Survey of Program Dynamics1999

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census

Survey of Program Dynamics--1999

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, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C.

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

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before January 4, 1999.

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 and instructions should

be directed to Michael McMahon, Bureau of the Census, FOB 3, Room 3375,

Washington, DC 20233-8400, (301) 457-3819.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The Survey of Program Dynamics (SPD) is a household-based survey

designed as a data collection vehicle that can provide the basis for an

overall evaluation of how well welfare reforms are achieving the aims

of the Administration and the Congress and meeting the needs of the

American people.

The SPD is a large, longitudinal, nationally-representative study

that measures participation in welfare programs, including both

programs that are being reformed and those that remain unchanged. The

SPD measures other important social, economic, demographic, and family

changes that will allow analysis of the effectiveness of the welfare

reforms.

With the August 22, 1996 signing of the Personal Responsibility and

Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Pub L. 104-193), the

Census Bureau is required to conduct the SPD, using as the sample the

households from the 1992 and 1993 Survey of Income and Program

Participation (SIPP). The information obtained will be used to evaluate

the impact of this law on a sample of previous welfare recipients and

future recipients of assistance under new state programs funded under

this law as well as assess the impact on other low-income families.

Issues of particular attention include welfare dependency, the length

of welfare spells, the causes of repeat welfare spells, educational

enrollment and work training, health care utilization, out-of-wedlock

births, and the status of children.

The previous wave of SPD was conducted in the spring of 1998 using

a new questionnaire. A bridge survey using the CPS March questionnaire

was conducted in the spring of 1997 to provide a link to baseline data

for the period prior to the implementation of the welfare reform

activities.

II. Method of Data Collection

The SPD is a longitudinal study of welfare-related activities with

the sample respondents originally selected from 1992 and 1993 SIPP

panels. Interviews were conducted in 1997 and 1998. Subsequent data

collection will be conducted from 1999 to 2002.

Data will be collected using a computer-assisted personal interview

(CAPI) automated questionnaire instrument from a nationally

representative sample of the noninstitutionalized resident population

living in the U.S. for all persons, families, and households. Persons

who are at least 15 years of age at the time of the interview will be

eligible to be in the survey. The 1999 SPD will ask the basic 1998

questions, plus some additional questions about the status of children

will be asked of parents. The 1999 SPD will not include an adolescent

self-administered questionnaire that was conducted in 1998.

A small sample of households will be selected for reinterview. The

reinterview process assures that all households were properly

contacted, and that the data are valid.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0607-0838.

Form Number: CAPI Automated Instrument.

Type of Review: Regular.

Affected Public: Individuals or Households.

Estimated Number of Household Respondents: 42,000.

Estimated Number of Children of Respondents: 19,000.

Estimated Number of Reinterview Respondents: 1,500.

Estimated Time Per Response: 32 minutes per respondent, 8 minutes

per child, 10 minutes per reinterview.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 25,150.

Estimated Total Annual Costs: No costs to the respondents other

than their time.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

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

Public Law 104-193, Section 414 (signed 8/22/96), Title 42, United

States Code, Section 614.

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 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

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(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 of OMB approval of this information

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

Dated: October 27, 1998.

Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information

Officer.

[FR Doc. 98-29192 Filed 10-30-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-07-P