[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 44 (Monday, March 7, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12315-12316]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-5005]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
March 1, 2011.
The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments
regarding (a) whether the collection of information is necessary for
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy
of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Desk
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), [email protected] or
fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO,
Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these
information collections are best assured of having their full effect if
received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the
submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8958.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays
a currently valid OMB control number.
[[Page 12316]]
Food and Nutrition Service
Title: In-depth Case Studies of Advanced Modernization Initiatives.
OMB Control Number: 0584-0547.
Summary of Collection: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP) is a critical source of support for many low-income
families and individuals. In recent years, states have implemented new
procedures and policies in order to reduce SNAP administrative costs
while maintaining or improving program access. These changes often
referred to as modernization-incorporate technology, administrative
restructuring, community partnering, and policy simplification.
Together, the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, which amended
Section 11 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, 7 U.S.C. 2020, and
the Food Nutrition Act of 2008, which amended Section 17 of 7 U.S.C.
2026, authorizes the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to develop
standards for identifying major operational changes, require States to
provide any information required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture,
and authorizes FNS to undertake research that will help improve the
administration and effectiveness of SNAP.
Need and Use of the Information: Information for the In-depth Case
Studies will build on the findings from a previous data collection
effort, Enhancing Food Stamp Certification: Food Stamp Modernization
Efforts. To obtain a detailed and comprehensive view of the
implementation of SNAP modernization initiatives, data will be
collected via in-person interviews, focus group discussions, and
through administrative case records, application statistics,
performance data, and other relevant materials. The project has seven
research objectives: (1) Update the existing state profiles of
modernization efforts and identify the geographic and caseload coverage
affected by modernization changes; (2) describe how key certification,
recertification, and case management functions have changed; (3)
describe the current roles and responsibilities of state and local SNAP
staff, vendors, and partners and how they have changed; (4) document
the relationship between SNAP modernization initiatives and stakeholder
satisfaction; (5) describe the current performance of each state's
modernization initiatives and the level of outcome variability within
each state; (6) compare performance before, during, and after
modernization; and (7) document the main takeaway points for use by
other states and for future study consideration. Without the detailed
case study, FNS would need to rely on the states' general statements
regarding program operations and aggregate statistics on modernization
initiatives, resulting in an incomplete understanding of how
modernization has affected the implementation of SNAP.
Description of Respondents: Individual or households; not-for-
profit institutions; business or other for-profit; State, Local or
Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 1,353.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (one time only)
Total Burden Hours: 1,802.
Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-5005 Filed 3-4-11; 8:45 am]
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