[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 178 (Friday, September 17, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51911-51912]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20132]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-7040-N-10]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Operating Fund 
Shortfall Program Financial Reporting and Monitoring; OMB Control No.: 
2577-New

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian 
Housing, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: HUD is seeking approval from the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for the information collection described below. In 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), HUD is requesting 
comment from all interested parties on the proposed collection of 
information. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of 
public comment.

DATES: Comments Due Date: November 16, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name/or OMB 
Control number and should be sent to: Colette Pollard, Reports 
Management Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 
451 7th Street SW, Room 4176, Washington, DC 20410-5000; telephone 202-
402-5564 (this is not a toll-free number) or email 
[email protected] for a copy of the proposed forms or other 
available information. Persons with hearing or speech impairments may 
access this number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay 
Service at (800) 877-8339.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dacia Rogers, Office of Policy, 
Programs and Legislative Initiatives, PIH, Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, Washington, DC 20410; telephone 
202-402-3374. This is not a toll-free number. Persons with hearing or 
speech impairments may access this number through TTY by calling the 
toll-free Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Copies of available 
documents

[[Page 51912]]

submitted to OMB may be obtained from Ms. Rogers.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice informs the public that HUD is 
seeking approval from OMB for the information collection described in 
Section A.

A. Overview of Information Collection

    Title of Information Collection: OpFund Shortfall Program Financial 
Reporting and Monitoring.
    OMB Control Number: 2577-New.
    Type of Request: New.
    Agency Form Numbers: HUD-XXXXX, HUD-XXXXX, HUD-XXXXX, HUD-XXXXX, 
HUD-52574.
    Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use: The 
Shortfall Program has been in operation for two years and was created 
through annual Appropriations laws providing a $25 million set-aside in 
the Public Housing Fund to assist Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) 
experiencing or at risk of financial shortfalls. The program targets 
PHAs with the lowest Public Housing reserves. Funding is allocated to 
raise PHAs' reserves to two months of expenses. The calculation that 
determines this value is outlined in Section 4 of the Shortfall Notice: 
PIH-2021-12. Along with the infusion of funds, PHAs create Improvement 
Plans to improve their financial situation and address financial 
issues. However, without a Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) approved 
information collection, it is difficult to monitor the PHAs financial 
changes and successes in an expeditious way. OMB requested that PIH 
begin to collect enough information from PHAs to evaluate the efficacy 
of the program in improving PHA's financial situation. This PRA 
information collection is being submitted to improve the effectiveness 
of the program (through monitoring and risk management) which 
ultimately helps the PHAs reach sustainable financial success. This PRA 
information collection will include a short-form budget for PHAs to 
report their budget and actuals through the year so that financial and 
operational performance can be evaluated; an Action Item Template, 
which will increase accountability towards making financial 
improvements; and Shortfall Program Application and Appeal forms. These 
forms will be accessible to PHA and HUD staff through a web-based 
portal to increase operational efficiency.
    Respondents (i.e., affected public): Public Housing Agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,300.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 4,274.
    Frequency of Response: Varies.
    Average Hours per Response: .55.
    Total Estimated Burdens: 537.5.
    Burden hours for form(s) showing zero burden hours in this 
collection are reflected in the OMB approval number cited or do not 
have a reportable burden.

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                                                             * Average
                                             Number of       number of     Total annual    Burden hours/                                   Total annual
         Information collection             respondents    reponses per      responses      minutes per     Total hours     Hourly cost        cost
                                                            respondent                       response
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HUD-XXXXX (y) (Mini Shortfall Budget)...             194               3             582             0.5             291          $34.86      $10,144.26
HUD-XXXXX(z) (Action Item Template).....             194               1             194               1             194           34.86        6,762.84
HUD-52574 (OMB 2577-0026)...............           3,300               1           3,300               0               0               0            0.00
HUD-XXXXX(a) (Shortfall Application)....             194               1             194            0.25            48.5           34.86        1,690.71
HUD-XXXXX(b) (Shortfall Appeal).........               4               1               4               1               4           34.86          139.44
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    Totals..............................           3,300          varies           4,274            2.75           537.5  ..............       18,737.25
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B. Solicitation of Public Comment

    This notice is soliciting comments from members of the pubic and 
affected parties concerning the collection of information described in 
Section A on the following:
    (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden of the proposed 
collection of information;
    (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 
those who are to respond; including through the use of appropriate 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.
    HUD encourages interested parties to submit comment in response to 
these questions.

C. Authority

    Section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35.

    Dated: September 10, 2021.
Laura Miller-Pittman,
Chief, Office of Policy, Programs, and Legislative Initiatives.
[FR Doc. 2021-20132 Filed 9-16-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P