[Federal Register: December 12, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 239)]
[Notices]
[Page 76408-76409]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12de02-81]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
Proposed Projects
Title: Title IV-E Foster Care Eligibility Reviews, Child and Family
Services Reviews
OMB No. 0970-0214
Description: ACF is requesting authority to renew an existing
information collection that is expiring April 4, 2003. The initial
information collection was contained in the final rule transmitting the
Department's monitoring protocols for assessing title IV-E eligibility
and payment accuracy, the child and family services reviews (CFSR),
enforcement of the title IV-E anti-discrimination requirements, and
certain provisions of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997. Five
information collections are associated with this information
collection.
The collection of information for review of Federal payments to
States for foster care maintenance payments (section 1356.71(i)) is
authorized by title IV-E of the Social Security Act (the Act), section
474 [42 U.S.C. 674]. The collection of information for review of State
child and family services programs (section 1355.33(b), 1355.33(c), and
1355.33(a)) to determine whether such programs are in substantial
conformity with State plan requirements under parts B and E of the Act
is authorized by section 1123(a) [42 U.S.C. 1320a-1a] of the Act.
Section 474(d) of the Act [42 U.S.C. 674] deploys enforcement
provisions (sections 1355.38(b) and (c)) for the requirements at
section 471(a)(18) [42 U.S.C. 671] which prohibit the delay or denial
of foster and adoptive placements based on the race, color, or national
origin of any of the individuals involved. The enforcement provisions
include the execution and completion of corrective action plans when a
State is in violation of section 471(a)(18).
The information collection is needed (1) To conduct Federal onsite
eligibility reviews of title IV-E of the Act, ``Federal Payments for
foster care and adoption assistance''; and (2) to monitor State plan
requirements under titles IV-B and IV-E of the Act, as required by
Federal statute and (3) to enforce the title IV-E anti-discrimination
requirements through State corrective action plans. The resultant
information will allow us to determine if States are in compliance with
State plan requirements and are achieving desired outcomes for children
and families, as well as assure eligibility for Federally-assisted
foster care expenditures. These reviews not only address compliance
with eligibility requirements, but also assist States in enhancing
their capacities to serve children and families. In doing the OMB
information collection, we based the annual burden estimates for the
child and family service review instruments on the pilot reviews. We
are therefore soliciting comments on the annual burden estimates from
more accurate estimates of the annual burden. We would like to know the
number of person-hours for State and local child welfare agency
employees who completed the statewide assessment instrument, completed
the onsite review instrument and completed a program improvement plan.
Respondents: State Agencies.
Annual Burden Estimates
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Number of Average
Number of responses burden Total
Instruments respondents per hours per burden
respondent response hours
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1355.33(b) State agency statewide assessment..................... 17 1 240 4,080
1355.33(c) On-site review........................................ 17 1 900 15,300
1355.35(a) Program improvement plan.............................. 17 1 80 1,360
1355.38(b) and (c) Corrective action plan........................ 5 1 80 400
1356.71(i) Program improvement plan.............................. 17 1 63 1,071
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Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:......................... ........... .......... ......... 22,211
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In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and
Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the
information collection described above. Copies of the proposed
collection information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded by
writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of
Administration, Office of Information Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade,
SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. All
requests should be identified by the title of the information
collection.
The Department specifically requests comments 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 of the proposed collection of
information; (c)
[[Page 76409]]
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. Consideration will
be given to comments and suggestions submitted within 60 days of this
publication.
Dated: December 4, 2002.
Robert Sargis,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-31258 Filed 12-11-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M