[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 248 (Thursday, December 28, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 89699-89700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28626]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Community Living


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Public Comment Request; of the Performance Data for State Grants for 
Assistive Technology Program Annual Progress Report (OMB Control Number 
0985-0042)

AGENCY: Administration for Community Living, HHS.

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 information collection (IC) extension solicits comments on the 
information collection requirements relating to the Performance Data 
for State Grants for Assistive Technology Program Annual Progress 
Report (OMB Control Number 0985-0042).

DATES: Comments on the collection of information must be submitted 
electronically by 11:59 p.m. (EST) or postmarked by February 26, 2024.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Groenendaal, Administration for 
Community Living, [email protected], (202) 795-7356.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506) 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'' 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 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.
    The Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (AT Act) (29 U.S.C. 3003) 
authorizes grants to public agencies in the 50 states and the District 
of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and 
the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (states and outlying areas). 
With these funds, states and outlying areas operate ``Statewide AT 
Programs'' that conduct activities to increase access to and 
acquisition of assistive technology (AT) for individuals with 
disabilities and older Americans. As a condition of receiving a grant 
to support their Statewide AT Programs, the states and outlying areas 
must provide to ACL an application and annual progress reports on their 
activities.
    Applications: The application required of states and outlying areas 
is a three-year State Plan for Assistive Technology (State Plan for AT 
or State Plan) (OMB No. 0985-0048). The content of the State Plan for 
AT is based on the requirements in 29 U.S.C. 3003(d).
    Annual Reports: In addition to submitting a State Plan, every three 
years, states and outlying areas are required to submit annual progress 
reports on their activities. The data required in that progress report 
is specified at 29 U.S.C. 3003(f).

[[Page 89700]]

    National aggregation of data related to measurable goals is 
necessary for the Government Performance and Results Act (31 U.S.C. 
1115) as well as an Annual Report to Congress. Therefore, this data 
collection instrument provides a way for all 56 grantees--50 U.S. 
states, DC, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, 
and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to collect and 
report data on their performance in a consistent manner, including a 
uniform survey to be given to consumers. This uniform survey is 
included as part of the data collection package.
    The AT Act (29 U.S.C. 3006(d)) requires that ACL submit to Congress 
an annual report on the activities conducted under the Act and an 
analysis of the progress of the states and outlying areas in meeting 
their measurable goals. This report must include a compilation and 
summary of the data collected under Section 3003(f). In order to make 
this possible, states and outlying areas must provide their data 
uniformly. This data collection instrument was developed to ensure that 
all 56 states and outlying areas report data in a consistent manner in 
alignment with the requirements of Section 3003(f).
    As stated above, ACL will use the information collected via this 
instrument to:
    (1) Complete the annual report to Congress required by the AT Act;
    (2) Comply with reporting requirements under the Government 
Performance and Results Act; and
    (3) Assess the progress of states and outlying areas regarding 
measurable goals.
    Data collected from the grantees will provide a national 
description of activities funded under the AT Act to increase the 
access to and acquisition of AT devices and services through statewide 
AT programs for individuals with disabilities and older adults. Data 
collected from grantees will also provide information for usage by 
Congress, the Department, and the public. In addition, ACL will use 
this data to inform program management, monitoring, and technical 
assistance efforts. States will be able to use the data for internal 
management and program improvement.
    The proposed data collection tools may be found on the ACL website 
for review at: https://www.acl.gov/about-acl/public-input.
    Estimated Program Burden: ACL estimates the burden of this 
collection of information as follows. This information collection has 
three pieces:
    (A) A web-based system that collects data from states and outlying 
areas. The 56 grantees report to ACL using the web-based data 
collection system. A workgroup of grantees estimated that the average 
amount of time required to complete all responses to the data 
collection instrument is 80 hours annually. The estimated response 
burden includes time to review the instructions, gather existing data, 
and complete and review the data entries. These estimates are based on 
the experience of staff who implement these programs at the state 
level. In addition, ACL projects that clean-up and clarification of 
data elements will require no change in data burden estimates.
    (B) A performance measurement survey that states and outlying areas 
collect from individuals. The 56 grantees ask consumers to complete 
surveys that provide information on their performance related to the 
state's measurable goals. Historical data from states indicates that 
the average state will ask for this information from 3,242 consumers at 
one minute per consumer to complete the question survey, for a total of 
54 hours annually.
    (C) A customer satisfaction survey that states and outlying areas 
collect from individuals. The 56 grantees also ask consumers to 
complete customer satisfaction surveys. Historical data from states 
indicated that the average state asks for this information from 3,242 
consumers at one minute per consumer, for a total of 54 annual burden 
hours.

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                                                     Number of     Responses per     Hours per     Annual burden
       Respondent/data collection activity          respondents     respondent       response          hours
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Work-Based System...............................              56               1              80           4,480
Performance Management..........................              56               1              54           3,024
Customer Satisfaction...........................              56               1              54           3,024
Program Support.................................              56               1             208          11,648
Record Keeping Burden...........................              56               1               8             448
    Total.......................................  ..............  ..............             404          22,624
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    Dated: December 21, 2023.
Alison Barkoff,
Principal Deputy Administrator for the Administration for Community 
Living, performing the delegable duties of the Administrator and the 
Assistant Secretary for Aging.
[FR Doc. 2023-28626 Filed 12-27-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154-01-P