[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 12 (Thursday, January 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3429-3430]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00822]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

[OMB Number 1121-0314]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection 
eComments Requested; Extension of a Previously Approved Collection; 
Firearm Inquiry Statistics (FIST) Program

AGENCY: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Department of Justice.

[[Page 3430]]


ACTION: 60-Day notice.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Justice Statistics, Department of Justice (DOJ) 
will be submitting the following information collection request to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted for 60 days until 
March 18, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have comments especially on the 
estimated public burden or associated response time, suggestions, or 
need a copy of the proposed information collection instrument with 
instructions or additional information, please contact Elizabeth J. 
Davis, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 810 Seventh Street NW, Washington, 
DC 20531 (email: [email protected]; telephone: 202-307-0765).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Written comments and suggestions from the 
public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of 
information are encouraged. Your comments should address one or more of 
the following four points:

--Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary 
for the proper performance of the functions of the Bureau of Justice 
Statistics, 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;
--Evaluate whether and if so how the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected can be enhanced; 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 
submission of responses.

    Abstract: Through the Firearm Inquiry Statistics (FIST) Program, 
BJS obtains annual information from State and local checking agencies 
responsible for maintaining records on the number of background checks 
for firearm transfers or permits that were issued, processed, tracked, 
or conducted during the calendar year. Specifically, State and local 
checking agencies are asked to provide information on the number of 
applications and denials for firearm transfers received or tracked by 
the agency and reasons why applications were denied. BJS combines these 
data with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) National Instant 
Criminal Background Check System (NICS) transaction data to produce 
comprehensive national statistics on firearm applications and denials 
resulting from the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 and 
similar State laws governing background checks and firearm transfers. 
BJS will also collect information from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, 
Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) on denials screened and referred to ATF 
field offices for investigation and possible prosecution. BJS publishes 
FIST data on the BJS website in statistical tables and uses the 
information to respond to inquiries from Congress, Federal, State, and 
local government officials, researchers, students, the media, and other 
members of the general public interested in criminal justice 
statistics.

Overview of This Information Collection

    1. Type of Information Collection: Extension of a previously 
approved collection.
    2. Title of the Form/Collection: 2023-2026 Firearm Inquiry 
Statistics (FIST) Program.
    3. Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the 
Department sponsoring the collection: The form number is FIST-1. The 
applicable component within the Department of Justice is the Bureau of 
Justice Statistics (BJS), in the Office of Justice Programs.
    4. Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as 
well as the obligation to respond: Affected public are State and local 
government. The obligation to respond is voluntary.
    5. An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of 
time estimated for an average respondent to respond: The annual 
estimated number of respondents for the FIST data collection is 1,009. 
The estimated time per response is 25 minutes to complete the FIST 
survey form.
    6. An estimate of the total annual burden (in hours) associated 
with the collection: The total annual burden for this collection is 420 
hours, for a total of 1,680 hours for the 2023-2026 FIST program.
    7. An estimate of the total annual cost burden associated with the 
collection, if applicable: $0.

                                            Total Annual Burden Hours
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                                                                                     Time per      Total annual
            Activity                 Number of       Frequency     Total annual      response         burden
                                    respondents                      responses         (min)          (hours)
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2023 Survey.....................           1,009               1           1,009              25             420
    Unduplicated Totals.........           1,009                           1,009                             420
2024 Survey.....................           1,009               1           1,009              25             420
    Unduplicated Totals.........           1,009                           1,009                             420
2025 Survey.....................           1,009               1           1,009              25             420
    Unduplicated Totals.........           1,009                           1,009                             420
2026 Survey.....................           1,009               1           1,009              25             420
    Unduplicated Totals.........           1,009                           1,009                             420
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        Unduplicated Total 2023-           1,009  ..............  ..............  ..............           1,680
         2026...................
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    If additional information is required, contact: Darwin Arceo, 
Department Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice, 
Justice Management Division, Policy and Planning Staff, Two 
Constitution Square, 145 N Street NE, 3E.405A, Washington, DC 20530.

    Dated: January 11, 2024.
Darwin Arceo,
Department Clearance Officer for PRA, U.S. Department of Justice.
[FR Doc. 2024-00822 Filed 1-17-24; 8:45 am]
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