[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 140 (Monday, July 22, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59115-59116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-16043]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Administration of
Psychotropic Medication to Unaccompanied Children (New Collection)
AGENCY: Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration for Children and
Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
ACTION: Request for public comments.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Administration for
Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services is inviting public comment on the proposed collection. The
request consists of two forms that will allow the Unaccompanied
Children (UC) Bureau to obtain informed consent from authorized
consenters and informed assent or agreement from unaccompanied children
for the administration of psychotropic medication.
DATES: Comments due September 20, 2024. In compliance with the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ACF is soliciting
public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection
described above.
ADDRESSES: You can obtain copies of the proposed collection of
information and submit comments by emailing [email protected].
Identify all requests by the title of the information collection.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Description: The ORR UC Bureau is proposing two new forms:
Psychotropic Medication Informed Consent (Form MMH-1) and Psychotropic
Medication Assent Notice (Form MMH-2). The proposed information
collection is necessary to allow the ORR UC Bureau to comply with a
court order and improve processes for the administration of
psychotropic medication. On June 29, 2018, Plaintiffs filed their
federal class action lawsuit in the Central District of California,
western division, captioned Lucas R. et al. v. Becerra et al. (Case No.
2:18-CV-05741 DMG PLA), asserting claims under the Flores consent
decree, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, the Due
Process clause, and the First Amendment. Plaintiffs allege violation of
unaccompanied children rights in decisions regarding family
reunification, placement in restrictive facilities, services for
children with disabilities, administration of psychotropic medication,
and access to legal assistance. On May 3, 2024, the Court granted final
approval for the settlement agreements of the Plaintiffs' claims for
disabilities, psychotropic medication, and legal assistance. As part of
the settlement agreement for the psychotropic medication claim, ORR is
required, whenever possible, to obtain informed consent for the
administration of psychotropic medication and provide certain
information to the authorized consenter. Additionally, ORR is required
to provide a written notice and obtain informed assent or agreement
from children aged 14 or older before administering psychotropic
medication. The psychotropic medication settlement agreement must be
fully implemented by August 3, 2026, but data collection must be
implemented by February 3, 2025, to ensure compliance with the
Agreement.
Respondents: Care provider grantees and contractors
Annual Burden Estimates:
[[Page 59116]]
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Number of Average burden
Form Annual number responses per hours per Total annual
of respondents respondent response burden hours
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Psychotropic Medication Informed Consent (Form 300 2 1.50 900
MMH-1).........................................
Psychotropic Medication Assent Notice (Form MMH- 300 1 0.75 225
2).............................................
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Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,125.
Comments: The Department specifically requests comments 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; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information
to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection
of information on respondents, including through the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted
within 60 days of this publication.
Authority: 6 U.S.C. 279; 8 U.S.C. 1232; 45 CFR 410; Flores v. Reno
Settlement Agreement, No. CV85-4544-RJK (C.D. Cal. 1996); Lucas R. et
al. v. Becerra et al. (Case No. 2:18-CV-05741 DMG PLA) Psychotropic
Medication Settlement Agreement.
Mary C. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-16043 Filed 7-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-45-P