[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 31 (Friday, February 14, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8556-8557]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-02660]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2021 Government 
Units Survey

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on a 
proposed reinstatement of the Government Units Survey, as required by 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before April 14, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Thomas Smith, PRA Liaison, 
U.S. Census Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Room 7K250A, Washington, DC 
20233 (or via the internet at [email protected]). You may also submit 
comments, identified by Docket Number USBC-2020-0002, to the Federal e-
Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. All comments received 
are part of the public record. No comments will be posted to http://www.regulations.gov for public viewing until after the comment period 
has closed. Comments will generally be posted without change. All 
Personally Identifiable Information (for example, name and address) 
voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do 
not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or 
protected information. You may submit attachments to electronic 
comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Joy P. Pierson by phone at 301-763-7196 or by 
email at [email protected] and Amber Hennessy at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    Title 13, Section 161 of the United States Code requires the 
Secretary of Commerce to conduct a Census of Governments every five 
years, in years ending in ``2'' and ``7''. Section 193 provides for the 
collection of preliminary and supplementary statistics as related to 
the main topic of the census. The Census of Governments publishes unit 
counts and legal descriptions as well as employment and finance data 
for all county, municipal, township, school district, and special 
district governments in the United States. Prior to conducting the 
Census of Governments, it is necessary to ensure that the universe of 
all governments is as accurate and up to date as possible. The 
Government Units Survey (GUS) is conducted the year prior to the full 
Census of Governments collection operation and is used to evaluate and 
update the universe of all local and special district governments. 
Public sector surveys draw their sampling frames from this universe.
    The 2021 GUS will target townships, special districts, independent 
school districts, and educational service authorities (ESA). The GUS is 
particularly beneficial for identifying smaller units that have not 
been included in surveys in-between census years and identifying 
changes to the universe of special district governments that experience 
substantial change in a five-year period. The GUS contributes to the 
quality and timely releases of the other components of the Census of 
Governments.
    The 2021 GUS consists of yes/no type questions and checkbox 
selection questions designed to determine whether a government unit is 
in operation and verify contact information. Other questions collect 
information about a unit's function, legal organization, and other 
characteristics. The 2021 GUS estimated time to respond is 15 minutes 
which is the same as the 2016 GUS. The 2021 GUS is designed to diminish 
unnecessary burden, and to collect information essential for 
maintaining the government universe.
    The scope for 2021 GUS collections is scaled back in comparison to 
the 2016 GUS collection operation. For greater efficiency, the 2021 GUS 
intends to collect information only from government units for which 
this information is difficult to obtain via other methods, such as 
internet research. There are a number of governments, particularly 
special district governments, for which information has not been 
collected since the 2017 Census of Governments. It is necessary to 
determine if these governments still exist. The GUS obtains information 
that can be difficult to verify conclusively through regular internet 
research, as many states do not provide this information for free via

[[Page 8557]]

online tools. It is necessary to verify and update this information 
prior to mailing the Employment and Finance components of the 2022 
Census of Governments. GUS information also assists the Census Bureau 
with maintaining accurate classification of all local and special 
district governments.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents will receive emails and letters about completing the 
GUS via the internet. The GUS collection instrument will be available 
online to respondents in February 2021. The website is secure, and 
respondents will receive a unique user identification and password for 
login. A toll-free number will be provided to respondents, which they 
may call to obtain assistance.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0930.
    Form Number(s): The GUS will utilize an electronic collection 
instrument and have four paths based on the type of respondent.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Public sector entities consisting of townships; 
special districts; independent school districts; and educational 
service authorities in the U.S.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 43,454.
    Estimated Time per Response: 15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 10,864.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0. (This is not the cost of 
respondents' time, but the indirect costs respondents may incur for 
such things as purchases of specialized software or hardware needed to 
report, or expenditures for accounting or records maintenance services 
required specifically by the collection.).
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Sections 161 and 193.

IV. Request for 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 shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(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 respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2020-02660 Filed 2-13-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-07-P