[Federal Register: December 22, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 245)]
[Notices]
[Page 76054]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22de05-59]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration on Aging
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; State Annual Long-Term Care Ombudsman Report and
Instructions for Older Americans Act Title VII
AGENCY: Administration on Aging, HHS.
ACTION: Notice
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SUMMARY: The Administration on Aging (AoA) is announcing an opportunity
for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by
the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA),
Federal agencies are required to publish 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 notice
solicits comments on the information collection requirements relating
to State Annual Long-Term Care Ombudsman Report and instructions for
Older Americans Act Title VII.
DATES: Submit written or electronic comments on the collection of
information by February 21, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Submit electronic comments on the collection of information
to: sue.wheaton@aoa.gov.
Submit written comments on the collection of information to:
Administration on Aging, Washington, DC 20201. Attention: Sue Wheaton
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sue Wheaton, by telephone: (202) 357-
3587 or by e-mail: sue.wheaton@aoa.gov.
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 request or requirements that members of
the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a
third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A))
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, AoA is publishing notice of the proposed collection
of information set forth in this document. With respect to the
following collection of information, AoA invites comments on: (1)
Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the
proper performance of AoA's functions, including whether the
information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of AoA's
estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information,
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (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 through the use of automated
collection techniques when appropriate, and other forms of information
technology.
Under section 712(c), section 712(h)(1) and section 712(h)(B) of
the Older Americans Act, as amended, states are required to provide
information on ombudsmen activities to AoA, which AoA is then required
to present to Congress. The reporting system, the National Ombudsman
Reporting System (NORS), was developed in response to these directives
and other needs pertaining to the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program and
approved by the Office of Management and Budget for use for the first
time in FY 1995-96; it was extended a second time with slight
modifications for use in FY 1997-2001 and extended for the third time
with no change for use from FY 2002-2006. This current (fourth) request
is to extend, with modifications, use of the existing State Annual
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Report (and Instructions) from Older Americans
Act Title VII grantees. The details of these proposed changes are
contained on the AoA Web site at: http://www.aoa.gov/prof/aoaprog/elder_rights/LTCombudsman/NORS/nors_form_instructions.asp.
AoA
estimates the burden of this collection of information as follows:
Approximately one and one-half hour per respondent with 52 State
Agencies on Aging responding annually.
Dated: December 19, 2005.
Josefina G. Carbonell,
Assistant Secretary for Aging.
[FR Doc. 05-24356 Filed 12-21-05; 8:45 am]
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