State will submit 3.94 of the three identified waivers annually for 
a total number of 177.3 Waivers annually. Completion and submission of 
these waivers take approximately 1 hour for a total of 177.3 burden 
hours annually.

Reporting

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                                                                                                                                                                                      Annual
             Affected public                   Burden activities                 Forms             CFR citations     Number of     Frequency of    Total annual      Time per        reporting
                                                                                                                    respondents      response        responses    response (hrs)   burden hours
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State Agencies..........................  Plan of Operations........  ..........................           272.2           53.00            1.00           53.00            6.58          348.74
                                          Other APD Plan or Update..  ..........................          277.18           53.00            4.00          212.00            2.50          530.00
                                          SNAP Waiver Requests......  SNAP Waiver Template......        272.3(c)           45.00            3.94          177.30            1.00          177.30
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    Reporting Total Burden Estimates............................................................................           53.00            8.35          442.30          2.3876        1,056.04
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Recordkeeping

    Recordkeeping Burden Estimates: Affected Public: State, Local and 
Tribal Government Agencies.
    Estimated Number of Recordkeepers: 53.
    Estimated Number of Records per Recordkeepers: 9.85.
    Estimated Total Annual Records: 522.
    Estimated Recordkeeping Time per Recordkeepers: 0.07609.
    Estimated Annual Recordkeeping Burden Hours: 39.72.
    FNS-366A. State agencies are required to submit to FNS for approval 
a Budget Projection Statement, Form FNS-366A, which includes 
projections of the total Federal costs for major areas of program 
operations. There is a total of 53 recordkeepers for each activity. 
Each State agency submits 1 response annually for a total of 53 annual 
responses. A copy is maintained for 3 years. It takes approximately 
0.05 minutes to maintain each record. Total annual recordkeeping burden 
for FNS-366A is estimated at 2.65 hours annually per recordkeeper.
    FNS-366B. State agencies are required to submit to FNS quarterly, a 
Program Activity Statement, Form FNS-366B, providing a summary of 
program activity for the State agency's operations during its preceding 
quarter. Each State agency submits 4 responses annually for a total of 
212 annual responses; each record takes approximately 0.05 minutes to 
maintain. The annual recordkeeping burden for FNS-366B is estimated 
annually at 2.65 hours per recordkeeper.
    State Plan of Operation Updates. Each State agency submits 1 
response annually for a total of 45 annual responses; each record takes 
approximately 0.07 minutes to maintain. The annual recordkeeping burden 
for updates to State Plans of Operation as attachments to the FNS-366B 
is 3.15 hours per recordkeeper.
    Other APD Plans and Updates. FNS estimated that up to 53 State 
agencies may submit an average of 4 APD, Plan, or Update submissions 
and approximately 212 records at an average estimate of 0.11 minutes 
per recordkeeper for an estimated total of 23.32 recordkeeping burden 
for this activity hours.

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                                                                                                          Estimate total
              Affected public                   Form No. or activity          Number      Number records  annual records     Hours per     Total burden
                                                                           recordkeepers  per respondent      (c x d)      recordkeeper       (e x f)
                                            (b).........................             (c)             (d)             (e)             (f)             (g)
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                                                                      Recordkeeping
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State Agencies............................  FNS-366A....................           53.00            1.00           53.00            0.05            2.65
                                            FNS-366B....................           53.00            4.00          212.00            0.05           10.60
                                            Plan of Operations Updates..           45.00            1.00           45.00            0.07            3.15
                                            Other APD Plan or Update....           53.00            4.00          212.00            0.11           23.32
                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Recordkeeping Total Burden Estimates  ............................           53.00            9.85          522.00     0.076091954           39.72
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[[Page 65967]]

    Dated: November 18, 2019.
Pamilyn Miller,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-26043 Filed 11-29-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-30-P