Food Stamp Program; Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment RequestModel Food Stamp Forms, etc. (Monthly Reporting on Reservations)

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this

notice announces the intention of the Food and Consumer Service to

request that the Office of Management and Budget extend extension of

the current information collection burden associated with the

application, eligibility certification, and ongoing household

eligibility determination for the Food Stamp households residing on

reservations.

DATES: Comments and recommendations on the proposed information

collection must be received by October 21, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Send comments and requests for copies of this information

collection to Margaret Werts Batko, Assistant Branch Chief,

Certification Policy Branch, Program Development Division, Food and

Consumer Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center

Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302.

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 will have practical

utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the

proposed collection of information, 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.

All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the

request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the

extension request. All comments will become a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret Werts Batko, (703) 305-2520.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Model Food Stamp Forms, Periodic Reporting, Notice of Late/

Incomplete Reports, etc.

OMB Number: 0584-0064.

Expiration Date: April 30, 1997.

Form Number: FCS-385.

Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information

collection without change.

Abstract: On March 25, 1994, the Food Stamp Program Improvements

Act of 1994, Pub. L. 103-225, was enacted. Section 101(a) of that law

modified the prohibition against monthly reporting for households

residing on reservations that had been added to section 6(c)(1)(A) of

the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (Act), by section 1723 of the Mickey Leland

Memorial Domestic Hunger Relief Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101-624. Section

6(c)(1)(C)(iii) of the Act, as amended by Pub. L. 103-225, prohibits

State agencies which, as of March 25, 1994, were not requiring

households residing on reservations to submit monthly reports, from

establishing monthly reporting requirements for such households. State

agencies that were using monthly reporting on March 25, 1994, for

households residing on reservations, may continue to do so if the

following conditions are met. The State agency must: (1) reinstate

benefits without requiring a new application for any household that

submits a report not later than one month after the end of the issuance

month; (2) not delay, reduce, suspend, or terminate the allotment of a

household that submits a report not later than one month after the end

of the month in which the report is due; and (3) certify monthly

reporting households on reservations for two years, unless the State

agency has been granted a waiver for shorter certification periods.

The information collection and recordkeeping burden associated with

initial applicants and households subject to recertification and change

reporting procedures are currently approved by OMB under OMB Number

0584-0064. The currently approved estimates are described below. The

new monthly reporting requirements for households residing on

reservations will not have a significant effect on the currently

approved burden estimates for the reasons noted.

1. Notice of Late or Incomplete Reports:

Estimate of Burden: Currently, local agencies are required to

provide a monthly reporting household with adequate notice that its

monthly report was late or incomplete and what action the household

must take. In order to implement Pub. L. 103-225 the State agency must

modify this notice for households residing on reservations. The burden

associated with developing the special language for a notice for those

residing on reservations is expected to be a one-time minimal burden.

We expect that State agencies will automate the notice and eligibility

workers will only have to send the notice with the special language to

households residing on reservations which failed to submit a timely or

complete report. The current reporting burden estimate includes the

local agency requirement to provide monthly reporting households with a

notice that its monthly report was late or incomplete and what action

the household must take.

Respondents: Local agency food stamp eligibility workers.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,776,000 which is equal to the

total monthly reporting caseload (16% of the total caseload), assuming

there is one eligibility worker per monthly reporting household.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: One notice for each

late or incomplete monthly report each month.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 118,814 hours, based

on 1,065,600 responses (5% of the 21,312,000 reports expected annually)

at a rate of .1115 hours per response.

2. Adequate Notice: Local agencies are required to provide monthly

reporting households with an Adequate Notice that its benefits will be

increased, reduced or terminated due to

[[Page 43037]]

information contained in the households monthly report and the notice

includes an explanation of the reason for such action and how the

household can request a fair hearing to contest the action.

In order to implement Public Law 103-225, the State agency must

modify the notice for households residing on reservations. Eligibility

workers will only have to send the notice with the special language to

households residing on reservations which fail to submit a timely or

complete report. The current reporting burden estimate includes a local

agency requirement to provide monthly reporting households with a

notice. The burden associated with developing the special language for

the notice for those residing on reservations is expected to be a one-

time minimal burden. We expect that State agencies will automate

generation and distribution of the notice when required.

Respondents: Local agency food stamp eligibility workers.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,776,000, based on an estimated

16% of the total caseload of 11,100,000 and assuming one eligibility

worker per monthly reporting household.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: One notice for each

monthly reporting household that has a change in benefits.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 712,886 hours, based

on 21,312,000 monthly reports expected annually. The estimate assumes

that 30% of the households (6,393,600) will have a change in benefits.

We assume that local agencies will generate this notice for these

households at a rate of .1115 hours per response.

3. Model food stamp application (FCS-385):

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden includes household

burden time to complete the application at initial application and

recertification; to provide verification (usually from existing

household documents); and to be interviewed by a caseworker, who may

require the household to provide additional information. Pub. L. 103-

225 requires that households residing on reservations be certified for

two years. Therefore, these households will have to apply less often.

However, we do not expect this to effect the current burden estimates

for FCS-385 because the methodology used in developing the estimates

takes into consideration increased or reduced application activity.

Respondents: Applicants for the Food Stamp Program.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 18,700,000 applicants for initial

certification or recertification annually, as reported by State

agencies on form FNS-366B, Program Activity Statement.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: One annually,

assuming one initial or one recertification application annually.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 4,282,300 hours,

based on 18,700,000 responses at a rate of .2290 hours per response.

Combined Total Annual Burden: 5,114,000 hours for the notice of

late and incomplete reports, adequate notice and application form.

Dated: August 8, 1996.

William E. Ludwig,

Administrator, Food and Consumer Service.

[FR Doc. 96-21212 Filed 8-19-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-30-U