Notice2024-07377
Agency Information Collection Activities: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Demonstration Projects
Primary source
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Published
April 8, 2024
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 new collection without an assigned OMB control number for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This information collection is for activities associated with SNAP demonstration projects and the SNAP State Options Report, respectively.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 68 (Monday, April 8, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 68 (Monday, April 8, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24423-24425]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-07377]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 68 / Monday, April 8, 2024 /
Notices
[[Page 24423]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program: Demonstration Projects
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 new collection
without an assigned OMB control number for the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP). This information collection is for
activities associated with SNAP demonstration projects and the SNAP
State Options Report, respectively.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before June 7, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: Program Design Branch, Program
Development Division, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1320 Braddock Place, 5th Floor, Alexandria, VA 22314.
Comments may also be submitted via fax to the attention of Jessica Luna
at 703-305-4391 or via email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5d0e131c0d0d191f0f2831382e1d282e393c733a322b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0a59444b5a5a4e48587f666f794a7f796e6b246d657c">[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 Jessica
Luna at 703-305-4391.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Demonstration projects are pilot or
experimental projects that waive requirements of the Food and Nutrition
Act of 2008 (the Act) (7 U.S.C. 2011, et seq.) and SNAP regulations to
test program changes to increase efficiency and improve the delivery of
benefits to eligible households. Section 17(b) of the Act authorizes
the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to approve demonstration projects.
SNAP State agencies must request approval to operate demonstration
projects and submit data reports to evaluate its impact. FNS may
approve demonstration projects for a maximum five-year term and the
projects must maintain cost neutrality and include an evaluation
component. The SNAP State Options Report summarizes each State agency's
policy choices concerning approximately 20 SNAP policy options and
waivers. FNS produces the report on an annual basis and posts it on its
public website.
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: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Demonstration
Projects.
Form Number: N/A.
OMB Control Number: 0584-NEW.
Expiration Date: Not yet determined.
Type of Request: This is a new information collection without an
assigned OMB control number in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP).
Abstract: This information collection concerns activities
associated with both SNAP demonstration projects and the SNAP State
Options Report. Demonstration projects allow State agencies to conduct
approved pilot or experimental projects that waive requirements of the
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (the Act) (7 U.S.C. 2011, et seq.) and
SNAP regulations to test program changes to improve program
administration, increase the self-sufficiency of SNAP recipients, and
improve the delivery of benefits to eligible households. The Act limits
the provisions that the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) may waive. FNS
may approve demonstration projects for a maximum five-year term, and
they must maintain cost neutrality and include an evaluation component.
Previously, this information has been collected without an OMB control
number. This information collection seeks to come into compliance with
the Paperwork Reduction Act for demonstration projects.
The SNAP State Options Report summarizes each State agency's policy
choices concerning approximately 20 SNAP policy options and waivers.
FNS produces the report on an annual basis and posts it on its public
website. The most recent report, released in October 2023, is available
via the following link: <a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/waivers/state-options-report">https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/waivers/state-options-report</a>. The report is designed for a wide range of audiences.
Audiences include SNAP State agencies, State and federal policymakers,
other social service programs, advocacy groups, and researchers. FNS
currently develops the report using extant data maintained by FNS and
information provided by State agencies through their State SNAP Plans
of Operation. FNS seeks to improve the report through expanding the
information included to better serve interested audiences. To do so, a
limited amount of new information from State agencies needs to be
collected. FNS seeks to account for the new burden these activities
would place on State agencies through this information collection.
Previously, this information has been collected without an OMB control
number. This information collection seeks to come into compliance with
the Paperwork Reduction Act for the State Options Report.
Demonstration Projects
FNS consulted with four State agencies to estimate the time State
[[Page 24424]]
agency staff spent initiating a demonstration project, fulfilling
operational requirements, and requesting project renewals.
Demonstration project waivers require State agencies to prepare and
submit to FNS new project requests, project modifications, and project
renewal requests. States must also prepare and submit data reports as
part of an evaluation component to measure the project's intended
outcomes and benefits.
FNS and State agencies use an electronic system--the SNAP Waiver
Information Management System (WIMS)--to:
[ssquf] Facilitate the request and response process between State
agencies and FNS.
[ssquf] Track pending waiver requests, active and expired waivers,
and waiver-related data reports.
[ssquf] Allow State agencies and FNS to communicate critical
information about specific waivers in a central location.
Further, WIMS contains a virtual library which holds all the
demonstration project request templates (e.g., initial, modification
and extension), data report templates, and guidance documents which
State agencies use to request projects and submit data reports.
Preparing and Submitting a New Demonstration Project Request
Demonstration projects test novel ideas and program innovations.
State agencies undergo a research phase to determine the type of
demonstration project they would like to implement. FNS works to guide
and assist State agencies in researching and providing technical
assistance prior to any submission of a request.
Once the State agency determines the demonstration project they
would like to implement, they must then submit a request to operate the
project in WIMS. The State agency opens a demonstration project case
and fills out and submits a request template available in WIMS' virtual
library. The templates guide the State agencies to specify the
following information in their request, including:
[ssquf] The type of demonstration request (e.g., Standard Medical
Deduction (SMD), Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP),
Community Partner Interview (CPI), Combined Application Project (CAP),
non-merit projects, or novel projects, among others).
[ssquf] The statutory and regulatory citations the demonstration
project would waive.
[ssquf] The justification for requesting the demonstration project
(e.g., lessen administrative burden and increase program access).
[ssquf] The description of alternative procedures that differ from
regular SNAP, like eligibility, verification, and evaluation components
for the demonstration project, among others.
[ssquf] An evaluation plan.
During this process, FNS engages with the State agency, providing
technical assistance to identify and gain a mutual understanding of the
terms and conditions of the waiver and the State's capacity to operate
the demonstration project successfully. FNS may ask the State agency
clarifying questions, as needed. If FNS approves the request, FNS will
issue an approval letter and request an acknowledgement letter with the
signature of the appropriate State official confirming the State agency
can meet the terms and conditions of the approval.
To implement the demonstration project, State agencies often need
to update their systems to appropriately administer demonstration
projects. System updates may include, but are not limited to, updating
the code to identify the intended project's population, applying
alternative procedures, and enabling the State agency to pull cases and
all relevant information for required data reports.
Additionally, demonstration projects may require alternative
procedures that vary from the operation of SNAP under normal program
rules. Therefore, implementing a demonstration project requires State
agencies to update their policy manuals, develop training modules, and
train their staff on the project's processes and requirements.
Preparing and Submitting Requests To Modify or Extend Demonstration
Projects
If the State agency requires a modification to their demonstration
project during the approval period, the State agency must complete and
submit a modification request in WIMS. The State may need to answer
clarifying questions from FNS to explain the proposed change to the
current project approval and why it is needed. If approved, FNS issues
a modification letter detailing the change and reasoning behind the
modification and affirming that all other terms and conditions of the
latest approval still apply to the demonstration project.
State agencies may also elect to extend approved projects by
requesting to do so in WIMS. If the State agency wishes to extend their
demonstration project under the previous approval's terms and
conditions, the State agency does not need to submit a new request but
inform FNS through WIMS. FNS will review the existing project's
evaluation reports, ask clarification questions as needed and, if
suitable, issue an approval. FNS will request the State agency submit
acknowledgement of the extension via WIMS.
However, if the State agency wishes to propose different terms and
conditions, or add a novel component to the project, the State agency
must fill out and submit a new request in WIMS detailing the proposed
changes. FNS will ask clarification questions as needed to gain
understanding of the proposed changes or novel component. If FNS
approves the extension request, FNS will issue an approval letter and
request written confirmation in the form of an acknowledgement letter
with the signature of the appropriate State official.
Preparing and Submitting Data Reports for Demonstration Projects
State agencies must submit data reports to FNS to assess the
project's overall performance. The evaluation section of the
demonstration project's approval detail the data report requirements.
The evaluation section of the approval may include, but is not limited
to, selecting a case sample, conducting case reviews, and validating
the findings.
Data reports vary for each type of demonstration project. The most
common types of reports are annual and cost-neutrality reports. Annual
reports allow FNS to monitor demonstration project trends such as
average caseload size, demographics data of the population in the
demonstration (e.g., older adults and people with disabilities),
timeliness, and payment error rates. Cost neutrality reports ensure
that the implementation of a demonstration project does not
significantly increase SNAP benefit costs. FNS must analyze program
costs associated with demonstration projects to determine if any
offsets are needed to protect Federal spending and maintain cost
neutrality.
SNAP State Options Report
FNS consulted with six State agencies to estimate the time State
agency staff would spend providing information for inclusion in the
SNAP State Options Report. FNS's planned process of providing
information would entail FNS posing a set of no more than 30 specific
questions to State agencies concerning their State's implementation of
various existing SNAP policy options. The questions asked may change
each year as new policies and options are introduced or discontinued.
In turn,
[[Page 24425]]
State agencies would respond to FNS's set of questions with answers via
an online form. FNS would solicit a response to the set of questions
from each State agency once every 12-month period.
Total Reporting
Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal Government.
Respondent Type: SNAP State Agencies.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 53.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.8868.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 100.
Estimated Time per Response: 130.370205.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 13037.0205.
Reference burden table below:
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Total
Estimated Responses Total Estimated Estimated Base hourly Fully- Annualized
Respondent category Type of respondent Burden activity number of per annual hours per total wage rate loaded cost of
respondents respondent responses response burden (see BLS) wage rate respondent
hours burden
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Reporting
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State Government SNAP State Agencies...... Preparing and submitting 10 1 10 1105.2308 11052.3080 $24.05 $31.99 $353,524.65
a new demonstration
project request.
State Government SNAP State Agencies...... Preparing and submitting 18 1 18 24.3000 437.4000 24.05 31.99 13,990.90
modifications and
extensions.
State Government SNAP State Agencies...... Preparing and submitting 19 1 19 81.4375 1547.3125 24.05 31.99 49,493.11
data reports.
State Government SNAP State Agencies...... Responding to FNS 53 1 53 2.0000 106.0000 24.05 31.99 3,390.57
question set.
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Reporting Total Burden Estimates....................................................... 53 1.886792453 100 130.3702 13037.0205 24.05 31.99 417,008.66
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Tameka Owens,
Assistant Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-07377 Filed 4-5-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
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