[Federal Register: November 13, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 218)]
[Notices]
[Page 63913-63914]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13no07-64]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
Proposed Projects
Title: Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) Post-expenditure Report.
OMB No.: 0970-0234.
Description: The purpose of this information collection is to (1)
extend the collection of post-expenditure data using the current OMB
approved reporting form (OMB No. 0970-0234) past the current expiration
date of May 31, 2008; and (2) request that States voluntarily use the
post-expenditure report format to estimate expenditures and recipients,
by service category, as part of the required annual intended use plan.
The Social Services Block Grant program (SSBG) provides funds to
assist States in delivering critical services to vulnerable older
adults, persons with disabilities, at-risk adolescents and young
adults, and children and families in the State. Funds are allocated to
the States in proportion to their populations. States have substantial
discretion in their use of funds and may determine what services will
be provided, who will be eligible, and how funds will be distributed
among the various services. State or local SSBG agencies (i.e., county,
city, regional offices) may provide 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 in whole or in part by SSBG.
States are required to report their annual SSBG expenditures on a
standard post-expenditure report. This request seeks approval to
continue the use of the current form with no changes. This standard
post-expenditure report form includes a yearly total of adults and
children served and annual expenditures in each of 29 service
categories. The annual report is to be submitted within six months of
the end of the period covered by the report, and 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 and private agencies. These reporting
requirements can be found at 45 CFR 96.74.
Information collected on the post-expenditure report is analyzed
and described in an annual report on SSBG expenditures and recipients
produced by the Office of Community Services (OCS), Administration for
Children and Families (ACF). The information contained in this report
is used for program planning and management. The data establish how
SSBG funding is used for the provision of services in each State to
each of many specific populations of needy individuals.
Federal regulation and reporting requirements for the SSBG also
require each State to develop and submit an
[[Page 63914]]
annual intended use plan that describes how the State plans to
administer its SSBG funds for the coming year. This report is to be
submitted 30 days prior to the start of the fiscal year (June 1 if the
State operates on a July-June fiscal year, or September 1 if the State
operates on a Federal fiscal year).
No specific format is required for the intended use plan. The
intended use of SSBG funds, including the types of activities to be
supported and the categories and characteristics of individuals to be
served, must be provided. States vary greatly in the information they
provide and the structure of the report. States are required to submit
a revised intended use plan if the planned use of SSBG funds changes
during the year.
In order to provide a more accurate analysis of the extent to which
funds are spent ``in a manner consistent'' with each of the States'
plan for their use, as required by 42 USC 1397e(a), ACF is requesting
that States voluntarily use the format of the post-expenditure report
form to provide estimates of the amount of expenditures and the number
of recipients by service category, that the State plans to use SSBG
funds to support as part of the intended use plan. Many states are
already using the format of the post-expenditure report form as part of
their pre-expenditure report.
Respondents: States.
Annual Burden Estimates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Average burden
Instrument Number of responses per hours per Total burden
respondents respondent response hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post-Expenditure Report............. 56 1 110 6,160
Use of Post-Expenditure Report Form 56 1 2 112
as Part of the Intended Use Plan...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,272.
In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and
Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the
information collection described above. Copies of the proposed
collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded
by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of
Administration, Office of Information Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade,
SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. E-mail
address: infocollection@acf.hhs.gov. All requests should be identified
by the title of the information collection.
The Department specifically requests comments on: (a) Whether the
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the
information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of
information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information
to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection
of information on respondents, including through the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted
within 60 days of this publication.
Dated: November 6, 2007
Robert Sargis,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 07-5612 Filed 11-9-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M