[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 161 (Monday, August 22, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51453-51454]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-17984]


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NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES

National Endowment for the Arts


Subject 30-Day Notice for the ``Regional and State Arts Agency 
ARP Funding Survey''; Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: National Endowment for the Arts.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a 
preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and 
Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or 
continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995. This program helps to ensure that requested data 
can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and 
financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly 
understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents 
can be properly assessed. Currently, the NEA is soliciting comments 
concerning the proposed information collection for the Regional and 
State Arts Agency American Rescue Plan (ARP) Funding Survey. Copies of 
the ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained by 
vising www.Reginfo.gov.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
address section below within 30 days from the date of this publication 
in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for proposed 
information collection requests should be sent within 30 days of 
publication of this Notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find 
this particular information collection request by selecting ``National 
Endowment for the Arts'' under ``Currently Under Review;'' then check 
``Only Show ICR for Public Comment'' checkbox. Once you have found this 
information collection request, select ``Comment,'' and enter or upload 
your comment and information. Alternatively, comments can be sent to 
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk 
Officer for the National Endowment for the Arts, Office of Management 
and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, or call (202) 395-7316, 
within 30 days from the date of this publication in the Federal 
Register.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NEA is particularly interested in 
comments which:
     Evaluate 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;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information including the validity 
of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     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, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.
    Agency: National Endowment for the Arts.
    Title: Regional and State Arts Agency ARP Funding Survey.
    OMB number: 3135-0144.
    Frequency: One-time web survey.
    Affected public: States arts agencies and regional arts 
organizations staff members.
    Estimated number of respondents: 62.
    Total burden hours: 279 hours (62 responses, average 4.5 hours).
    Total annualized capital/startup Costs: $0.
    Total annual costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): $25,000.

Description

    The planned data collection is a new information collection 
request, and the data to be collected are not available elsewhere 
unless obtained through this information collection. The web-based 
survey is planned to be administered once during winter 2023, 
contingent upon OMB approval. Knowledge gained through this information 
collection will enable the NEA to collect information on emergency 
relief funding provided by the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to state and 
regional subgrantees from the NEA. Currently, the NEA does not collect 
any information about the benefits of ARP funding awarded to states and 
regions.
    The NEA is compelled by Congress to obligate 40 percent of its 
program budget to state arts agencies and regional arts organizations 
through Partnership Agreements (20 U.S.C. 954(g)). In turn, state arts 
agencies and regional arts organizations use these funds to support 
state and regional grantmaking and other programming, ``developing 
projects and productions in the arts in such a manner as will furnish 
adequate programs, facilities, and services in the arts to all the 
people and communities in each of the several States'' (20 U.S.C. 954. 
(g)(1)). ARP funds were administered to state arts agencies and 
regional art organizations via amendments to FY 2021 Partnership 
Agreements.
    For regular Partnership Agreements, states and regional 
jurisdictions are

[[Page 51454]]

required to annually report subgrantee data to the NEA via Final 
Descriptive Reports (OMB Control Number 3135-0140). However, Final 
Descriptive Reports do not request data related to jobs and 
infrastructure investments, which were the primary purpose of ARP funds 
to state arts agencies and regional arts organizations. In an effort to 
understand the benefits and outcomes of emergency relief funds going to 
the 56 states and jurisdictions, and six regions, the NEA is partnering 
with National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) to collect data 
on the how subgrantees used ARP funds.
    The Regional and State Arts Agency ARP Funding Survey is modeled 
after the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES 
Act) Funding Survey approved by OMB under this OMB Control Number (see 
ICR Ref. No. 202105-3135-001) and administered by the NEA in 
partnership with NASAA in 2020. The two surveys are identical with the 
exception that programmatic information, like grant program name and 
description, has been updated in the Regional and State Arts Agency ARP 
Funding Survey to include ARP, not CARES Act information. The intent of 
both surveys is to assess how federal Covid-19 relief funding from the 
NEA supported the continuation or creation of jobs and investment in 
infrastructure for state and regional subgrantees. Administering the 
survey will allow the NEA to again report on the outcomes of the relief 
funds that were distributed to states arts agencies and regional arts 
organizations.
    The NEA's Office of Research & Analysis decided to survey state 
arts agencies and regional arts organizations because it would fill a 
gap in knowledge of the 40 percent of ARP funding allocated to states 
and regions. The questions in the survey will capture the jobs 
subgrantees were able to maintain or create, and the amount invested in 
infrastructure, as a result of ARP emergency relief. The survey will 
also provide an opportunity for state arts agencies and regional arts 
organizations to share additional qualitative or quantitative 
subgrantee data related to ARP funding they collected. The information 
will allow the NEA to examine the outcomes of ARP funds on subgrantees 
of state arts agencies and regional arts organizations to understand 
how these funds were used to support arts organizations and benefit the 
public.
    NASAA will report the survey data to the public in the aggregate 
and include an analysis of subgrantee data along with direct grantee 
data to understand and track outcomes of ARP funding. The primary 
indicators will be the number of jobs created or maintained by grantees 
and subgrantees (full-time and part-time), and the infrastructure 
supported with ARP funds.

    Dated: August 16, 2022.
Meghan Jugder,
Support Services Specialist, Office of Administrative Services & 
Contracts, National Endowment for the Arts.
[FR Doc. 2022-17984 Filed 8-19-22; 8:45 am]
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