[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 128 (Thursday, July 2, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 39935]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-14245]



[[Page 39935]]

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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

[OMB Number 1121-0314]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comments Requested; Extension, With Change, of a Previously Approved 
Collection: Firearm Inquiry Statistics (FIST) Program

AGENCY: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Department of Justice.

ACTION: 30-Day notice.

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SUMMARY:  The Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs, 
Bureau of Justice Statistics, will be submitting the following 
information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995. The proposed information collection was 
previously published in the Federal Register allowing a 60-day comment 
period. BJS received one comment in response. The comment supported 
expanding the collection to a census of all agencies rather than a 
sample, changes to the questions from previous versions of the survey, 
and requested expansion of the data collection to include information 
on prosecutions of firearm dealers and timelier reporting. BJS retained 
the changes to the questions. In reviewing the methodology, BJS decided 
to continue using a sample rather than a census of checking agencies to 
keep a lower total burden. The FIST program is not able to capture the 
information required to report on prosecutions of firearm dealers.

DATES:  Comments are encouraged and will be accepted for 30 days until 
August 3, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Written comments and recommendations 
for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days 
of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. 
Find this particular information collection by selecting ``Currently 
under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search 
function.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  Written comments and suggestions from the 
public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of 
information are encouraged. Your comments should address one or more of 
the following four points:

--Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary 
for the proper performance of the functions of the Bureau of Justice 
Statistics, including whether the information will have practical 
utility;
--Evaluate 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;
--Evaluate whether and if so how the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected can be enhanced; and
--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, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses.

Overview of This Information Collection

    (1) Type of Information Collection: Extension of a currently 
approved collection.
    (2) The Title of the Form/Collection: 2019-2021 Firearm Inquiry 
Statistics Program.
    (3) The agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of 
the Department sponsoring the collection: The form number is FIST-1. 
The applicable component within the Department of Justice is the Bureau 
of Justice Statistics, Office of Justice Programs.
    (4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as 
well as a brief abstract: Through the Firearm Inquiry Statistics (FIST) 
Program, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) obtains information 
from state and local checking agencies responsible for maintaining 
records on the number of background checks for firearm transfers or 
permits that were issued, processed, tracked, or conducted during the 
calendar year. Specifically, state and local checking agencies are 
asked to provide information on the number of applications and denials 
for firearm transfers received or tracked by the agency and reasons why 
applications were denied. BJS combines these data with the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) National Instant Criminal Background 
Check System (NICS) transaction data to produce comprehensive national 
statistics on firearm applications and denials resulting from the Brady 
Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 and similar state laws 
governing background checks and firearm transfers. BJS also plans to 
collect information from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and 
Explosives (ATF) on denials screened and referred to ATF field offices 
for investigation and possible prosecution. BJS publishes FIST data on 
the BJS website in statistical tables and uses the information to 
respond to inquiries from Congress, federal, state, and local 
government officials, researchers, students, the media, and other 
members of the general public interested in criminal justice 
statistics.
    (5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount 
of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: A projected 
1,105 respondents will take part in the FIST data collection with an 
average of 25 minutes for each to complete the FIST survey form.
    (6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated 
with the collection: The estimated public burden hours associated with 
this collection is 460 hours annually.
    If additional information is required contact: Melody Braswell, 
Department Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice, 
Justice Management Division, Policy and Planning Staff, Two 
Constitution Square, 145 N Street NE, 3E.405A, Washington, DC 20530.

    Dated: June 26, 2020.
Melody Braswell,
Department Clearance Officer for PRA, U.S. Department of Justice.
[FR Doc. 2020-14245 Filed 7-1-20; 8:45 am]
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