[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 28, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73787-73788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-28060]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; State Access and 
Visitation Grant Application (OMB #0970-0482)

AGENCY: Office of Child Support Enforcement, Administration for 
Children and Families, HHS.

ACTION: Request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE), 
Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS) is requesting a 3-year extension of the 
State Access and Visitation Grant Application (OMB #0970-0482, 
expiration 5/31/2022). There are changes requested to the form.

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 above.

ADDRESSES: You can obtain copies of the proposed collection of 
information and submit comments by emailing [email protected]. 
Identify all requests by the title of the information collection.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Description: The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 
Reconciliation Act of 1996 created the ``Grants to States for Access 
and Visitation'' program (AV grant program). Funding for the program 
began in fiscal year 1997 with a capped, annual entitlement of $10 
million. The statutory goal of the program is to provide funds to 
states that will enable them to provide services for the purpose of 
increasing noncustodial parent access to and visitation with their 
children. State governors decide which state entity will be responsible 
for implementing the AV grant program in addition to determining who 
will be served, what services will be provided, and whether the 
services will be statewide or in local jurisdictions. The statute 
specifies certain activities that may be funded, including voluntary 
and mandatory mediation, counseling, education, the development of 
parenting plans, supervised visitation, and the development of 
guidelines for visitation and alternative custody arrangements. Even 
though OCSE manages this program, funding for the AV grant is separate 
from funding for federal and state administration of the child support 
program.
    Section 469B(e)(3) of the Social Security Act (Pub. L. 104-193) 
requires that each state receiving an AV grant award shall monitor, 
evaluate, and report on such programs in accordance with regulations. 
Additionally, the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance states that 
there is an application requirement for Grants to States for Access and 
Visitation Programs (93.597). The application process assists OCSE in 
complying with this requirement and emphasizes program efficiency, 
coordination of services, building support for parenting time services, 
and ensuring the safety of parents and children.
    Specifically, the application requires states to submit a detailed 
program plan indicating how they anticipate spending their funds within 
the program statute and regulations. The applications cover 3 fiscal 
years and any changes made to the plan during the 3-year period will 
require a notification of change to OCSE.
    OCSE will review the applications to ensure that planned services 
meet the requirements laid out in section 469B(e)(3) of the Social 
Security Act (Pub. L. 104-193). This review will include monitoring of 
program compliance and the safe delivery of services. In addition to 
monitoring, the report will also assist in OCSE's ability to provide 
technical assistance to states that request assistance.
    The State Access and Visitation Grant Application is proposing 
changes to the application itself, including requirements for states 
and territories to:

--Address disparities in access;
--ensure the proactive identification of systemic barriers to AV grant 
services for people of color and other underserved populations;
--describe how grant activities will redress such barriers; and
--describe how outreach and recruitment efforts will promote equity in 
access for underserved or marginalized populations.

    The grant application also expands requirements for partnerships 
with domestic violence service providers to address the access issues 
experienced by marginalized victims of domestic violence.
    Respondents: Recipients of the State Access and Visitation Grant 
(54 states and territories).

                                                                 Annual Burden Estimates
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                                                                                      Total number of   Average burden
                             Instrument                              Total number of   responses per      hours per       Total burden    Annual burden
                                                                       respondents       respondent        response          hours            hours
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State Access and Visitation Grant Application......................              54                1               10              540              180
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 180.
    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

[[Page 73788]]

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: Sec. 469B(e)(3), Public Law 104-193.

Mary B. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-28060 Filed 12-27-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-41-P