[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 36 (Thursday, February 25, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11545-11546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-03868]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Community Living

[OMB N0. 0985-0048]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Public Comment Request; State Grants for Assistive Technology Program 
State Plan for Assistive Technology

AGENCY: Administration for Community Living, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is announcing an 
opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed collection of 
information listed above. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(the PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish a notice in the 
Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, 
including each proposed renewal of an existing collection of 
information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the 
notice. This notice solicits comments on the Proposed Extension without 
Change on the information collection requirements related to the State 
Grants for Assistive Technology Program State Plan for AT.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information must be submitted 
electronically by 11:59 p.m. (EST) or postmarked by April 26, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Submit electronic comments on the collection of information 
to: Robert Groenendaal, [email protected]. Submit written 
comments on the collection of information to the Administration for 
Community Living 330 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20201. Attention: 
Robert Groenendaal.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Groenendaal, Assistive 
Technology Program Manager, Center for Innovation and Partnership in 
the Office of Interagency Innovation Administration for Community 
Living 330 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20201, Phone: 202-795-7356, 
Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA, Federal agencies must obtain 
approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each 
collection of information they conduct or sponsor. ``Collection of 
information,'' is defined as and includes agency requests or 
requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep records, 
or provide information to a third party.
    The PRA requires Federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the 
Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, 
including each proposed extension of an existing collection of 
information, before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To 
comply with this requirement, ACL is publishing a notice of the 
proposed collection of information set forth in this document.
    With respect to the following collection of information, ACL 
invites comments on our burden estimates or any other aspect of this 
collection of information, including:
    (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of ACL's functions, including whether the 
information will have practical utility;
    (2) the accuracy of ACL's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used to determine burden estimates;
    (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques when appropriate, and other forms of information technology.
    The information collected through this data collection instrument 
is necessary for ACL and states to comply with Sections 4 and 7 of the 
Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended (AT Act). ACL is 
requesting a revision of the state plan data collection instrument (OMB 
No. 0985-0048). Approval of 0985-0048 expires March 31, 2021.
    Section 4 of the AT Act authorizes grants to public agencies in the 
50 states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin 
Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Marianas (states and outlying areas). With these funds, the 56 states 
and outlying areas operate ``Statewide AT Programs'' that conduct 
activities to increase access to and acquisition of assistive 
technology (AT) for individuals with disabilities and older Americans.

[[Page 11546]]

    Divided into two comprehensive activity categories: ``State-level 
Activities'' and ``State Leadership Activities,'' according to Section 
4 of the AT Act, as a condition of receiving a grant to support their 
Statewide AT Programs, the 56 states and outlying areas must provide to 
ACL: (1) Applications and (2) annual progress reports on their 
activities.
    Applications: The application required of states and outlying areas 
is a three-year State Plan for Assistive Technology (State Plan for AT 
or State Plan) (OMB No. 0985-0048). The content of the State Plan for 
AT is based on the requirements in Section 4(d) of the AT Act.
    Annual Reports: In addition to submitting a State Plan, every three 
years, states and outlying areas are required to submit annual progress 
reports on their activities. The data required in that progress report 
is specified in Section 4(f) of the AT Act (OMB No. 0985-0042).
    National aggregation of data related to measurable goals is 
necessary for the Government Performance and Results Modernization Act 
of 2010 (GPRAMA) (Pub. L. 111-352), as well as an Annual Report to 
Congress (see ``Section 7 Requirements Necessitating Collection'' 
below). Therefore, this data collection instrument provides a way for 
all 56 grantees--50 U.S. states, DC, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin 
Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands to collect and report data on their activities in a 
consistent manner, including a uniform survey to be given to consumers. 
This uniform survey is included as part of the data collection package.
    Section 7(d) of the AT Act requires that ACL submit to Congress an 
annual report on the activities conducted under the Act and an analysis 
of the progress of the states and outlying areas in meeting their 
measurable goals. This report must include a compilation and summary of 
the data collected under Section 4(f). In order to make this possible, 
states and outlying areas must provide their data uniformly. This data 
collection instrument was developed to ensure that all 56 states and 
outlying areas report data in a consistent manner in alignment with the 
requirements of Section 4(f).
    As stated above, ACL will use the information collected via this 
instrument to:
    (1) Complete the annual report to Congress required by the AT Act;
    (2) Comply with reporting requirements under the Government 
Performance and Results Modernization Act of 2010 (GPRAMA) (Pub. L. 
111-352); and
    (3) Assess the progress of states and outlying areas regarding 
measurable goals. Data collected from the grantees will provide a 
national description of activities funded under the AT Act to increase 
the access to and acquisition of AT devices and services through 
statewide AT programs for individuals with disabilities. Data collected 
from grantees will also provide information for usage by Congress, the 
Department, and the public. In addition, ACL will use this data to 
inform program management, monitoring, and technical assistance 
efforts. States will be able to use the data for internal management 
and program improvement.
    To review the proposed data collection tools please visit the ACL 
website at: https://www.acl.gov/about-acl/public-input.
    Estimated Program Burden: ACL estimates the burden associated with 
this collection of information as follows:

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                                                 Number of      Responses per      Hours per      Annual burden
     Respondent/data collection activity        respondents       respondent        response          hours
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State Plan for Assistive Technology.........              56                1             73.0            4,088
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    Dated: February 19, 2021.
Alison Barkoff,
Acting Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging.
[FR Doc. 2021-03868 Filed 2-24-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154-01-P