Notice2021-22011
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Food Program and Reporting System (FPRS)
Primary source
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Published
October 8, 2021
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentFood and Nutrition Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This is a revision of a currently approved collection for the Food Programs Reporting System (FPRS). The purpose of FPRS is to enable data gathering for the reporting of data related to Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). FPRS is the primary collection point for FNS program performance statistics and financial data from State agencies, Indian Tribal Organizations and U.S. Territories running and operating the nutrition assistance programs. FNS is announcing a revision to the reporting requirements in the SNAP Employment and Training program, specifically FNS-583, SNAP Employment and Training Program Activity Report, due to changes in rulemaking from the final rule titled, "Employment and Training Opportunities in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program," RIN 0584-AE68 published January 5, 2021. This notice also announces the proposed revision of the FNS-366B, Program Activity Statement, to revise the currently collected data on initial and recertification applications. FNS is not requesting any other updates in this request.
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 193 (Friday, October 8, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 193 (Friday, October 8, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56240-56243]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-22011]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request--Food Program and Reporting System (FPRS)
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment
on this proposed information collection. This is a revision of a
currently approved collection for the Food Programs Reporting System
(FPRS). The purpose of FPRS is to enable data gathering for the
reporting of data related to Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) programs,
including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). FPRS is
the primary collection point for FNS program performance statistics and
financial data from State agencies, Indian Tribal Organizations and
U.S. Territories running and operating the nutrition assistance
programs. FNS is announcing a revision to the reporting requirements in
the SNAP Employment and Training program, specifically FNS-583, SNAP
Employment and Training Program Activity Report, due to changes in
rulemaking from the final rule titled, ``Employment and Training
Opportunities in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,'' RIN
0584-AE68 published January 5, 2021. This notice also announces the
proposed revision of the FNS-366B, Program Activity Statement, to
revise the currently collected data on initial and recertification
applications. FNS is not requesting any other updates in this request.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before December 7, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted via fax to Moira Johnston at 703-
305-2515 or via email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#65080a0c17044b0f0a0d0b16110a0b25101601044b020a13"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8de0e2e4ffeca3e7e2e5e3fef9e2e3cdf8fee9eca3eae2fb">[email protected]</span></a>. Comments will also be
accepted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>, and follow the online instructions for submitting
comments electronically.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will
be a matter of public record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of this information collection should be directed to Moira
Johnston at 703-305-2515.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions
that were 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
use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Title: Food Programs Reporting System.
Form Number: FNS-583, SNAP Employment and Training Program Activity
Report and the FNS-366B, Program Activity Statement.
OMB Number: 0584-0594.
Expiration Date: 07/31/2023.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Abstract:
FNS-583 Revision
The SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) program, established by the
Food Security Act of 1985, helps able-bodied SNAP recipients find work
or gain the skills, training, and experience that leads to employment.
In accordance with 7 CFR 273.7(c)(9), State agencies are required to
submit quarterly E&T Program Activity Reports containing monthly
figures for participation in the program no later than 45 days after
the end of each Federal fiscal quarter FNS uses Form FNS-583 to provide
the format for this data. State agencies report this data using the
online Food Program Reporting System (FPRS, OMB Control Number: 0584-
0594; Expiration Date: 07/31/2023). The purpose of the E&T Program
Activity Report (FNS-583) submitted and maintained in FPRS is to
collect standard and consistent information on all States and
Territories Work Registrants, E&T Participation, Able-Bodied Adults
Without Dependents (ABAWD), Program Activities, Components funded
through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Office of
Employment and Training (OET). The data collected through the FNS-583
is used by FNS to help with management decisions, supports policy
initiatives, and provides insight into where OET can best offer
Technical Assistance to States, thus supporting planning within the
agency. The current data elements collected as part of the FNS-583 in
accordance with 7 CFR 273.7(c)(9), ask State agencies to report on:
<bullet> Newly work registered E&T participants;
<bullet> Number of ABAWD applicants and recipients participating in
qualifying components;
<bullet> The number of all applicants and recipients participating
in components;
<bullet> The number of ABAWDS subject to the 3-month time limit (in
accordance with 273.24(b)) who are exempt under the State agency's
discretionary exemptions under 273.24(g).
Merging OMB-Approved Burden for the FNS-583 from OMB Control
Number: 0584-0653 to OMB Control Number: 0584-0594: FNS intends to
update the FNS-583 form to reflect changes made as a direct result of
the final rule titled, ``Employment and Training Opportunities in
SNAP,'' RIN 0584-AE68, published January 5, 2021, (86 FR 358). The
information collection burden associated with FNS final rule, 7 CFR
parts 271 and 273, ``Employment and Training Opportunities in the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,'' was approved under OMB
Control Number: 0584-0653; Expiration
[[Page 56241]]
Date: March 31, 2024. The OMB term of clearance for this Information
Collection Request (ICR) was that FNS would merge the burden hours for
additional data elements on the FNS-583 (currently approved under OMB
Control Number: 0584-0653) into the information collection for Food
Programs Reporting System (FPRS).
In the final rule, the Department added the requirement for
reporting four (4) additional data elements related to mandatory E&T
participants to 7 CFR 273.7(c)(11). ``The Department is committed to
ensuring that State agencies are providing mandatory E&T participants
with opportunities to gain skills and appropriate services that help
them be successful. Therefore, the Department proposed adding
additional reporting elements to this fourth quarter report focused on
mandatory E&T participants: The unduplicated number of SNAP applicants
and participants required to participate in an E&T program during the
fiscal year, and, of those, the number who actually began to
participate in an E&T program.'' State agencies running FNS' mandatory
programs are required to report these additional data elements on the
Federal Fiscal Year fourth quarter report of the FNS-583 to FNS using
the FPRS database.
The four (4) mandatory data elements include:
1. The number of SNAP applicants and participants required to
participate in E&T by the State agency.
2. Of those required to participate, the number who begin
participation in an E&T program.
3. Of those required to participate, the number who begin
participation in an E&T component.
4. The number of mandatory E&T participants who were determined
ineligible for failure to comply with E&T requirements.
This information collection request merges the 17 States who will
submit 1 (one) response annually for an estimated total of 17 annual
responses and 68 estimated annual burden hours associated with CFR
273.7(c)(11) reporting additional FNS 583 data elements currently
approved under OMB Control Number: 0584-0653 information collection
associated with a final rulemaking into the FPRS OMB Control Number:
0584-0594, which will now account for these additional elements to the
revised FNS-583.
Revisions to the FNS-583 Not Determined by Rulemaking
The final rule requires that individuals participating in SNAP
Employment and Training (E&T) must be provided with case management
services, in addition to one or more E&T component, in accordance to
237.7(e)(1). As such, in addition to the four (4) mandatory data
elements required due to rulemaking, FNS has an additional optional
reporting case management reporting not determined by rulemaking.
The one (1) optional data elements include:
1. The number of E&T participants who received case management
services.
While offering case management is required, the Department does not
currently require States to report on the number of individuals that
receive case management services on the FNS-583. However, many State
agencies track the provision of case management services and may wish
to report on those activities in their 4th quarter FNS-583 report. The
Department requests to include in this revision of the FNS-583 a
section that would to allow States the option to report the number of
individuals that receive case management services.
The reporting of case management data is voluntary, but is intended
to assist FNS in monitoring State's implementation of the mandatory
case management offering and increase State's accountability.
This information collection revision for OMB Control Number: 0584-
0594 includes an additional 1.25 hours for the addition of the
voluntary case management data field to the FNS-583.
Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal Governments. Respondent
group includes State agencies administering the SNAP E&T program in 50
States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of
respondents annually for the reporting burden of the FNS-583 is 53
State agencies.
FNS estimates that currently, about 17 respondents of the 53 State
agencies would be subject to the new data elements required for
mandatory States. In addition, about 15 respondents of the 53 State
agencies may choose to report on the new optional elements of case
management services, although this is not a requirement by rulemaking.
This is a total of 32 States agencies who will respond to the new
changes associated with the revision of form FNS-583.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: The 53 States
agencies are required to submit data on the FNS-583 for 4 reports per
year (quarterly). As both the new reporting elements for mandatory
States and the optional case management reporting only affects the 4th
quarter of the 583, the estimated number of responses per respondent is
1 for both the additional data entries and the optional case management
reporting. On average, for all 53 State agencies, the estimated number
of responses per respondent is 4.6 responses annually.
Total Annual Responses: The total annual responses is 244. This
number includes the 212 burden hours currently approved for the
quarterly FNS-583 report as well as the estimated newly estimated 17
total annual responses from mandatory States on the new data elements
due to the final rulemaking plus the newly estimated 15 responses on
optional case management reporting not associated with any rulemaking
and at the discretion of the FNS; therefore, 32 of the 244 total annual
responses are new.
Estimated Time per Response: There will be an additional 4 hours
for the 17 State agency respondents of mandatory States reporting
additional data elements. The optional reporting of case management
will take about 5 minutes (0.0835 hours) per response estimated for 15
State agency respondents.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: The burden to be
added to OMB Control Number: 0584-0594 is 69.25 hours. This total
includes 68 hours from the new 4 data elements from mandatory States
(currently approved under OMB Control Number 0584-0653, to be merged
into OMB Control Number: 0584-0594) plus the 1.25 hours from reporting
the optional case management (newly requested burden under OMB Control
Number: 0584-0594). The currently approved reporting burden hours is
20,776 for the FNS 583 under OMB Control Number: 0584-0594 (expiration
7/31/2023). The updated total FNS-583 burden is 20,845.25 hours. The
new total FPRS burden includes the previously approved burden of
104,610.5 total hours plus the additional 69.25 hours from the merge
from OMB Control Number: 0584-0653 and the newly requested data
element, resulting in 104,679 as the Overall Grand Total Burden
Estimates for FPRS.
See the table below for estimated total annual burden for each type
of respondent.
[[Page 56242]]
Reporting Burden Estimates for the FNS-583
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Total
Estimated Responses annual Estimated avg. Estimated
Respondent Form CFR citation number annually per responses number of total hours
respondent respondent (col. b x hours per (col. d x
c) response e)
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Reporting Burden
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Currently Approved Reporting State Agency FNS 583... ...................... 53 4 212 98 20,776.00
Burden for the FNS-583 in Administrative
OMB Control Number 0584- Staff.
0594 (expiration 7/31/2023).
** Currently Approved State Agency 7 CFR 273.7(c)(11).... 17 1 17 4 68.00
Additional Data Request-- Administrative
Mandatory Reporting (Burden Staff Running
to be merged from OMB Mandatory
Control Number 0584-0653 to Programs.
OMB Control Number 0584-
0594).
NEW Optional Reporting of State Agency TBD................... 15 1 15 0.0835 1.25
Case Management (NEW burden Administrative
to be added to OMB Control Staff.
Number 0584-0594).
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Total Burden to be added to OMB Control .......... ...................... 32 1 32 4.0835 69.25
Number 0584-0594.
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Grand Total Burden Estimates for FNS .......... ...................... 53 4.603773585 244 85.4313627 20,845.25
583.
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* Note: There are only 53 State agencies, FNS is not counting duplicative States who conduct additional activities; we are only counting the activities/
responses and the burden times associated with these activities.
** Note: Only 17 of the 53 States agencies are expected to respond to the activities in form FNS 583 requirements in 7 CFR 273.7 (c) (11) burden
activities approved OMB Control Number: 0584-0653 associated with the final rulemaking for E&T SNAP. All other burden approved in OMB Control Number:
0584-0653 collection will remain. The burden for FNS 583 will be merged into the FPRS OMB Control Number: 0584-0594 Expiration Date: 07/31/2023.
Total Revised Reporting Burden Estimates for OMB Control Number 0584-0594
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Estimated Total annual Estimated avg.
Respondent Instrument/form number Responses annually per responses number of hours per Estimated total
respondents respondent (col. b x c) response hours (col. d x e)
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Reporting Burden
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Currently Approved Burden in in OMB Control Number 12,708 3.71081208687441 47,157 2.16392052081 102,044
0584-0594.
Total Burden to be added to OMB Control Number 0584- 32 1 32 2.1640625 69.25
0594.
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Overall Grand Total for OMB Control Number 0584- 12,708 3.69 47,189 2.163920617092967 102,113.25
0594
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Total Revised Reporting Burden Estimates for OMB Control Number 0584-
0653
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Estimated Total annual
total hours responses
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Currently Approved Reporting Burden in 2,071,908 15,500,709
OMB Control Number: 0584-0653
(expiration 7/31/2023).................
Total Burden to be removed from OMB -68 -17
Control Number 0594-0653 and merged
into OMB Control Number: 0584-0594.....
-------------------------------
Updated Grand Total Burden Estimates 2,071,840 15,500,692
remaining in OMB Control Number:
0584-0653..........................
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FNS-366B Revision
The FNS-366B, Program Activity Statement, is FNS' primary means of
collecting data on the integrity and certification activities of State
SNAP agencies. The Certification section of the FNS-366B is used to
track the number of initial and recertification applications approved
or denied by the State agency in the specified reporting quarter, as
well as the number of applications that were approved beyond processing
requirements. Collection of this data is required by Federal
regulations authorized by the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (the Act).
Under 7 CFR 272.2(c)(1)(ii) of SNAP regulations, State agencies are
required to periodically
[[Page 56243]]
report to FNS using the Program Activity Statement (FNS-366B) on a
quarterly basis.
After a recent policy review, FNS determined updates to the FNS-
366B were needed to revise currently collected metrics related to SNAP
recertification policy. Households that file a recertification
application within 30 days of the end of their certification period are
entitled to expedited service, if eligible. While the FNS-366B
currently collects aggregate data on expedited applications on its
current form, the form does not differentiate between expedited initial
applications and expedited recertification applications. FNS is
proposing to update the form to make this distinction. The form
revision acknowledges the distinction in the policy. With the form
changes, FNS will be able to collect disaggregated data on expedited
applications, which will help inform the monitoring and tracking of
timeliness compliance and identify opportunities for additional
technical assistance.
Currently, State agencies are instructed to enter line 6 on the
FNS-366B ``Expedited Service.'' FNS proposes to update the form by
breaking down this data point into two separate data points, as
follows:
<bullet> Line 6, ``Expedited Service'', will be replaced by Line
6a--``Expedited Service--Initial Applications.''
<bullet> FNS will also add Line 6b--``Expedited Service--
Recertifications.''
<bullet> FNS has updated the FNS-366B instructions to reflect this
proposed change.
The reporting burden of 3,180 burden hours, 53 respondents, and 212
total responses for the current version of the FNS-366B form is covered
under OMB number 0584-0594, expiration date 07/31/2023. The
recordkeeping burden of 1,124 hours for the FNS-366B form is currently
covered under OMB number 0584-0083, expiration date 08/31/2023. We do
not anticipate the changes to the FNS-366B will impact the current
reporting or recordkeeping burden which will remain the same.
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Estimated Frequency of
Respondent Form No. CFR number of response per Total annual Estimated hrs. Annual burden
respondents respondent response per response hrs.
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State Agencies........... FNS-366B: Program 7 CFR 272.2............ 53.0 4.0 212.0 15.0 3,180.0
and Budget Summary
Statement: Program
Activity Statement.
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Cynthia Long,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-22011 Filed 10-7-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
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