[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 19, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43011-43012]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15309]


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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; National Service Criminal History Check Recordkeeping 
Requirement

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service, operating 
as AmeriCorps, has submitted a public information collection request 
(ICR) entitled National Service Criminal History Check Recordkeeping 
Requirement for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the individual and office 
listed in the ADDRESSES section by August 18, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of this ICR, with applicable 
supporting documentation, may be obtained by calling the Corporation 
for National and Community Service, Elizabeth Appel, at 202-967-5070 or 
by email to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The OMB is particularly interested in 
comments which:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of CNCS, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information,

[[Page 43012]]

including the validity of the methodology and assumptions;
     Propose ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity 
of the information to be collected; and
     Propose ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    A 60-day Notice requesting public comment was published in the 
Federal Register on March 14, 2022 at 87 FR 14255. This comment period 
ended May 13, 2022, and AmeriCorps received 56 comments by the comment 
deadline identifying a number of issues.
    Many comments directly addressed the time burden required by this 
information collection. Everyone who commented on the agency's 
estimated time burden stated that the estimated 5 minutes per 
individual was significantly lower than the time actually required to 
fulfill a National Service Criminal History Check (NSCHC) for an 
individual in order to obtain the required records under this 
information collection. Recommended new estimates ranged from 30 
minutes per individual to 4 hours per individual. Several commenters 
noted that a missing element of the estimate is the travel time it 
takes to take individuals to get fingerprinted, given that the closest 
fingerprinting facilities in rural or remote areas may be located up to 
a four hours' drive away. A few commenters also noted that the burden 
of completing the NSCHC training course and staying updated on 
requirements had not been factored into the time estimate. Based on 
this input, AmeriCorps has adjusted its estimates of time burden to 
reflect that it takes, on average, an estimated 135 minutes (2 hours 
and 15 minutes) per covered individual. AmeriCorps has streamlined and 
clarified requirements on its website at americorps.gov/grantees-sponsors/history-check over the past year, and will continue to review 
to determine whether any additional clarifications could be made to 
reduce burden given that respondents are responsible for reading and 
understanding the requirements for compliance with the law.
    Commenters also raised issues related to difficulties with the 
AmeriCorps-approved vendors. AmeriCorps underwent the required Federal 
procurement process to select Fieldprint and Truescreen as contractors 
to serve as the approved vendors. AmeriCorps will forward these 
comments to the vendors for any appropriate remedial action and will 
consider the issues presented in soliciting future proposals for 
approved vendor contracts. Comments also raised issues that are beyond 
the scope of this information collection; however, AmeriCorps is 
maintaining a comprehensive record of all these comments and the issues 
raised in the comments for consideration as it continues implementation 
of the statutory requirements for NSCHCs.
    Finally, the other issues raised in the comments in response to the 
60-day notice were already raised and addressed in the rulemaking 
process that culminated in 2021 in the current regulation, such as who 
must undergo an NSCHC, what the NSCHC consists of, and when the NSCHC 
must be completed. See 86 FR 1141 (February 24, 2021).
    Title of Collection: National Service Criminal History Check 
Recordkeeping Requirement.
    OMB Control Number: 3045-0150.
    Type of Review: Renewal.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Businesses and organizations 
(AmeriCorps grantees and subgrantees).
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 337,071.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 758,410.
    Abstract: Section 189D of the National and Community Service Act of 
1990, as amended, requires AmeriCorps grantees and subgrantees to 
conduct a National Service Criminal History Check on individuals in 
covered positions. Documenting compliance with the requirement is 
critical to that responsibility. The Check includes a nationwide check 
of the National Sex Offender Public website, a check of the State 
criminal history record repository or agency-designated alternative for 
the individual's State of residence and State of service, and a 
fingerprint-based check of the FBI criminal history record database 
through the State criminal history record repository or agency-approved 
vendor. One way for grant recipients or subrecipients to obtain and 
document the required components is through the use of agency-approved 
vendors, but use of vendors is not required. The currently approved 
information collection is due to expire on July 31, 2022. This notice 
announces AmeriCorps' intention to seek renewal of the information 
collection approval without revisions, but with an adjustment of burden 
hours.

    Dated: July 13, 2022.
Fernando Laguarda,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2022-15309 Filed 7-18-22; 8:45 am]
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