Notice2021-27195
Expedited OMB Review and Public Comment: Recordkeeping for New Vaccine and Mask Requirements To Mitigate the Spread of COVID-19 in Head Start
Primary source
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Published
December 16, 2021
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentChildren and Families Administration
Abstract
An Interim Final Rule with Comment Period (IFC) was published on November 30, 2021 that established the COVID-19 vaccination requirements whereby all Head Start staff, certain contractors, and volunteers must be vaccinated for COVID-19 by January 31, 2022. The Office of Head Start, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is requesting expedited review of an information collection request from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and inviting public comments on the following new recordkeeping requirements for Head Start programs: (1) Collect and maintain records on the vaccination status of staff, certain contractors, and volunteers in Head Start and Early Head Start programs, and (2) develop and maintain a written COVID-19 protocol for testing individuals granted vaccine exemptions including granting such exemptions. We also invite comments on the impact of this new requirement on the current requirement for Head Start programs to maintain, including regularly update, program policies and procedures for personnel (associated burden approved under OMB #: 0970-0148).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 239 (Thursday, December 16, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 239 (Thursday, December 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 71504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27195]
[[Page 71504]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Expedited OMB Review and Public Comment: Recordkeeping for New
Vaccine and Mask Requirements To Mitigate the Spread of COVID-19 in
Head Start
AGENCY: Office of Head Start, Administration for Children and Families,
HHS.
ACTION: Request for public comment.
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SUMMARY: An Interim Final Rule with Comment Period (IFC) was published
on November 30, 2021 that established the COVID-19 vaccination
requirements whereby all Head Start staff, certain contractors, and
volunteers must be vaccinated for COVID-19 by January 31, 2022. The
Office of Head Start, Administration for Children and Families (ACF),
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is requesting
expedited review of an information collection request from the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) and inviting public comments on the
following new recordkeeping requirements for Head Start programs: (1)
Collect and maintain records on the vaccination status of staff,
certain contractors, and volunteers in Head Start and Early Head Start
programs, and (2) develop and maintain a written COVID-19 protocol for
testing individuals granted vaccine exemptions including granting such
exemptions.
We also invite comments on the impact of this new requirement on
the current requirement for Head Start programs to maintain, including
regularly update, program policies and procedures for personnel
(associated burden approved under OMB #: 0970-0148).
DATES: Comments due within 60 days of publication. In compliance with
the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ACF is
soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information
collection described in this notice.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed collection of information can be
obtained and comments may be submitted by emailing
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4c25222a232f232020292f382523220c2d2f2a6224243f622b233a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2841464e474b4744444d4b5c41474668494b4e0640405b064f475e">[email protected]</span></a>. All requests should identify the title of
the information collection.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Description: ACF is requesting that OMB grant a 180-day approval
for this request under procedures for expedited processing. A request
for review under normal procedures will be submitted as soon as
possible within 180 days of the approval for this request. This request
is for recipients of Head Start funding to maintain records of staff
(including certain contractors) and volunteer vaccination status to
meet the new vaccine requirements and establish written COVID-19
testing protocols, as required by IFC: Title (86 FR 68052).
Additionally, programs are expected to update their program
policies and procedures to ensure costs associated with regular testing
for those granted an exemption are an allowable use of Head Start
funds. The recordkeeping activity of maintaining program policies and
procedures for personnel, including the associated burden with updating
them on an annual basis, is approved under OMB Control Number 0970-
0148. Since the new reporting requirement impacts these activities, we
also invite public comment on these reporting requirements.
There is no standard instrument required to be used to meet these
recordkeeping requirements.
Respondents: Recipients of Head Start funding.
Annual Burden Estimates
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Average
Instrument Total number Responses per annual burden Annual burden
of respondents respondent hours hours
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Staff and Volunteer Reporting of New Vaccination 58,116 1 0.6667 38,744
(one-time).....................................
Staff and Volunteer Reporting of Existing 924,000 1 0.0278 25,666.7
Vaccination (one-time).........................
Staff and Volunteer Requesting an Exemption (one- 66,700 1 0.1667 11,116.7
time)..........................................
Grant Recipient Maintaining Complete Records of 1,573 1 4.2403 6,670
Vaccination Status (ongoing)...................
Grant Recipient Establishing COVID-19 Testing 1,573 1 3.3333 5,243.3
Protocol (one-time)............................
Grant Recipient Maintaining COVID-19 Testing 1,573 1 1 1,573
Protocol (ongoing).............................
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Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: We estimate the one-time and
ongoing burden to maintain records on staff and volunteer vaccination
rates and establish and maintain a written COVID-19 testing protocol
will result in 89,013.7 total annual burden hours.
Comments: The Department specifically requests comments 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) 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 or other forms of information technology.
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted
within 60 days of this publication. Comments will be considered and any
necessary updates to materials made prior to, and responses provided
in, the submission to OMB that will follow this public comment period.
(Authority: IFC [86 FR 68052])
Mary B. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-27195 Filed 12-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-40-P
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