[Federal Register: December 8, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 236)]
[Notices]
[Page 71172-71173]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08de06-96]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration on Aging
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Alzheimer's Disease Demonstration Grants to States
Program Standardized Data Collection
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 Alzheimer's Disease Demonstration Grants to States Program
DATES: Submit written or electronic comments on the collection of
information by February 6, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Submit electronic comments on the collection of information
to: Lori.Stalbaum@aoa.hhs.gov. Submit written comments on the
collection of information to Administration on Aging, Washington, DC
20201, ATTN: Lori Stalbaum.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori Stalbaum at 202-357-3452 or e-
mail: lori.stalbaum@aoa.hhs.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.
The Alzheimer's Disease Demonstration Grants to States (ADDGS)
Program is authorized through Sections 398, 399 and 399A of the Public
Health Service (PHS) Act, as amended by Public Law 101-557 Home Health
Care and Alzheimer's Disease Amendments of 1990. The ADDGS program
funded through AoA helps states extend family support services provided
by subgrantees to underserved populations, including those in rural
communities.
The PHS Act requires AoA to ``provide for an evaluation of each
demonstration project for which a grant is made.'' The PHS Act further
states
[[Page 71173]]
that ``not later than 6 months after the completion of such
evaluations, submit a report to the Congress describing the findings
made as a result of the evaluations.'' In compliance with the PHS Act,
AoA developed a new State data collection protocol that will require
future ADDGS state grantees (those funded starting in FY 2007) to
transmit annual data information to AoA reported to the states by the
project partners. Many of the elements for the ADDGS Data Program
Report are the same as those collected for Older Americans Act Title
III and Title VII programs administered by AoA. To ensure inclusion of
essential information the ADDGS Project Officer first contacted all
current ADDGS grantees to find out what type of information they are
already collecting. Then, the ADDGS Project Officer solicited
information on key data elements from experts familiar with the
previous ADDGS Program evaluation. Following this input, modifications
were made to the data collection tool and input was solicited from all
ADDGS state Project Directors and their project partners. Twenty-three
(23) of thirty-eight (38) states, approximately 60% responded to the
request for feedback. Again, modifications were made to fine tune the
data collection tool into a format that would minimize burden on state
grantees. Finally, ten (10) ADDGS Project Directors participated in a
telephone focus group. The ten Project Directors were selected based on
the detail of their responses to the original request for feedback.
The result of this input is the proposed data collection tool and
accompanying definition of terms. AoA is aware that different states
have different capabilities in terms of data collection. Thus, it is
understood that following the approval of the proposed ADDGS data
collection tool, AoA will need to work with ADDGS grantees to ensure
easy access to a reporting system as well as offer regular training to
state grantees to ensure minimal burden.
AoA estimates the burden of this collection of information as
follows: 950 hours.
Dated: December 5, 2006.
Josefina G. Carbonell,
Assistant Secretary for Aging.
[FR Doc. E6-20890 Filed 12-7-06; 8:45 am]
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