[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 151 (Tuesday, August 6, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63955-63956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-17320]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Community Living


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Public Comment Request; for the State Annual Long-Term Care Ombudsman 
Report (OMB Control Number 0985-0005)

AGENCY: Administration for Community Living, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is announcing an 
opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed collection of 
information listed above. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish a notice in the Federal 
Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including 
each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and 
to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This IC 
extension solicits comments on the information collection requirements 
relating to the State Annual Long-Term Care Ombudsman Report (OMB 
Control Number 0985-0005).

DATES: Comments on the collection of information must be submitted 
electronically by 11:59 p.m. (EST) or postmarked by October 7, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Submit electronic comments on the collection of information 
to: Beverley Laubert [email protected]. Submit written 
comments on the collection of information to Administration for 
Community Living, 330 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20201, Attention: 
Beverley Laubert.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: [email protected], (202) 
740-0801.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal 
agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. 
``Collection of information'' is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 
1320.3(c) and includes agency requests or requirements that members of 
the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a 
third party. The PRA requires Federal agencies to provide a 60-day 
notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of 
information, including each proposed extension of an existing 
collection of information, before submitting the collection to OMB for 
approval. To comply with this requirement, ACL is publishing a notice 
of the proposed collection of information set forth in this document.
    With respect to the following collection of information, ACL 
invites comments on our burden estimates or any other aspect of this 
collection of information, including:
    (1) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of ACL's functions, including whether the 
information will have practical utility;
    (2) the accuracy of ACL's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used to determine burden estimates;
    (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, including using automated collection techniques when 
appropriate, and other forms of information technology.
    The State Annual Long-Term Care Ombudsman Report is needed to 
comply with Administration for Community Living/Administration on Aging 
reporting requirements in the Older Americans Act (OAA); and 45 CFR 
1324.21(b)(1) and (b)(2)(v). The long-term care ombudsman report is 
used to measure the services and strategies that are provided to assist 
residents in the protection of their health, safety, welfare, or 
rights; advocate at the state and federal levels for changes needed to 
improve the quality of life and care in long-term care facilities; and 
effectively manage the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program at the state 
and federal level.
    The National Ombudsman Reporting System (NORS) was developed in 
response to these needs and directives. Section 712(c) of the OAA 
requires the state agency to establish a statewide uniform reporting 
system to:
    (1) Collect and analyze data relating to resident complaints and 
conditions in long-term care facilities for the purpose of identifying 
and resolving significant problems.
and
    (2) Submit the data on a regular basis to the state licensing/
certifying agency, other state and federal entities that the Ombudsman 
determines to be appropriate, the Assistant Secretary for Aging, and 
the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center.
    The proposed data collection tools may be found on the ACL website 
for

[[Page 63956]]

review at: https://www.acl.gov/about-acl/public-input.
    Estimated Program Burden: ACL estimates the burden of this 
collection of information as follows:
    Fifty-two grantees report to ACL using NORS.
    a. Number of respondents: 52.
    b. Frequency of response: 1.
    c. Total annual responses: 52.
    d. Hours per response: 214.
    e. Total burden hours: 11,153.

    Dated: August 1, 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. 2024-17320 Filed 8-5-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154-01-P