[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14665-14667]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04134]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Community Living


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; 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 is announcing that the 
proposed collection of information listed above has been submitted to 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance as 
required under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This 30-day notice 
collects comments on the information collection requirements related to 
the proposed extension to 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 March 29, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection within 30 days of publication of this notice to 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find the information collection by 
selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' 
or by using the search function. By mail to the Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, New Executive Office Bldg., 725 17th St. 
NW, Rm. 10235, Washington, DC 20503, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for ACL.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act (44 U.S.C. 3506), the Administration for Community Living (ACL) has 
submitted the following proposed collection of information to OMB for 
review and clearance. Section 4 of the 21st Century Assistive 
Technology 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 territories). With

[[Page 14666]]

these funds, states and territories operate ``Statewide AT Programs'' 
that conduct activities to increase access to and acquisition of 
assistive technology (AT) for individuals with disabilities and older 
Americans. Divided into two comprehensive activity categories: ``State-
level Activities'' and ``State Leadership Activities'' a condition of 
receiving a grant to support their Statewide AT Programs, the states 
and territories must provide to ACL an application and annual progress 
reports on their activities.
    Applications: The application required of states and territories 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 section 4(d) of the 21st Century 
Assistive Technology Act (29 U.S.C. 3003(d)).
    Annual Reports: In addition to submitting a State Plan, every three 
years, states and territories are required to submit annual progress 
reports on their activities. The data required in that progress report 
is specified in section 4(f) of the 21st Century Assistive Technology 
Act (29 U.S.C. 3003(f)).
    National aggregation of data related to measurable goals is 
necessary for the Government Performance and Results Modernization 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.
    Section 8(d) of the 21st Century Assistive Technology 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 4(f) (29 U.S.C. 3003(f)). In order to make this 
possible, states and territories must provide their data uniformly. 
This data collection instrument was developed to ensure that all 56 
states and territories report data in a consistent manner in alignment 
with the requirements of section 4(f) (29 U.S.C. 3003(f)).
    ACL will use the information collected via this instrument to:
    (1) Complete the annual report to Congress required by the 21st 
Century Assistive Technology Act;
    (2) Comply with reporting requirements under the Government 
Performance and Results Modernization Act; and
    (3) Assess the progress of states and territories 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 and territories 
will be able to use the data for internal management and program 
improvement.

Comments in Response to the 60-Day Federal Register Notice

    A 60-day Federal Register Notice published in the Federal Register 
on December 28, 2023, at 88 FR 89699 with a comment period that closes 
on February 26, 2024. This information collection expires on February 
29, 2024, the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3506), requires 
publication of a 30-day Federal Register Notice and submittal to the 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB prior to expiration. 
To remain compliant, ACL has published this notice listing the public 
comments received as of the date signed to this notice.
    The date of submittal to the Federal Register occurred four days 
prior to publication of this notice. At the time of submission of this 
notice to the Federal Register, ACL received three public comments. To 
view any additional public comments and ACL response to comments 
received through the comment period that closed on February 26, 2024, 
please view the information collection request at www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find the information collection by selecting 
``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using 
the search function.

Public Comment Summary

    Proposed overall updates to the Assistive Technology (AT) Annual 
Progress Report (APR) information collection (IC) instrument and 
instruction manual to align with the reauthorization of the Assistive 
Technology Act.
    Comment Summary for Comments received as of February 21, 2024: 
Three State AT Act Program grantees commented in support of the 
proposed updates to the AT APR IC as reasonable changes to align with 
the 21st Century Assistive Technology Act.
    ACL Response: ACL Acknowledged receipt of comment.
    Comments:
    (1) Nevada Assistive Technology Collaborative: Regarding the AT 
APR, just wanted to let you know that I support the proposed changes 
and appreciate ACL making reasonable changes to align with the new AT 
Act. I believe the changes are appropriate and appreciate that they do 
not significantly increase data collection and reporting burden.
    (2) The Illinois Assistive Technology Program (IATP) supports the 
proposed changes to the Annual Progress Report. We greatly appreciate 
the fact that there are no additional data collection elements that 
would be burdensome to IATP and negatively impact our ability to 
provide quality direct services to customers. If you have any 
questions, please reach out to me.
    (3) Michigan Assistive Technology Program: These guidelines make 
sense and will not be a burden to us. Thank you for all of your work on 
this--we look forward to sharing the activities Michigan is completing 
to increase access to AT for people with disabilities in Michigan.
    Estimated Program Burden: ACL estimates the burden of this 
collection of information as follows:
    As stated above, this information collection has 3 pieces:
    (A) A web-based system that collects data from states and 
territories. Fifty-six 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, we project that clean-up and clarification of data 
elements will require no change in data burden estimates.
    (B) A performance measurement survey that states and territories 
collect from individuals. The fifty-six grantees ask consumers to 
complete surveys that provide information on their performance related 
to the state's measurable goals. Historical data from

[[Page 14667]]

states and territories indicates that the average state will ask for 
this information from 3,242 consumers at 1 minute per consumer to 
complete the question survey, for a total of 54 hours annually.
    (C) A customer satisfaction survey that states and territories 
collect from individuals. The fifty-six 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 1 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
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    Total.......................................  ..............  ..............             404          22,624
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    Dated: February 23, 2024.
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. 2024-04134 Filed 2-27-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154-01-P