[Federal Register: October 18, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 202)]
[Notices]               
[Page 64348]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18oc02-22]                         

========================================================================
Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
appearing in this section.

========================================================================



[[Page 64348]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service

 
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: 
Comment Request: FNS-583, Employment and Training Program Activity 
Report

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, this notice 
invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on a 
proposed revision in information collection for the FNS-583, Employment 
and Training Program Activity Report. The proposed revision affects the 
collection currently approved under OMB No. 0584-0339.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before December 17, 
2002.

ADDRESSES: Send comments and requests for copies of this information 
collection to John Knaus, Chief, Program Design Branch, Program 
Development Division, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed revision 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 burden of the proposed collection 
of information, including 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 form of information 
technology.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Micheal Atwell at (703) 305-2449, or 
send e-mail to micheal--atwell@fns.usda.gov via the Internet.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title of Information Collection: FNS-583, Employment and Training 
Program Activity Report.
    OMB Number: 0584-0339.
    Expiration Date: December 31, 2004.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: Title 7 CFR 273.7(c)(6) requires State agencies to submit 
quarterly Employment and Training (E&T) Program Activity Reports 
containing monthly figures for participation in the program. The first 
quarter FNS-583 report includes the number of work-registered persons 
in a State as of October of the new fiscal year. On the fourth quarter 
FNS-583 report State agencies list the components of their E&T programs 
and the number of participants in each.
    The currently approved FNS-583 report includes the number of 
participants newly work registered; work registrants exempted from the 
E&T Program; participants who volunteered and began an approved E&T 
component; E&T mandatory participants who began an approved E&T 
component; number of able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) 
exempted from the 3-month food stamp time limit under each State 
agency's 15 percent ABAWD exemption allowance; the number of filled and 
offered (unfilled) workfare slots in waived and unwaived geographic 
areas of the State; the number of filled and offered education and 
training slots in waived and unwaived geographic areas of the State; 
the amount of Federal 100 percent E&T funding spent on workfare slots 
that meet the requirements of Section 6(o)(2)(C) of the Food Stamp Act 
of 1977, as amended (the Act); and the amount of Federal 100 percent 
E&T funding spent on education and training slots that meet the 
requirements of section 6(o)(2)(B) of the Act.
    On May 13, 2002, President Bush signed into law the Farm Bill--the 
Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-171). Title 
IV of the Farm Bill includes Section 4121, Employment and Training 
Program, which was effective upon enactment. Section 4121 includes 
several major revisions, one of which significantly affects the 
information collection on the FNS-583 by eliminating the maximum 
reimbursement rates for offering and filling qualifying education/
training and workfare opportunities for ABAWDs (slot rates). Thus, the 
information reporting the numbers of filled and offered education/
training slots and workfare slots in waived and unwaived geographic 
areas is no longer required. Additionally, we are taking this 
opportunity to further revise and streamline the FNS-583 report by 
condensing, combining, or eliminating other information collection 
requirements.
    Reporting Burden:
    Frequency: The FNS-583 report must be completed and submitted to 
FNS on a quarterly basis by the 45th day following the end of the 
quarter.
    Affected Public: State governments.
    Number of Respondents: 53.
    Number of Responses: 212.
    Estimated Time per Response: 138 hours per State agency.
    Estimated Total Annual Reporting Burden: 29,216 hours.
    Recordkeeping Burden:
    Number of Respondents: 53.
    Number of Records: 212.
    Number of Hours Per Record: 0.137 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Recordkeeping burden: 29 hours.
    Total Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden: 29,245 hours.

    Dated: October 9, 2002.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 02-26566 Filed 10-17-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P