Notice2021-11901
Subject 30-Day Notice for the “CARES Act Funding Survey”
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 8, 2021
Issuing agencies
National Foundation on the Arts and the HumanitiesNational Endowment for the Arts
Abstract
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the NEA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information collection for the CARES Act Funding Survey for state arts agencies. Copies of this ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained by visiting www.Reginfo.gov
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 108 (Tuesday, June 8, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 8, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30499-30501]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-11901]
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NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES
National Endowment for the Arts
Subject 30-Day Notice for the ``CARES Act Funding Survey''
AGENCY: National Endowment for the Arts, National Foundation on the
Arts and the Humanities.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), as part of its
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a
preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and
Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or
continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995. This program helps to ensure that requested data
can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and
financial
[[Page 30500]]
resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood,
and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be
properly assessed. Currently, the NEA is soliciting comments concerning
the proposed information collection for the CARES Act Funding Survey
for state arts agencies. Copies of this ICR, with applicable supporting
documentation, may be obtained by visiting <a href="http://www.Reginfo.gov">www.Reginfo.gov</a>
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the
address section below within 30 days from the date of this publication
in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for proposed
information collection requests should be sent within 30 days of
publication of this Notice to <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. Find
this particular information collection request by selecting ``National
Endowment for the Arts'' under ``Currently Under Review;'' then check
``Only Show ICR for Public Comment'' checkbox. Once you have found this
information collection request, select ``Comment,'' and enter or upload
your comment and information. Alternatively, comments can be sent to
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk
Officer for the National Endowment for the Arts, Office of Management
and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, or call (202) 395-7316,
within 30 days from the date of this publication in the Federal
Register.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NEA is particularly interested in
comments which:
<bullet> Evaluate 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;
<bullet> Evaluate 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;
<bullet> Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and
<bullet> 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, e.g., permitting
electronic submissions of responses.
Agency: National Endowment for the Arts.
Title: CARES Act Funding Survey.
OMB Number: New.
Frequency: One-time web survey.
Affected Public: State art agency staff members.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 62.
Total Burden Hours: 279 hours (62 responses, average of 4.5 hours).
Total annualized capital/startup costs: 0.
Total annual costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing
services): $45,000 (one-time costs).
The planned data collection is a new information collection
request, and the data to be collected are not available elsewhere
unless obtained through this information collection. A web-based survey
of state arts agencies and regional arts organizations is planned to be
administered once during summer 2021, contingent upon OMB approval.
Knowledge gained through this information collection will enable the
Arts Endowment to collect information on emergency relief funding
provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act
(CARES Act) to state-level and regional subgrantees from the Arts
Endowment. Currently, the Arts Endowment does not collect any
information from state arts agencies or regional arts organizations
related to the benefits of the CARES Act funding awarded to states and
regions.
The National Endowment for the Arts is compelled by Congress to
obligate 40 percent of its program budget to state arts agencies and
regional arts organizations through Partnership Agreements (20 U.S.C.
954(g)). In turn, state arts agencies and regional arts organizations
use these funds to support state and regional grantmaking and other
programming, ``developing projects and productions in the arts in such
a manner as will furnish adequate programs, facilities, and services in
the arts to all the people and communities in each of the several
States.'' (20 U.S.C. 954. (g)(1)). For regular Partnership Agreements,
states, jurisdictions and regions are required to report subgrantee
data to the National Endowment for the Arts.
As part of the stimulus package passed by Congress in April 2020,
the CARES Act appropriated $75 million to the Arts Endowment for
emergency relief. 40 percent of these funds were directed to state arts
agencies and regional arts organizations to be distributed for
emergency grantmaking. After the National Assembly of State Arts
Agencies (NASAA) conducted a listening session on June 24, 2020 with
executive directors of state arts agencies, based on OMB guidance to
federal agencies in administering and implementing relief funding, the
administration emphasized minimal burden to expedite implementing
funding decisions, which gave agencies leeway in determining
appropriate transparency and accountability mechanisms.
With this guidance, the National Endowment for the Arts determined
that there would be no additional reporting requirements associated
with these emergency funds in order to minimize burdens of during the
pandemic. CARES funds were administered to state arts agencies and
regional art organizations via amendments to FY 2019 partnership
agreements, which are reported to the Arts Endowment annually in Final
Descriptive Reports (OMB Control Number 3135-0140). However, Final
Descriptive Reports do not contain data describing jobs and facility or
infrastructure investments, which were the primary purpose of CARES Act
dollars to state arts agencies. In an effort to understand the benefits
and outcomes of emergency relief funds going to the 56 states and
jurisdictions, and six regions, the Arts Endowment partnered with NASAA
to survey state arts agencies and regional arts organizations to
collect data on the how subgrantees used CARES Act funding.
The NEA intends to examine the outcomes of CARES Act funding on
subgrantees of state arts agencies and regional arts organizations to
understand how these funds were used to support arts organizations and
benefit the public.
The Arts Endowment's Office of Research & Analysis decided to
survey state arts agencies and regional arts organizations because it
would fill a gap in knowledge of the 40 percent of CARES Act funding
allocated to states and regions. The questions in the survey will
capture the jobs subgrantees were able to maintain or create, and the
amount invested in infrastructure, as a result of CARES Act emergency
relief. The survey will also provide an opportunity to share any
additional qualitative or quantitative subgrantee data related to CARES
Act funding that state arts agencies have collected.
NASAA will report the survey data to the public in the aggregate
and the Arts Endowment will include an analysis of subgrantee data
along with direct grantee data to understand and track outcomes on
CARES Act funding. The primary indicators will be the number of jobs
created or maintained by grantees and subgrantees (full time and part
time), and the facilities/infrastructure supported with CARES Act
dollars.
[[Page 30501]]
This request is for a full clearance to conduct a web survey.
Dated: June 2, 2021.
Meghan Jugder,
Support Services Specialist, Office of Administrative Services &
Contracts National Endowment for the Arts.
[FR Doc. 2021-11901 Filed 6-7-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7537-01-P
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