Survey of Program Dynamics2000

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau

Survey of Program Dynamics--2000

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)).

[[Page 44890]]

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 18,

1999.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room

5033, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via

the Internet at LE[email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the information

collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Michael

McMahon, U.S. Census Bureau, FOB 3, Room 3375, Washington, DC 20233-

0001, (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 2000 SPD is the third year of data collection using the same

core questions. A one-time topical module will collect the residential

histories of children. The previous wave, conducted in the spring of

1999, collected core data plus extended measures of child well-being.

The 1998 SPD included an adolescent self-administered questionnaire. A

bridge survey using the Current Population Survey 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 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, 1998, and 1999. Subsequent

data collections are scheduled for 2000 to 2002. Data are collected

using a computer-assisted interviewing (CAI) 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.

A small sample of households is scheduled 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: CAI Automated Instrument.

Type of Review: Regular.

Affected Public: Individuals or Households.

Estimated Number of Household Respondents: 42,000.

Estimated Number of Reinterview Respondents: 1,500.

Estimated Time Per Response: 36 minutes per respondent 10 minutes

per reinterview.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 25,150.

Estimated Total Annual Cost: No costs to the respondents other than

their time.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

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

Pub. L. 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 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 are 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, 1999.

Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information

Officer.

[FR Doc. 99-21463 Filed 8-17-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-07-P