Notice2026-04248
Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Children's Justice Act Program Instruction
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
March 4, 2026
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentChildren and Families Administration
Abstract
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is requesting a 3-year extension of the Children's Justice Act Program Instruction (Office of Management and Budget (OMB #0970-0425, expiration March 31,2026). There are no changes to the requirements, but the instructions have been streamlined to reduce burden, provide clarification, and improve data collection.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 42 (Wednesday, March 4, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 4, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10613-10614]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-04248]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
[Office of Management and Budget #: 0970-0425]
Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Children's
Justice Act Program Instruction
AGENCY: Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families,
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
ACTION: Request for Public Comments.
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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is
requesting a 3-year extension of the Children's Justice Act Program
Instruction (Office of Management and Budget (OMB #0970-0425,
expiration March 31,2026). There are no changes to the requirements,
but the instructions have been streamlined to reduce burden, provide
clarification, and improve data collection.
DATES: Comments due April 3, 2026.
ADDRESSES: The public may view and comment on this information
collection request at: <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202602-0970-014">https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202602-0970-014</a>. You can also obtain copies of the
proposed collection of information by emailing
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e58c8b838a868a89898086918c8a8ba5848683cb8d8d96cb828a93"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a9c0c7cfc6cac6c5c5cccaddc0c6c7e9c8cacf87c1c1da87cec6df">[email protected]</span></a>. Identify all emailed requests by the title
of the information collection.
[[Page 10614]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Description: The Children's Justice Act
(CJA) Program Instruction, prepared in response to the enactment of the
CJA, Title I of Public Law 111-320, Child Abuse Prevention and
Treatment Act Reauthorization of 2010, provides direction to the states
and territories to accomplish the purposes of assisting states in
developing, establishing and operating programs designed to improve:
(1) the assessment and investigation of suspected child abuse and
neglect cases, including cases of suspected child sexual abuse and
exploitation, in a manner that limits additional trauma to the child
and the child's family; (2) the assessment and investigation of cases
of suspected child abuse-related fatalities and suspected child
neglect-related fatalities; (3) the investigation and prosecution of
cases of child abuse and neglect, including child sexual abuse and
exploitation; and (4) the assessment and investigation of cases
involving children with disabilities or serious health-related problems
who are suspected victims of child abuse or neglect. This Program
Instruction contains information collection requirements that are found
in Public Law 111-320 at sections 107(b) and 107(d), and pursuant to
receiving a grant award. The information being collected is required by
statute to be submitted pursuant to receiving a grant award. The
information submitted will be used by the agency to ensure compliance
with the statute; to monitor, evaluate and measure grantee achievements
in addressing the investigation and prosecution of child abuse and
neglect; and to report to Congress.
Respondents: State Governments.
Annual Burden Estimates
The length of the CJA Program Instruction has been reduced by about
67 percent from 17 pages to 5.5 pages. Edits have been made to remove
unnecessary information, remove requests for information not required
by statute, clarify requirements, reduce duplicative information and
requests for information, and simplify language. As a result of the
reduction in the length of time needed to both read and respond to the
Program Instruction, the estimated response burden has been lowered by
33 percent from 60 hours to 40 hours per response.
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Annual number of Average burden
Instrument Total number of responses per hours per Annual burden
respondents respondent response hours
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Annual Report and Application.............. 52 1 40 2,080
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Authority: 42 U.S.C. 5106c section 107 (b)4; and 42 U.S.C. 5106
section 107 (B)5.
Mary C. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2026-04248 Filed 3-3-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P
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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.