[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 202 (Friday, October 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72419-72422]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-23238]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 202 / Friday, October 20, 2023 / 
Notices  

[[Page 72419]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Employment and Training 
Opportunities in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment 
on this proposed information collection. This collection is a revision 
of a currently approved collection. This information collection 
includes the requirement for case management services to individuals 
participating in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) 
Employment and Training (E&T) program as mandated by the Food and 
Nutrition Act of 2008 (FNA), as amended. The current information 
collection also includes four other provisions of the FNA and SNAP 
regulations that are being merged into other existing information 
collections. Those provisions include State agencies notifying 
individuals who have been determined ill-suited by an E&T provider for 
a particular E&T component; State agency notification to inform Able-
bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWD) about work requirements and 
the ABAWD time limit through a written notice and oral explanation; the 
requirement that State agencies inform SNAP households not otherwise 
exempt from the general work requirements in writing of available 
employment and training services at the time of recertification if 
these individuals are members of households that contain at least one 
adult, with no elderly or disabled individuals, and with no earned 
income at the their last recertification or required report; and the 
addition of four data elements to the FNS-583 reports (SNAP Employment 
and Training Program Activity Report).

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before December 19, 
2023.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: Marcie Foster, Food and Nutrition 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1320 Braddock Place, 5th 
Floor, Alexandria, VA 22314. Comments may also be submitted via email 
to [email protected]. Comments will also be accepted through the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow 
the online instructions for submitting comments electronically.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will 
be a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of this information collection should be directed to Rachel 
Gragg at 703-605-3213.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments are invited 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, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
that were used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity 
of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden 
of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other 
technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Title: Employment and Training Opportunities in the Supplemental 
Nutrition Assistance Program.
    Form Number: N/A.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-0653.
    Expiration Date: 03/31/2024.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: Section 6(d)(4)(B)(i) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 
2008 (FNA), as amended, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 
(SNAP) regulations at 7 CFR 273.7(e)(1) requires State agencies to 
provide case management services, such as comprehensive intake 
assessments, individualized service plans, progress monitoring or 
coordination with service providers to all SNAP Employment and Training 
(E&T) participants. The purpose of the case management services is to 
guide E&T participants towards appropriate E&T components and 
activities based on the participant's needs and interests, support the 
participant in the E&T program and to provide activities and resources 
that will assist the participant toward self-sufficiency. State 
agencies may adopt different modes for the delivery of case management 
services, such as virtual, over the telephone, in-person or hybrid 
approach. This information will be used to better administer the SNAP 
E&T Program and provide improved customer service to SNAP E&T 
participants. If the Department does not require State agencies to 
conduct case management services, the Department will be out of 
compliance with Federal law.
    Discussed in the Employment and Training Opportunities in the 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Final rule was the intent to 
merge certain reporting burdens to OMB Controls #0584-0064 and #0584-
0594.
    Merging OMB-Approved Burden from OMB Control Number 0584-0653 to 
OMB Control Number 0584-0064: Three provisions included in the current 
information collection for the Employment and Training Opportunities in 
SNAP are being merged into the OMB-Approved burden for the SNAP Forms: 
Applications, Periodic Reporting, Notices (OMB Control Number 0584-
0064, expiration date: 02/28/24. Those provisions include the 
requirement under 7 CFR 273.7(c)(18)(i) for notifying E&T participants 
of provider determinations; requirement under 7 CFR 273.24(b)(8) 
regarding informing Able-bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWDs) of 
the ABAWD work requirements and time limits; and the requirement under 
7 CFR 273.7(b)(5) for informing certain households of employment and 
training services.
    Merging OMB-Approved Burden for the FNS-583 from OMB Control Number 
0584-0653 to OMB Control Number 0584-0594: The requirement under 7

[[Page 72420]]

CFR 273.7(c)(11) regarding four additional data elements in the FNS-583 
reports (SNAP Employment and Training Program Activity Report) was 
merged into the OMB-Approved burden for the Food Program and Reporting 
System (OMB Control Number 0584-0594, expiration date 07/31/23 
currently under review).
    The following is the estimated burden for State agencies to 
provide, record and maintain records in State E&T management 
information systems (MIS) on the provision of case management services 
and individuals receiving case management services.
    FNS is seeking an overall burden of 375,053 respondents (53 States 
+ 375,000 Individuals/Households); 5,325,568.45 total annual responses 
(2,662,508.00 State reporting + 1,331,254 Individuals/Households 
reporting + 1,331,254 States recordkeeping; and 1,424,613.04 total 
annual burden hours (711,555.26 States reporting + 533,431,88 
Individuals/Households reporting + 186,375.56) see breakout in the 
table below.

Reporting

    Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal Government. Respondent 
groups identified include State agencies administering the SNAP E&T 
program in 50 States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the U.S. 
Virgin Islands.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of 
respondents annually for the reporting burden of case management 
services is 53 State agencies representing the agencies responsible for 
SNAP E&T administration in 50 States, the District of Columbia, Guam 
and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: The total estimated 
number of responses per respondent for the provision and documenting of 
case management services is 50,236.
    Based upon an average participation in E&T between FY 2016 to FY 
2021, it is estimated that an average of 375,000 individuals 
participates in SNAP E&T annually divided by 53 State agencies equals 
an annual average of 7,075.47 E&T participants per State agency.
    Individuals participate in E&T programs an average of 3.55 months.
    Estimated number of provisions of case management services per each 
State agency: 7,075.47 E&T participants x 3.55 months = 25,117.92.
    Estimated number of documentations of case management services per 
each State agency: 7,075.47 E&T participants x 3.55 months =25,117.92.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: The total estimated annual 
responses for the provision and documenting of case management services 
is 2,662,508.
    Estimated number of provisions of case management services per each 
State agency: 7,075.47 E&T participants x 3.55 months = 25,117.92.
    Total annual responses of provisions of case management services: 
25,117.92 x 53 State agencies = 1,331,249.76.
    Estimated number for documentations of case management services per 
each State agency: 7,075.47 E&T participants x 3.55 months = 25,117.92.
    Total annual responses for documentations of case management 
services: 25,117.92 x 53 State agencies = 1,331,249.76.
    Estimated Time per Response: The estimated hours per response is 
.27.
    Estimated time for initial case management meeting is .5 hours and 
each subsequent meeting is .25 hours, for an average of 0.3007 hours 
per meeting ([0.5 hours + .25 hours + .25 hours + 0.0676 hours]/3.55 
months = 0.3007).
    Estimated time for case manager to prepare for each case management 
session is an average of 0.1538 hours per meeting.
    Total time for provision of case management is .4545 (0.3007 + 
0.1538 = 0.4545).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: The estimated total 
annual burden on State agencies to provide and document case management 
services is 711,555.26.
    Affected Public: Individual/Household. Respondent group includes 
SNAP participants referred to SNAP E&T receiving case management 
services.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: The estimated number of 
respondents is 375,000 individuals participating in SNAP E&T and 
receive case management services. Based upon an average participation 
in E&T between FY 2016 to FY 2021.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: The estimated number 
of responses per respondent is 3.55001067. This represents the average 
number of months that E&T participants participate and receive case 
management services.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: The estimated total annual 
responses is 1,331,254.
    375,000 E&T participants receiving case management services for 
3.55 months (375,000 * 3.55 = 1,331,254.)
    Estimated Time per Response: The estimated time per response is 
.4007 hours.
    Average meeting time for each case management meeting is .3007 
hours.
    It is assumed that 90 percent of the case management meetings will 
be held telephonically or virtually with only 10 percent held in-person 
and consequently requiring the participant to travel to an E&T site 
adding one hour to the average meeting time. For this reason, the 
average meeting time per participant is 0.4007 hours per meeting 
([0.3007 *0.90] + [1.3007*.10] = 0.4007).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: The estimated total 
annual burden on respondents is 533,431.88 hours.
    See the table below for estimated total annual reporting burden for 
each type of respondent.

                     Total Annual Reporting Burden--SNAP Employment and Training Provision and Recording of Case Management Services
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  Responses                    Estimated     Estimated
Respondent category (affected       Type of                                          Estimated       per       Total annual    hours per   total burden
           public)                respondents     Burden activity    CFR citation    number of    respondent     responses     response    hours (col. G
                                                                                    respondents   (col. G/E)   (col. E x F)   (col. I/G)       x H)
A                              B...............  C...............  D..............            E            F               G           H               I
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        REPORTING
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State Government.............  State Agency E&T  Provide Case      7 CFR                  53.00    25,118.00    1,331,254.00        0.45      605,054.94
                                Case Managers.    Management        273.7(e)(1).
                                                  Services.
                                                 Document Case     7 CFR                  53.00    25,118.00    1,331,254.00        0.08      106,500.32
                                                  Management        273.7(e)(1).
                                                  Services.
                               State Agency      Notify E&T        7 CFR                   0.00         0.00            0.00        0.00            0.00
                                Eligibility       Participants of   273.7(c)(18)(i
                                Worker.           Provider          ).
                                                  Determination.

[[Page 72421]]

 
                                                 Inform ABAWDs of  7 CFR                   0.00         0.00            0.00        0.00            0.00
                                                  the ABAWD work    273.7(c)(1)(ii
                                                  requirement.      )-(iii); and
                                                                    273.24(b)(8).
                               State Agency      Develop list of   7 CFR                   0.00         0.00            0.00        0.00            0.00
                                Administrative    Employment and    273.14(b)(5).
                                Staff.            Training
                                                  Services.
                                                 Develop ABAWD     7 CFR                   0.00         0.00            0.00        0.00            0.00
                                                  written           273.7(c)(1)(ii
                                                  statement of      i).
                                                  work
                                                  requirements.
                                                 Reporting FNS-    7 CFR                   0.00         0.00            0.00        0.00            0.00
                                                  583 data          273.7(c)(11).
                                                  elements (OMB
                                                  Control #0584-
                                                  0594).
                                                 Reporting         7 CFR                   0.00         0.00            0.00        0.00            0.00
                                                  additional FNS-   273.7(c)(11).
                                                  583 data
                                                  elements.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            State Government Sub-Total                                    53.00    50,236.00    2,662,508.00        0.27      711,555.26
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individuals/Household........  E&T Participants  Participating in  7 CFR             375,000.00         3.55    1,331,254.00        0.40      533,433.48
                                                  Case Management   273.7(e)(1).
                                                  Services.
                                                 Review            7 CFR                   0.00         0.00            0.00        0.00            0.00
                                                  Information on    273.7(c)(18)(i
                                                  Provider          ).
                                                  Determination.
                                                 Read ABAWD        7 CFR                   0.00         0.00            0.00        0.00            0.00
                                                  written           273.7(c)(1)(ii
                                                  statement of      i) and
                                                  work              273.24(b)(8).
                                                  requirements.
                                                 Read list of      7 CFR                   0.00         0.00            0.00        0.00            0.00
                                                  Employment and    273.14(b)(5).
                                                  Training
                                                  Services.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Individuals/Household Sub-Total                            375,000.00         3.55    1,331,254.00        0.40      533,433.48
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Grand Total Reporting Burden                              375,053.00        10.65    3,993,762.00        0.31    1,244,988.74
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Recordkeeping

    Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal Government. Respondent 
groups identified include State agencies administering the SNAP E&T 
program in 50 States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the U.S. 
Virgin Islands.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of 
respondents annually for the recordkeeping burden for maintaining 
records of case management services is 53 State agencies, including the 
agencies responsible for SNAP E&T administration in 50 States, the 
District of Columbia, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: The total estimated 
number of responses per respondent for the provision and documenting of 
case management services is 25,118.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: The total estimated annual 
responses for the provision and documenting of case management services 
is 1,331,254.
    Estimated Time per Response: The estimated time per response is .14 
hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: The estimated total 
annual burden on respondents is 186,375.56 hours.
    See table below for estimated total burden for each type of 
respondent.

                     Total Annual Recordkeeping Burden--SNAP Employment and Training Maintaining Records of Case Management Services
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                               Estimated     Estimated
     Respondent category          Type of                                         Estimated   Responses  per   Total annual    hours per   total burden
      (affected public)         respondents    Burden activity    CFR citation    number of      respondent      responses     response    hours (col. G
                                                                                 respondents    (col. G/E)     (col. E x F)   (col. I/G)       x H)
A                             B..............  C..............  D..............            E               F               G           H               I
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      RECORDKEEPING
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State Government............  State Agency...  Maintain Case    273.7(e)(1)....        53.00       25,118.00    1,331,254.00        0.14      186,375.56
                                                Management
                                                Records.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Grand Total Recordkeeping Burden                               53.00       25,118.00    1,331,254.00        0.14      186,375.56
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



[[Page 72422]]

Tameka Owens,
Assistant Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-23238 Filed 10-19-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P