[Federal Register: February 24, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 36)]
[Notices]
[Page 9081-9082]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24fe05-74]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request Proposed Projects
Title: Social Services Block Grant Postexpenditure Report.
OMB No.: 0970-0234.
Description:
Purpose: To improve the quality of Social Services Block Grant
(SSBG) expenditure data, the postexpenditure reporting form and
instructions need some minor formatting revisions to reduce confusion
and reporting inconsistencies that have resulted from the current form.
As a block grant, SSBG provides the States with a flexible source of
funds for social service needs. Accurate accounting of how these funds
are used and whom they serve is critical to ensure that necessary and
sufficient funding continues to be allocated. For this reason, the
following changes are being proposed to the current form:
1. The expenditures columns will be reordered so that when reading
left to right, the three types of funding that sum to total
expenditures--SSBG allocation, funds transferred into SSBG, and
expenditures of all other Federal, State and local funds--are listed
prior to total expenditures.
2. A space will be added, and referenced in item 29, where States
can report more detail about other services. This added information
will help to define the specific services funded under this service
category.
3. A new column, ``Adults of Unknown Age'' will be added. The three
age groups of adults--``Adults Age Years 59 and Younger,'' ``Adults Age
60 Years and Older,'' and ``Adults of Unknown Age''--should equal the
total number of adults in the ``Total Adults'' column.
4. The recipients columns will be reordered so that when reading
left to right, the four ages of recipients--children, adults age 59
years and younger, adults age 60 years and older, and adults of unknown
age--are listed prior to total adults and total recipients.
The SSBG program provides funds to assist States in delivering
social services directed toward the needs of children and adults in
each State. Funds are allocated to the States in proportion to their
populations. States, including the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto
Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands and American
Samoa, have substantial discretion in their use of funds and may
determine what services will be provided, who will be eligible and how
funds are distributed among the various services. State or local SSBG
agencies (i.e., county, city or regional offices) may province the
services or may purchase them from qualified agencies, organizations or
individuals. States report as recipients of SSBG-funded services any
individuals who receive a service funded at least partially by SSBG.
States are required to report their annual SSBG expenditures on a
standard postexpenditure report, which includes a yearly total of
adults and children served and annual expenditures in each of 29
service categories. Reporting requirements for SSBG were originally
described in the Federal Register, Volume 58, Number 218, on Monday,
November 15, 1993. The report must be submitted either six months after
the end of the reporting period or at the time the State submits the
preexpenditure report for the reporting period beginning after that
six-month period. The report must address (1) the number of individuals
(as well as the number of children and the number of adults) who
receive services paid for in whole or in part with Federal funds under
the SSBG; (2) the amount of SSBG funds spent in providing each service;
(3) the total amount of Federal, State and local funds spent in
providing each service, including SSBG funds; and (4) the method(s) by
which each service is provided, showing separately the services
provided by public agencies and private agencies.
Information collected on the postexpenditure report is analyzed and
described in an annual report on SSBG expenditures and recipients
produced by the Office of Community Services. The information contained
in this report is used to establish how SSBG funding is used for the
provision of services in each State to needy individuals.
Respondents: This report is completed once annually by a
representative of the agency that administers the SSBG at the State
level in each State, the District of Columbia and the Territories.
Annual Burden Estimates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Average burden
Instrument Number of responses per hours per Total burden
respondents respondent response hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSBG Postexpenditure Report................. 56 1 110 6,160
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,160.
Additional Information:
Copies of the proposed collection of information may be obtained by
writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of
Information Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC
20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. All requests should be
identified by the title of the information collection. E-mail address:
grjohnson@acf.hhs.gov.
OMB Comment:
OMB is required to make a decision concerning the collection of
information between 30 and 60 days after
[[Page 9082]]
publication of this document in the Federal Register. Therefore, a
comment is best assured of having its full effect if OMB receives it
within 30 days of publication. Written comments and recommendations for
the proposed information collection should be sent directly to the
following: Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction
Project, Attn: Desk Officer for ACF, E-mail address: Katherine T.
Astrich@omb.eop.gov.
Dated: February 17, 2005.
Bob Sargis,
Reports Clearance, Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-3506 Filed 2-23-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M