[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 27 (Monday, February 10, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7529-7530]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-02547]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Economic Research Service


Notice of Intent To Request Revision of the Current Population 
Survey Food Security Supplement--A Currently Approved Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Economic Research Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of change and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) implementing regulations, this 
notice announces a change that the Economic Research Service (ERS) 
intends to make to the currently approved annual information collection 
named the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement (OMB 
Control No. 0536-0043). ERS intends to add a split panel test to the 
aforementioned information collection. Details of the split panel test 
are discussed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 11, 2020 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this notice to Alisha 
Coleman-Jensen, Food Assistance Branch, Food Economics Division, 
Economic Research Service, Room 5-229B, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Mail 
Stop 1800, Washington, DC 20050-1800. Submit electronic comments to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alisha Coleman-Jensen at the address 
in the preamble. Tel. 202-694-5456.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ERS is responsible for conducting studies 
and evaluations of the Nation's food and nutrition assistance programs 
that are administered by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), U.S. 
Department of Agriculture. Data collected by its Current Population 
Survey Food Security Supplement (CPS-FSS) annually are used to monitor 
the prevalence of food security and the prevalence and severity of food 
insecurity among the Nation's households. The prevalence of these 
conditions as well as year-to-year trends in their prevalence is 
estimated at the national level and for population subgroups. These 
data are also used to monitor the amounts that households spend for 
food and their use of community food pantries and emergency kitchens. 
These statistics along with research based on the data are used to 
identify the causes and consequences of food insecurity, and to assess 
the need for, and performance of, domestic food assistance programs. 
ERS is in the process of revising the survey instrument to maintain its 
relevance and scientific quality.
    The intent of this notice is to announce that ERS intends to add a 
test of current and revised survey questions (aka split panel test) to 
the aforementioned information collection in order to determine how 
well the revised survey questions perform. Results from this test will 
be used to improve the measurement of food security and determine the 
most appropriate survey items to collect food security data in regular 
future collections.
    Once receiving the OMB clearance, the U.S. Census Bureau will 
supplement an upcoming CPS with revised test questions regarding 
household food shopping, use of food and nutrition assistance programs, 
food sufficiency, and difficulties in meeting household food needs. 
Revisions to the supplemental survey instrument was developed in 
conjunction with food security experts nationwide as well as survey 
method experts within the Census Bureau. The Census Bureau completed a 
cognitive interview study of the revised survey questions in 2019, and 
the recommendations from that study formed the test instrument to be 
used in the upcoming testing. This supplemental information will be 
collected by both personal visit and telephone interviews in 
conjunction with the regular monthly CPS interviewing. Interviews will 
be conducted using Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) and 
Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) methods.

[[Page 7530]]

    Public reporting burden for this split panel test is estimated to 
average 7.3 minutes (after rounding) for each household that responds 
to the labor force portion of the CPS. The estimate is based on the 
average proportion of respondents that were asked each question in 
recent survey years and typical reading and response times for the 
questions. The estimate assumes an 80 percent response rate to the 
supplement. Based on these estimates, ERS intends to request a one-time 
only additional 39,000 respondents and 4,729 hours of response burden 
for conducting the aforementioned split panel test during its testing 
year. Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Alisha 
Coleman-Jensen at the address in the preamble.
    Comments: 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 will 
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 used; (c) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; 
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments should be 
sent to the address in the preamble. All responses to this notice will 
be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All 
comments will also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: January 28, 2020.
Marca Weinberg,
Acting Administrator, Economic Research Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-02547 Filed 2-7-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-18-P