Current Population SurveyAnnual Demographic Survey for March 1998

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

Current Population Survey--Annual Demographic Survey for March

1998

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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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, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C.

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

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 14,

1997.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room

5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or

copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions

should be directed to Bonnie Tarsia, Bureau of the Census, FOB 3, Room

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

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

in conjunction with the March 1998 Current Population Survey (CPS). The

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

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

of Health and Human Services sponsor this supplement.

In the ADS we collect information on work experience, personal

income, noncash benefits, expanded race items and migration.

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 not only to

determine poverty levels, but also to determine whether Government

programs are reaching eligible households.

The March 1998 supplement instrument will consist of the same items

that were included in the March 1997 instrument, with the following

changes:

A. We are removing the Item Q49a1 screener from the instrument.

Based on the results of the March 1997 CPS, this item unexpectedly

reduced the amount of ``Other self-employment,'' and ``Other farm''

income.

B. We will remove references to ``Aid to Families With Dependent

Children'' and ``Aid to Dependent Children'' from the instrument. This

will be done due to the recent welfare reform changes in programs.

C. We are conducting research to develop a few questions that will

address participation in new programs generated by welfare reform.

D. We are adding a question to the current migration series. This

question will ask the reasons for moving.

II. Method of Collection

The ADS is conducted at the same time as the Basic CPS by personal

visits and telephone interviews, using Computer-Assisted Personal

Interviewing and Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing.

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: There are no costs to the respondents

other than their time to answer the CPS questions.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

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

Title 29, United States Code, Sections 1-9.

[[Page 43316]]

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 of 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 7, 1997.

Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and

Organization.

[FR Doc. 97-21341 Filed 8-12-97; 8:45 am]

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