[Federal Register: May 28, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 103)] [Notices] [Page 29034-29035] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr28my99-84] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [INFO-99-20] Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506 (c) (2) (A) of the Paperwork reduction Act of 1995 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is providing opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects. To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC Reports Clearance Officer on (404) 639-7090. 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 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 for other forms of information technology. Send comments to Seleda Perryman, CDC Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received with 10 days of this notice. Proposed Project 1. Application for Training for the CDC Distance Learning Program, Laboratory Training, and Other Training--(0920-0017)--Reinstatement-- The Public Health Practice Program Office (PHPPO) is requesting an emergency clearance to resume data collection for the training forms associated with this clearance. We also plan on modifying/revising segments of the application forms. PHPPO in conjunction with the Public Health Training Network (PHTN) and the National Laboratory Training Network (NLTN) at CDC includes the Distance Learning Program which offers self-study, computer-based training, satellite broadcast, video courses, instructor-led field courses, and lab courses related to public health professionals worldwide. Employees of hospitals, universities, medical centers, laboratories, state and federal agencies, and state and local health departments apply for training in an effort to learn up-to-date public health procedures. The ``Application for Training'' forms are the official applications used for all training activities conducted by the CDC. The Continuing Education (CE) Program, which includes CDCs accreditation to provide Continuing Medical Education (CME), Continuing Nurse Education (CNE) and Continuing Education Unit (CEU) for almost all training activities, requires a unique identifying number, preferably the respondent's Social Security Number (SSN), to positively identify and track individuals who have been awarded CE credit. It is often necessary to identify individuals currently enrolled in courses, or to retrieve historical information as to when a particular individual completed a course or several courses over a time period. This information provides the basis for producing a requested transcript or determining if a person is enrolled in more than one course. The use of the SSN is the only positive way of assigning a unique number to a unique individual for this purpose. However, the use of the SSN is voluntary; if a student chooses not to submit a SSN, CDC assigns a unique identifier. The reason the SSN, rather than an arbitrary assigned number is preferred, is because students are not likely to remember an arbitrary number. A student's participation in the curriculum of self-study courses sometimes spans a number of years. The SSN is necessary for eliminating duplicate enrollments; for properly crediting students with completed course work who have similar names or have changed addresses; for generating transcripts of previous completed course work on a cumulative basis. Due to the volume of enrollments, CDC Form 36.5 has been previously approved and used for years as an optical mark scan form. Use of this form, along with the use of the Social Security Number, greatly enhances CDC's capability to process a much greater volume of enrollments in less time with much greater accuracy. There is no cost to the respondents. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Average burden/ Respondents Number of responses/ response (in Total burden respondents respondent hrs.) (in hrs.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Application for Training--CDC 0.759A............ 6,300 1 0.0833 525 Application for Laboratory Training--CDC 32.1... 10,000 1 0.0833 833 Application for Distance Learning Program--CDC 40,000 1 10/60 6,667 36.5........................................... --------------------------------------------------------------- Total....................................... .............. .............. .............. 8,025 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 29035]] Dated: May 21, 1999. Nancy Cheal, Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [FR Doc. 99-13601 Filed 5-27-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4163-18-P