[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 168 (Friday, August 28, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53319-53320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18952]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: National Study of State 
Adoption and Use of Pandemic-Electronic Benefit Transfer During Covid-
19

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 proposed information collection. This collection is a new 
collection to collect information on the operational aspects of the 
Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer program (P-EBT).

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before October 27, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: Edward Harper, Food and Nutrition 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1320 Braddock Place, 
Alexandria, VA 22314. Comments may also be submitted via fax to the 
attention of Edward Harper at 703-305-2340 or 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 Edward 
Harper at 703-305-2340.

[[Page 53320]]


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: National Study of State Adoption and Use of Pandemic-
Electronic Benefit Transfer during Covid-19.
    Form Number: Not applicable.
    OMB Number: Not Yet Assigned.
    Expiration Date: Not Yet Assigned.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Abstract: The Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 
provides the Secretary of Agriculture authority to approve State agency 
plans for temporary emergency benefits under the Food and Nutrition Act 
of 2008. Children who would receive free or reduced-price meals under 
the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, if not for the school 
closures, are eligible under this provision.
    This collection seeks to gather information on operational issues 
and challenges encountered by Child Nutrition (CN) and Supplemental 
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) State agencies while implementing 
the PEBT program. The study will collect information on State systems, 
including student information and direct certification systems and the 
records contained in those systems, school meal application data, 
information on the efficacy of the PEBT program, costs of operating the 
program, and organizational and operational challenges. This study will 
also seek to collect administrative data on per recipient benefits at 
the school district level.
    Affected Public: Respondent groups include: (1) All CN State 
agencies administering the NSLP and SBP; (2) All SNAP State agencies 
administering the SNAP program.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of 
respondents is 150. This includes 75 CN State agency respondents and 75 
SNAP State agency respondents. In some States, more than one State 
agency administers the school meal programs. There are 59 State 
agencies that administer the school meal programs. The additional 
respondents included in the estimate account for time spent consulting 
with staff actively involved in the P-EBT operations.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: The CN and SNAP State 
agencies will be asked to complete one survey and provide requested 
administrative data for the period P-EBT was operational. There will be 
one response per respondent.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 150 x 1 = 150.
    Estimated Time per Response: The response time is estimated to be 
about 3 hours for each CN and SNAP State agency to complete.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 450 hours. See the 
table below for estimated total annual burden for each State agency 
director.

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                                                                                  Estimated avg.
                                     Estimated       Responses     Total annual      number of       Estimated
           Respondent                 number       annually per      responses       hours per      total hours
                                    respondent      respondent                       response
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                                                Reporting Burden
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Child Nutrition State agencies..              75               1           75.00               3             225
SNAP State agencies.............              75               1           75.00               3             225
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Pamilyn Miller,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-18952 Filed 8-27-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P