[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 33 (Friday, February 16, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12305-12306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03207]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Generic Clearance for Collection of State Administrative 
Records Data

AGENCY: Census Bureau, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information 
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment on the 
proposed extension of the collection of state level administrative 
records data, prior to the submission of the information collection 
request (ICR) to OMB for approval.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before April 16, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by 
email to Jenny Aramony at [email protected]. Please reference 
`Generic Clearance for Collection of State Administrative Records Data' 
in the subject line of your comments. You may also submit comments, 
identified by Docket Number USBC-2024-0001, to the Federal e-Rulemaking 
Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. All comments received are part of 
the public record. No comments will be posted to http://www.regulations.gov for public viewing until after the comment period 
has closed. Comments will generally be posted without change. All 
Personally Identifiable Information (for example, name and address) 
voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do 
not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or 
protected information. You may submit attachments to electronic 
comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Jenny Aramony, U.S. Census Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill Road, 
Washington, DC 20233-8400 at (301) 763-8715.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The U.S. Census Bureau plans to request clearance for acquiring 
State administrative records data in order to improve efficiency and 
accuracy in our data collections, and to improve measures of the 
population and economy. The Census Bureau has undertaken research 
projects to integrate and link Census Bureau data from current surveys 
and censuses with State administrative records data.
    The Census Bureau uses State administrative records data linked 
with other survey and census records, including but not limited to, 
data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), the 
Current Population Survey (CPS) and the American Community Survey (ACS) 
to conduct research and improve operations. The Census Bureau benefits 
from these projects by improving data quality, and producing modelbased 
estimates, improved edits and allocations, and studies of program 
participation over time. Data providers have benefited through access 
to tabulated data and reports to better administer their programs.
    The Census Bureau encourages the District of Columbia and all 50 
states to share administrative records data generally associated with, 
but not limited to: nutrition and food assistance programs, including 
the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special 
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC); 
and welfare programs, including child care subsidy; household self-
sufficiency programs, including low income energy assistance programs 
and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Data sharing and 
analysis of linked files are solely for statistical purposes, not for 
program enforcement. All State administrative records data are and will 
remain confidential under title 13, United States Code, section 9, 
whether in their original form or when comingled or linked.
    Linking records across programs, across states, or over time will 
be accomplished using a unique linkage identifier called a Protected 
Identification Key (PIK). Processing to assign a PIK to each person 
record involves matching based on combinations of name, address, sex, 
date of birth, and Social Security Number (SSN) data, as available. The 
person validation and PIK processing has been used by other Census 
Bureau research and operations projects. Only Census Bureau staff 
conducting the record linkage have access to files with Personally 
Identifiable Information, and access to those files assigned a PIK is 
limited to individuals with a need to know who have met the 
requirements of Title 13, United States Code, and have appropriate 
security clearances.
    The Census Bureau makes summary statistics and analyses using the 
State administrative records data publicly available. This information 
assists State Agencies in developing better measures of program 
participation, poverty, and inequality, and understanding the 
demographic characteristics of participants. The analyses help State 
Agencies understand variation in program participation across 
demographic subgroups and sub-state geographies, review enrollment 
rates for those eligible for assistance, analyze the effects of state 
programs on a variety of outcomes, and improve program administration 
in determining initial eligibility, establishing recertification 
periods, and expanding outreach in underserved populations and areas.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau will contact the State Agencies to discuss uses 
of State administrative records data. The State Agencies will enter 
data sharing agreements with the Census Bureau to provide 
administrative records data. The State Agency will transfer State 
administrative records to the Census Bureau via secure File Transfer 
Protocol or appropriately encrypted CD-ROM or DVD-ROM.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0995.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission, Request for an Extension, 
without Change, of a Currently Approved Collection.
    Affected Public: State Governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 51 states.
    Estimated Time per Response: 75.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,825.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $99,450 (This is not the 
cost of respondents' time, but the indirect costs respondents may incur 
for such things as purchases of specialized software or hardware needed 
to report, or expenditures for accounting or records maintenance 
services required specifically by the collection.)
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. 6.

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IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy 
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed 
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden 
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include, or summarize, each comment in our 
request to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, 
phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information 
in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--
including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly 
available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold 
your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for 
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2024-03207 Filed 2-15-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P