[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 144 (Friday, July 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 60600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-16475]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
are requested regarding; whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to 
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.
    Comments regarding this information collection received by August 
26, 2024 will be considered. Written comments and recommendations for 
the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days 
of the publication of this notice on the following website 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function. An agency may not 
conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of 
information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the 
agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection 
of information that such persons are not required to respond to the 
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB 
control number.

Food and Nutrition Service

    Title: Child Nutrition Programs: Community Eligibility Provision--
Increasing Options for Schools.
    OMB Control Number: 0584-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: The Child Nutrition rule, ``Child Nutrition 
Programs: Community Eligibility Provision--Increasing Options for 
Schools (RIN 0584-AE93)'' amends the regulations associated with the 
School Meals Program, which consists of the National School Lunch 
Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP). The rule expands 
access to the Community Eligibility Program (CEP) by lowering the 
minimum identified student percentage participation threshold from 40 
to 25 percent. This would give States and schools greater flexibility 
to choose to invest non-Federal funds so that no-cost meals can be 
offered to all enrolled students. Students who are classified as 
``identified students'' are directly certified for free school meals 
and do not need to submit a household application. The proposal to 
lower the required identified student percentage expands access to the 
CEP, which provides more schools with an additional option for offering 
no-cost meals to students without requiring households to submit 
applications for the free and reduced-price meals. This rule amends 
existing information collection requirements that are currently 
approved in OMB Control Number 0584-0026 7 CFR part 245--Determining 
Eligibility for Free and Reduced Price Meals and Free Milk in Schools. 
Due to priorities for a number of high-profile rules and other workload 
priorities, FNS requested a new OMB control number for this collection. 
FNS intends to merge this new information collection into OMB Control 
Number 0584-0026 at a later date. Once this information collection 
request is approved by OMB, the agency will publish a separate notice 
in the Federal Register announcing OMB's approval.
    Need and Use of the Information: FNS collects information for this 
collection, which contains both mandatory and required to obtain or 
retain benefit requirements, from State administering agencies, local 
education agencies (LEAs), and households. The information collected 
from State agencies and LEAs ensures that eligibility determinations 
are verified. The information collected from households is used to 
determine eligibility for free and reduced-price meal benefits to 
verify eligibility determinations. FNS uses the information to verify 
that the States and LEAs are eligible to elect the CEP and to ensure 
compliance with the regulations. Households must meet requirements to 
receive free or reduced-price meal benefits.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government; 
Individuals or Households.
    Number of Respondents: 3,485,189.
    Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: On occasion; 
Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 626,375.

Rachelle Ragland-Greene,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-16475 Filed 7-25-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P