[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 173 (Friday, September 4, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55298-55299]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-19674]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Advance Planning 
Document (APD) Process (OMB #0970-0417)

AGENCY: Office of Child Support Enforcement, Administration for 
Children and Families, Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families' (ACF) Office of 
Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) is requesting an update to the 
existing data collection for the Advance Planning Document (APD) 
process (OMB #0970-0417). OCSE proposes revisions to the annual burden 
estimates to reflect an increase in the number of states seeking 
approval to implement modernization solutions in efforts to replace 
antiquated legacy child support enforcement systems and to address an 
excess demand for emergency funding requests due to the impacts of the 
COVID-19 pandemic.

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 APD process, established at 45 CFR part 95, 
subpart F, is the procedure by which states request and obtain approval 
for Federal Financial Participation (FFP) in their cost of acquiring 
Automated Data Processing (ADP) equipment and services.

[[Page 55299]]

    State child support agencies are required to establish and operate 
a federally approved statewide ADP and information retrieval system to 
assist in child support enforcement. States are required to submit an 
initial APD containing information to assist the Secretary of the U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in determining if the 
state computerized support enforcement project planning and 
implementation meets federal certification requirements needed for the 
approval of FFP. States are then required to submit annual APD updates 
to HHS to report project status and request ongoing FFP for systems 
development, enhancements, operations, and maintenance. As-needed APDs 
are also submitted to acquire FFP when major milestones are missed or 
significant changes to project schedules occur. Based on an assessment 
of the information provided in the APD, states that do not meet the 
federal requirements necessary for approval are required to conduct 
periodic independent verification and validation services for high-risk 
project oversight.
    In addition to the APDs providing HHS with the information 
necessary to determine the allowable level of federal funding for state 
systems projects, states also submit associated procurement and data 
security documents, such as requests for proposals (RFPs), contracts, 
contract amendments, and the biennial security review reports.
    Respondents: State child support agencies.

                                             Annual Burden Estimates
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                                                   Total number
                                   Total number    of responses       Average      Total burden    Annual burden
           Instrument             of respondents        per        burden hours        hours           hours
                                                    respondent     per response
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RFP and Contract................              50             4.5               4             900             300
Emergency Funding Request.......              21               1               2              42              14
Biennial Reports................              54             1.5             1.5           121.5            40.5
Advance Planning Document.......              44             3.6             120          19,008           6,336
Operational Advance Planning                  10               3              30             900             300
 Document.......................
Independent Verification and                   3              12              10             360             120
 Validation (ongoing)...........
Independent Verification and                   4               6              16             384             128
 Validation (semiannually)......
Independent Verification and                  10              12              30           3,600           1,200
 Validation (quarterly).........
System Certification............               3               3             240           2,160             720
    Estimated Total Annual        ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............        9,158.50
     Burden Hours:..............
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    Comments: The Department specifically requests comments 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; (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: 45 CFR part 95, subpart F.

John M. Sweet, Jr,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-19674 Filed 9-3-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-41-P