[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 200 (Wednesday, October 18, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71869-71871]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-22956]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Community Living


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Public Comment Request; ACL Generic for Administration on Aging Formula 
Grant Programs OMB Control Number 0985-New

AGENCY: Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and 
Human Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is announcing an 
opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed collection of 
information listed above. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish a notice in the Federal 
Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including 
each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and 
to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This new 
information collection solicits comments on the information collection 
requirements relating to the ACL Generic for Administration on Aging 
Formula Grant Programs.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information must be submitted 
electronically by 11:59 p.m. (EST) or postmarked by December 18, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Submit electronic comments on the collection of information 
to: Adam Mosey, [email protected]. Submit written comments on the 
collection of information to Administration for Community Living, 330 C 
Street SW, Washington, DC 20201, Attention: Adam Mosey.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adam Mosey (202) 795-7631 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal 
agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. 
``Collection of information'' is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR

[[Page 71870]]

1320.3(c) and includes agency requests or requirements that members of 
the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a 
third party. The PRA requires Federal agencies to provide a 60-day 
notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of 
information, including each proposed extension of an existing 
collection of information, before submitting the collection to OMB for 
approval. To comply with this requirement, ACL is publishing a notice 
of the proposed collection of information set forth in this document.
    With respect to the following collection of information, ACL 
invites comments on our burden estimates or any other aspect of this 
collection of information, including:
    (1) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of ACL's functions, including whether the 
information will have practical utility;
    (2) the accuracy of ACL's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used to determine burden estimates;
    (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 
respondents, including using automated collection techniques when 
appropriate, and other forms of information technology;
    (5) ACL issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to modify the 
implementing regulations of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (``the 
Act'' or OAA) to add a new subpart (Subpart D) related to Adult 
Protective Services (APS) RIN 0985-AA18. 0985-New is referenced in 88 
FR 62503 pages 62503-62522 published on September 12, 2023. Comments 
associated with this proposed Generic Information Collection (Gen IC) 
should be submitted separately to the above listed program contact.
    As a unit of the Administration for Community Living, the 
Administration on Aging (AoA) provides expertise on program 
development, advocacy, and initiatives for older Americans and their 
caregivers and families. Working with State agencies, local agencies, 
grantees, and community providers, AoA directs programs authorized by 
the OAA, Elder Justice Act (EJA), and other legislation that supports 
older adults. Through these programs multi-year State Plans and 
assurances, and other financial forms are needed to provide approval 
and oversight of grant recipients.
    ACL is seeking OMB approval to add a new Gen IC to ACL's Paperwork 
inventory. This Gen IC will cover AoA formula grant programs for State 
Plans on Aging and assurances, State Plans on Adult Protective Services 
and assurances, and other financial forms associated with Aging formula 
grant management. Adding a Gen IC will allow for the collection of data 
across programmatic and financial management of the Aging and APS 
formula grants.

Statutory Background

    In 1965, Congress originally passed the Older Americans Act (OAA) 
in response to concerns by policymakers about a lack of community 
social services for older adults. The original legislation established 
authority for grants to States for community planning and social 
services, research and development projects, and personnel training in 
the field of aging. Changes to the OAA were made through the Supporting 
Older Americans Act of 2020 (Pub. L. 116-131). This legislation 
reauthorized the OAA and its programs from Federal fiscal year (FFY) 
2020 through 2024. The OAA provides the foundation for the National 
aging Network, which includes the Administration on Aging (AoA), State 
Units on Aging (SUA), Area Agencies on Aging (AAA), tribal 
organizations, service providers, and volunteers. SUAs are an integral 
part of the network responsible for developing and administering a 
multi-year State plan that advocates for and aids older residents, 
their families, their caregivers, and, in many States, for adults with 
disabilities.
    The Elder Justice Act, passed in 2010, is the first comprehensive 
legislation to address the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older 
adults at the Federal level. The law authorized a variety of programs 
and initiatives to better coordinate Federal responses to elder abuse, 
promote elder justice research and innovation, support Adult Protective 
Services systems, and provide additional protections for residents of 
long-term care facilities. The importance of these services at the 
State-level and local-level is demonstrated by the fact that States 
significantly leverage OAA funds to obtain other funding for these 
activities.
    The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act 
of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act provided two years of Federal 
funding ($188 million in each year) to support, for the first time, the 
nationwide APS formula grant program authorized by the Elder Justice 
Act of 2010. That funding was used by States to expand or develop a 
variety of capabilities that were necessary to meet increased needs due 
to the public health pandemic, and ongoing funding is necessary to 
maintain the improved reach and effectiveness of APS systems beyond the 
pandemic.
    The FY 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill provided, for the first 
time, an annual appropriation of $15 million to continue providing 
Federal formula grants to State APS programs. This will be the first 
time State entities are required to develop and submit State plans on 
Adult Protective Services under Section 2042 of the Elder Justice Act, 
42 U.S.C. 1397m-1(b). However, States have developed spending plans for 
the formula funding received to date, consistent with 45 CFR 75.206(d), 
and to update those every three to five years.
    This new Gen IC is for programmatic and financial management of the 
Aging and APS formula grants. The purpose of the State Plans and 
assurances is to document and provide the opportunity for public 
comment of achievements and planned activities for the multi-year plan 
period. A wide range of constituents use or will use the State Plans to 
coordinate, monitor, evaluate, and improve Aging Network and APS 
support services by using the State Plans as a blueprint for service 
planning and delivery.
    Additionally, ACL leverages State Plans to understand the numerous 
services older adults use, and to utilize the information for 
advocating for the needs of older adults and those who use APS and for 
requesting additional funding. The purpose of the other financial forms 
that are a part of this Gen IC is to facilitate OAA formula grant 
management.
    Financial forms provide statutorily required information regarding 
each State's contribution to programs to ensure compliance with 
legislative requirements, pertinent Federal regulations, and other 
applicable instructions and guidelines issued by ACL. This information 
will be used for Federal oversight of the Aging Programs. Based on 
ACL's extensive experience working with APS systems and OAA grantees on 
their State plans, ACL does not anticipate a significantly greater 
level of detail for the development of State plans for APS.
    Since a new Gen IC does not permit the public to examine the 
details of each individual collection, the ACL Generic for 
Administration on Aging Formula Grant Programs 0985-New Proposed Gen IC 
Plan can be found on the ACL website for review and comment at:

[[Page 71871]]

https://www.acl.gov/about-acl/public-input.
    In accordance with the PRA 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 44 U.S.C. 
3507(a)(1)(D) ACL details the proposed Gen IC pertaining to:
     the method of collection;
     the category (or categories) of respondents;
     the estimated maximum number of burden hours (per year) 
for the specific information collections, and against which burden will 
be charged for each collection actually used;
     ACL's plans for how it will use the information collected; 
and
     ACL's internal procedures to ensure that the specific 
collections comply with the PRA, applicable regulations, and the terms 
of the generic clearance.
    Estimated Program Burden: ACL estimates the burden of this 
collection of information as follows:

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Table
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                                                                     Number of    Average burden
  Respondent/data collection          Form           Number of     responses per     hours per     Total burden
           activity                                 respondents     respondent       response          hours
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State Unit on Aging (SUA).....  State Plan on               14.7               1              80           1,176
                                 Aging.
State Entity for APS..........  State Plan on                 56               1               6             336
                                 APS.
State Entity for APS..........  Required                      56               3              10           1,680
                                 Assurances for
                                 APS (4).
State Unit on Aging (SUA).....  Financial Forms.              56               5               1             280
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Estimated Burden....  ................  ..............  ..............  ..............           3,472
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    Dated: October 12, 2023.
Alison Barkoff,
Senior official performing the duties of the Administrator and the 
Assistant Secretary for Aging.
[FR Doc. 2023-22956 Filed 10-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154-01-P