[Federal Register: March 29, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 59)]
[Notices]
[Page 15861-15862]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29mr05-69]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration on Aging
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; State Annual Long-Term Care Ombudsman Report and
Instructions for Older Americans Act Title VII
AGENCY: Administration on Aging, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Administration on Aging (AoA) is announcing an opportunity
for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by
the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA),
Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register
concerning each proposed collection of information, including each
proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to
allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice
solicits comments on the information collection requirements relating
to State Annual Long-Term Care Ombudsman Report and instructions for
Older Americans Act Title VII.
DATES: Submit written or electronic comments on the collection of
information by May 31, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Submit electronic comments on the collection of information
to: sue.wheaton@aoa.gov.
Submit written comments on the collection of information to:
Administration on Aging, Washington, DC 20201. Attention: Sue Wheaton.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sue Wheaton, telephone: (202) 357-
3587; e-mail: sue.wheaton@aoa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal
agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor.
``Collection of information'' is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR
1320.3(c) and includes agency request or requirements that members of
the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a
third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A))
requires Federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal
Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including
each proposed extension of an existing collection of information,
before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with
this requirement, AoA is publishing notice of the proposed collection
of information set forth in this document. With respect to the
following collection of information, AoA invites comments on: (1)
Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the
proper performance of AoA's functions, including whether the
information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of AoA's
estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information,
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of
information on respondents, including through the use of automated
collection techniques when appropriate, and other forms of information
technology.
The reporting system, the National Ombudsman Reporting System
(NORS), was developed in response to the needs and directives
pertaining to the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program and approved by the
Office of Management and Budget for use in FY 1995-96, and extended
with slight modifications for use in FY 1997-2001 and again for FY
2002-2006.
This request is to continue the use of the existing information
collection, State Annual Long-Term Care Ombudsman Report (and
Instructions), from Older Americans Act Title VII grantees. Under
section 712(c), section 712(h)(1) and section 712(h)(B) of the Older
Americans Act, as amended, states are required to provide information
on ombudsmen activities to AoA, which AoA is then required to present
to Congress. We are currently working with the states and local
Ombudsmen on recommendations to revise and update the form and
instructions for use beginning in FY 2007.
The reporting form would retain the following elements: A profile
of the cases, complainants and complaints by type of facility; action
taken on the complaints; a summary of long-term care issues; a detailed
profile of the program and its activities, including the number and
type of facilities licensed and operating in the state (and the number
beds this represents); the staffing and funding of local programs; and
an overview of other ombudsman activities (including: Training,
technical assistance, consultation to organizations and individuals,
resident visitation, community education, etc.)
AoA estimates the burden of this collection of information as
follows: Approximately one and one-half hour per respondent with 52
State Agencies on Aging responding annually.
[[Page 15862]]
Dated: March 23, 2005.
Josefina G. Carbonell,
Assistant Secretary for Aging.
[FR Doc. 05-6094 Filed 3-28-05; 8:45 am]
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