[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 123 (Thursday, June 25, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38141-38142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-13684]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Case Plan Requirement, 
Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, (OMB #0970-0428)

AGENCY: Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Administration 
for Children and Families, HHS.

ACTION: Request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), 
Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS), is requesting a 3-year extension of 
the information collection--Case Plan Requirement, Title IV-E of the 
Social Security Act, (OMB #0970-0428, expiration 3/31/2021). ACF is 
reporting a change to the information collection--the burden estimates 
in the previously-approved request were based on the number of children 
in foster care as the respondent instead of the agency completing the 
case plan. The burden estimates, therefore, are adjusted accordingly.

DATES: Comments due within 60 days of publication. In compliance with 
the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, ACF is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects 
of the information collection described above.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed collection of information can be 
obtained and comments may be forwarded by emailing 
[email protected]. Alternatively, copies can also be obtained 
by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of 
Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE), 330 C Street SW, Washington, 
DC 20201, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. All requests, emailed or 
written, should be identified by the title of the information 
collection.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Description: The case plan information 
collection is authorized in sections 422(b)(8)(A)(ii) and 471(a)(16), 
and defined in sections 475 and 475A of the Social Security Act (the 
Act). Statutory requirements in the Act mandate that states, 
territories, and tribes with an approved title IV-E plan develop a case 
plan and case review system for each child in the foster care system 
for whom the state, territory, or tribe receives title IV-E 
reimbursement of foster care maintenance payments.
    The case review system assures that each child has a case plan 
designed to achieve placement in a safe setting that is the least 
restrictive, most family-like setting available and in close proximity 
to the child's parental home, consistent with the best interest and 
special needs of the child. States, territories, and tribes meeting 
these requirements also partly comply with title IV-B, section 422(b), 
of the Act, which assures certain protections for children in foster 
care.
    The case plan is a written document that provides a narrative 
description of the child-specific program of care. Federal regulations 
at 45 CFR 1356.21(g) and sections 475 and 475A of the Act delineate the 
specific information that must be addressed in the case plan. ACF does 
not specify a format for the case plan nor does ACF require submission 
of the document to the federal government. Case plan information is 
recorded in a format developed and maintained by the state, 
territorial, or tribal title IV-E agency.
    Respondents: State, territorial, and tribal title IV-E agencies.

                                                                 Annual Burden Estimates
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                                                                                      Total number of  Average  burden
                            Instrument                              Total number of    responses per      hours  per      Total burden    Annual burden
                                                                      respondents       respondent         response          hours            hours
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Case Plan.........................................................              64            26,427              4.8        8,118,374        2,706,125
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,706,125.
    Comments: The Department specifically requests comments on (a) 
whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the 
proper

[[Page 38142]]

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; (c) 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. 
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted 
within 60 days of this publication.

    Authority:  42 U.S.C. 622; 42 U.S.C. 671; 42 U.S.C. 675.

Mary B. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-13684 Filed 6-24-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P