[Federal Register: May 24, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 99)]
[Notices]
[Page 29725-29726]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24my05-46]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request
AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service
(hereinafter the ``Corporation''), as part of its continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance
consultation program to provide the general public and federal agencies
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (PRA95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program helps to
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format,
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized,
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of
collection requirement on respondents can be properly assessed.
Currently, the Corporation is soliciting comments concerning its
proposed reinstatement of its State Administrative Standards
(hereinafter `Standards') form. This form is used by the Corporation as
one of its oversight and monitoring tools of the state commissions that
are Corporation grantees.
Copies of the information collection requests can be obtained by
contacting the office listed in the address section of this notice.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the individual and office
listed in the ADDRESSES section by July 25, 2005.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by the title of the
information collection activity, by any of the following methods:
(1) By mail sent to: Corporation for National and Community
Service, AmeriCorps*State/National; Attention Gayle Hilleke, Project
Manager, State Administrative Standards, Room 9510; 1201 New York
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC, 20525.
(2) By hand delivery or by courier to the Corporation's mailroom at
Room 6010 at the mail address given in paragraph (1) above, between 9
a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
(3) By fax to: (202) 565-2789, Attention Gayle Hilleke, Project
Manager, State Administrative Standards.
[[Page 29726]]
(4) Electronically through the Corporation's e-mail address system:
ghilleke@cns.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gayle Hilleke, (202) 606-5000, ext.
431, or by e-mail at ghilleke@cns.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Corporation is particularly interested
in comments that:
Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the
Corporation, including whether the information will have practical
utility;
Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
Propose ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
of the information to be collected; and
Propose ways to minimize the burden of the collection of
information on those who are expected to respond, including the use of
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological
collection techniques or other forms of information technology (e.g.,
permitting electronic submissions of responses).
Background
The State Administrative Standards form was developed in 1999 in
consultation with state commissions. State commissions collectively
asked for clearly stated standards by which the Corporation would
assess the adequacy of their administrative systems. Indicators of
competency were developed for each element of the Standards. All fifty-
two commissions were reviewed once using the Standards form. The
Corporation took the next year and a half to assess the process, design
a new risk-based approach (as suggested by our internal audit), and
streamline the form by eliminating redundancies, combining similar
items, and clarifying the language.
The information that is collected will help the Corporation
determine the extent to which each state commission has in place the
administrative systems for effective operation. The form will be used
for both self- and external assessments of the state commissions.
Assessment results will be used by grantees for continuous improvement
and by the Corporation for guiding training and technical assistance
resources, determining appropriate levels of grantee oversight, and
determining eligibility for access to competitive funding.
Current Action
The Corporation seeks to reinstate and revise the previous form.
When revised, the form will be reduced from eleven (11) standards
containing a total of one hundred and nine (109) elements to eight (8)
standards with a total of sixty (60) elements. The form will now be
completed in eGrants. The form will otherwise be used in the same
manner as the previous form.
Type of Review: Renewal.
Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service.
Title: State Administrative Standards Forms.
OMB Numbers: 3045-0064: State Administrative Standards Form.
Agency Number: SF 424-NSSC.
Affected Public: State Commissions of the Corporation for National
and Community Service.
Total Respondents: 53.
Frequency: An average of ten (10) commissions annually.
Average Time Per Response: 300 hours per state commission.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 3000 hours per 10 state commissions.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): None.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): None.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a
matter of public record.
Dated: May 16, 2005.
Rosie K. Mauk,
Director, AmeriCorps.
[FR Doc. 05-10359 Filed 5-23-05; 8:45 am]