[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 239 (Thursday, December 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 71504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27195]



[[Page 71504]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Expedited OMB Review and Public Comment: Recordkeeping for New 
Vaccine and Mask Requirements To Mitigate the Spread of COVID-19 in 
Head Start

AGENCY: Office of Head Start, Administration for Children and Families, 
HHS.

ACTION: Request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: An Interim Final Rule with Comment Period (IFC) was published 
on November 30, 2021 that established the COVID-19 vaccination 
requirements whereby all Head Start staff, certain contractors, and 
volunteers must be vaccinated for COVID-19 by January 31, 2022. The 
Office of Head Start, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is requesting 
expedited review of an information collection request from the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) and inviting public comments on the 
following new recordkeeping requirements for Head Start programs: (1) 
Collect and maintain records on the vaccination status of staff, 
certain contractors, and volunteers in Head Start and Early Head Start 
programs, and (2) develop and maintain a written COVID-19 protocol for 
testing individuals granted vaccine exemptions including granting such 
exemptions.
    We also invite comments on the impact of this new requirement on 
the current requirement for Head Start programs to maintain, including 
regularly update, program policies and procedures for personnel 
(associated burden approved under OMB #: 0970-0148).

DATES: Comments due within 60 days of publication. In compliance with 
the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ACF is 
soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information 
collection described in this notice.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed collection of information can be 
obtained and comments may be submitted by emailing 
[email protected]. All requests should identify the title of 
the information collection.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Description: ACF is requesting that OMB grant a 180-day approval 
for this request under procedures for expedited processing. A request 
for review under normal procedures will be submitted as soon as 
possible within 180 days of the approval for this request. This request 
is for recipients of Head Start funding to maintain records of staff 
(including certain contractors) and volunteer vaccination status to 
meet the new vaccine requirements and establish written COVID-19 
testing protocols, as required by IFC: Title (86 FR 68052).
    Additionally, programs are expected to update their program 
policies and procedures to ensure costs associated with regular testing 
for those granted an exemption are an allowable use of Head Start 
funds. The recordkeeping activity of maintaining program policies and 
procedures for personnel, including the associated burden with updating 
them on an annual basis, is approved under OMB Control Number 0970-
0148. Since the new reporting requirement impacts these activities, we 
also invite public comment on these reporting requirements.
    There is no standard instrument required to be used to meet these 
recordkeeping requirements.
    Respondents: Recipients of Head Start funding.

                                             Annual Burden Estimates
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                                                                                      Average
                   Instrument                      Total number    Responses per  annual  burden  Annual  burden
                                                  of respondents    respondent         hours           hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Staff and Volunteer Reporting of New Vaccination          58,116               1          0.6667          38,744
 (one-time).....................................
Staff and Volunteer Reporting of Existing                924,000               1          0.0278        25,666.7
 Vaccination (one-time).........................
Staff and Volunteer Requesting an Exemption (one-         66,700               1          0.1667        11,116.7
 time)..........................................
Grant Recipient Maintaining Complete Records of            1,573               1          4.2403           6,670
 Vaccination Status (ongoing)...................
Grant Recipient Establishing COVID-19 Testing              1,573               1          3.3333         5,243.3
 Protocol (one-time)............................
Grant Recipient Maintaining COVID-19 Testing               1,573               1               1           1,573
 Protocol (ongoing).............................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: We estimate the one-time and 
ongoing burden to maintain records on staff and volunteer vaccination 
rates and establish and maintain a written COVID-19 testing protocol 
will result in 89,013.7 total annual burden hours.
    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. Comments will be considered and any 
necessary updates to materials made prior to, and responses provided 
in, the submission to OMB that will follow this public comment period.

(Authority: IFC [86 FR 68052])

Mary B. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-27195 Filed 12-15-21; 8:45 am]
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