Current Population SurveyAnnual Demographic Survey for March 1997; Proposed Agency Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

Current Population Survey--Annual Demographic Survey for March

1997; Proposed Agency Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort

to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public

and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on

proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C.

3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 21,

1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Acting

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room

5312, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or

copies of the information collection instrument and survey procedures

should be directed to Oscar Perez, Bureau of the Census, FOB 3, Room

3340, Washington, DC 20233-8400, (301) 457-3806.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The Census Bureau will conduct the Annual Demographic Survey (ADS)

in conjunction with the March 1997 Current Population Survey (CPS). The

Census Bureau has conducted this supplement annually for 50 years. The

Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Department of

Health and Human Services sponsor this supplement.

The work experience items in the ADS provide a unique measure of

the dynamic nature of the labor force as viewed over a one-year period.

These items produce statistics that show movements in and out of the

labor force by measuring the number of periods of unemployment

experienced by persons, the number of different employers worked for

during the year, the principal reasons for unemployment, and part-/

full-time attachment to the labor force. We can make indirect

measurements of discouraged workers and others with a casual attachment

to the labor market.

The income data from the ADS are used by social planners,

economists, Government officials, and market researchers to gauge the

economic well-being of the Nation as a whole, and selected population

groups of interest. Government planners and researchers use these data

to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of various assistance

programs. Market researchers use these data to identify and isolate

potential customers. Social planners use these data to forecast

economic conditions and to identify special groups that seem to be

especially sensitive to economic fluctuations. Economists use March

data to determine the effects of various economic forces, such as

inflation, recession, recovery, etc., and their differential effects on

various population groups.

A prime statistic of interest is the classification of persons as

being in poverty and how this measurement has changed over time for

various groups. Researchers evaluate March income data for not only to

determine poverty levels, but also to determine whether Government

programs are reaching eligible households.

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II. Method of Collection

The March 1997 supplement instrument will consist of the same items

that were included in the March 1996 instrument, with the following

changes:

A. We are making minor wording changes in some items. For example:

We will no longer ask respondents to ``report'' income

amounts; instead, we will ask them to ``tell us'' those amounts.

According to interviewers, respondents felt offended by the word

``report.''

B. We added internal check items so that questions are asked only

when appropriate. For example:

In Items Q49a through Q49b3, we will no longer ask persons

to tell us their business or farm income without determining first if

they are a farm or business owner.

Households that consist of adults who were never married

will be screened out of the alimony questions.

C. In some periodicity items, we limited the categories to monthly,

quarterly, and yearly. Also, we changed any coding within a series to

reflect the new periodicity categories. We did this where no other

period was selected in last year's survey.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0607-0354.

Form Number: None. We conduct all interviewing on computers.

Type of Review: Regular.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 52,000 per month.

Estimated Time Per Response: 25 minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 21,666.

Estimated Total Annual Cost: $2,000,000.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Section 182; and

Title 29, United States Code, Section 1-9 authorize the collection of

the ADS.

IV. Request for Comments

Comments are invited 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

(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information;

(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the

information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the

collection information on respondents, including through the use of

automated collection techniques or other forms of information

technology.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized

and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information

collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

Dated: August 13, 1996.

Linda Engelmeier,

Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and

Organization.

[FR Doc. 96-21094 Filed 8-19-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-07-M