Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request Form FNS-798 and FNS-798A, WIC Financial Management and Participation Report with Addendum

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;

Comment Request Form FNS-798 and FNS-798A, WIC Financial Management and

Participation Report with Addendum

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

notice announces the Food and Nutrition Service's (FNS) intention to

request approval for revision of a currently approved collection, Form

FNS-498, WIC Monthly Financial Management and Participation Report.

The revision will be named Form FNS-798 and FNS-798A, WIC Financial

Management and Participation Report with Addendum, and will replace

Form FNS-498, WIC Monthly Financial Management and Participation Report

and Form FNS-227 and Form FNS-227A, WIC Program Annual Closeout Report

with Addendum.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by October 25, 1999.

ADDRESSES: 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; and (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. Comments may be sent to:

Patricia N. Daniels, Director, Supplemental Food Programs Division,

Food and Nutrition Service, US Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park

Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302.

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

request for OMB approval, and will become a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or

copies of the information collection form and instructions should be

directed to: Patricia N. Daniels, (703) 305-2749.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: WIC Financial Management and Participation Report with

Addendum.

OMB Number: 0584-0045.

Expiration Date: 10-31-00.

Type of Request: Revision of a Currently Approved Collection.

Abstract: Section 17(f)(4) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42

U.S.C. 1786(f)(4)) provides that ``State agencies shall submit monthly

financial reports and participation data to the Secretary.'' (See also

7 CFR 246.25(b)(1).) The proposed WIC Financial Management and

Participation Report (FNS-798) would replace the WIC Monthly Financial

Management and Participation Report (FNS-498) as the form State

agencies complete to comply with this requirement. The States and

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FNS would continue to use the reported information for program

monitoring, funds management, budget projections, monitoring caseload,

policy development, and responding to requests from Congress and the

interested public.

Additionally, nonentitlement programs such as the WIC Program are

required to conduct an annual closeout and reconciliation of grants.

Departmental regulations at 7 CFR 3016.23(b) require that ``[a] grantee

must liquidate all obligations incurred under the award not later than

90 days after the end of the funding period (or as specified in a

program regulation) to coincide with the submission of the annual

Financial Status Report (SF-269).'' WIC Program regulations at 7 CFR

246.17(b)(2) instruct WIC State agencies to ``submit to FNS, within 150

days after the end of the fiscal year, final fiscal year closeout

reports.'' The WIC Program Annual Closeout Report (FNS-227) with

addendum (FNS-227A) is currently substituted for the SF-269, because a

closeout form which maintains the integrity of WIC's two grant

components (food and nutrition services and administration) and

captures State agencies' decisions to shift WIC grant funds between

Federal fiscal years is needed. The final WIC Financial Management and

Participation Report (FNS-798) submitted for the year with its addendum

(FNS-798A) would replace the WIC Program Annual Closeout Report (FNS-

227) with addendum (FNS-227A) as the substitute for the SF-269. The

consolidated format is expected to reduce the reporting burden

associated with the annual closeout and reconciliation of grants.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of

information is estimated to average 3.1 hours per response, including

the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources,

gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing

the collection of information.

Respondents: Directors or Administrators of WIC State agencies.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 88 respondents.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: Seventeen.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 4637.6 hours.

Dated: August 12, 1999.

Samuel Chambers, Jr.

Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.

[FR Doc. 99-21989 Filed 8-24-99; 8:45 am]

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