Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collections; Comment Request-A Case Study: Modernization of the Food Stamp Program in Florida, 908-909 [E6-33]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 4 / Friday, January 6, 2006 / Notices
traditional breeding programs that are
not subject to regulation under 7 CFR
part 340. The effect of this
determination is that Monsanto corn
line MON 88017 is no longer considered
a regulated article under APHIS’
regulations in 7 CFR part 340.
Therefore, the requirements
pertaining to regulated articles under
those regulations no longer apply to the
subject corn or its progeny. However,
the importation of corn line MON 88017
and seeds capable of propagation is still
subject to the restrictions found in
APHIS’ foreign quarantine notices in 7
CFR part 319 and imported seed
regulations in 7 CFR part 361.
National Environmental Policy Act
An EA was prepared to examine any
potential environmental impacts and
plant pest risk associated with the
determination of nonregulated status for
the Monsanto corn line MON 88017.
The EA was prepared in accordance
with: (1) The National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), (2) regulations
of the Council on Environmental
Quality for implementing the
procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR
parts 1500–1508), (3) USDA regulations
implementing NEPA (7 CFR part 1b),
and (4) APHIS’ NEPA Implementing
Procedures (7 CFR part 372).
Based on that EA, APHIS has reached
a FONSI with regard to the
determination that Monsanto corn line
MON 88017 and lines developed from it
are no longer regulated articles under its
regulations in 7 CFR part 340. Copies of
the EA and FONSI are available from
the individual listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701–7772 and 7781–
7786; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and
371.3.
Done in Washington, DC, this 29th day of
December, 2005.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 06–88 Filed 1–5–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Collections;
Comment Request—A Case Study:
Modernization of the Food Stamp
Program in Florida
Food and Nutrition Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:23 Jan 05, 2006
Jkt 208001
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice invites the general public and
other public agencies to comment on
proposed information collections.
This notice announces the Food and
Nutrition Service’s (FNS) intent to
request approval from the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for new
information collection in the state of
Florida. The Food and Nutrition Service
(FNS) plans to systematically examine
Florida’s modernization model in order
to understand better the relationship
between Food Stamp Program structure,
operations, costs, and performance. This
review will consist of both a
quantitative study using extant data and
a qualitative study relying on the
responses of state and local food stamp
staff, community partners, food stamp
applicants and participants and eligible
non-participants. Project results will
inform FNS policy discussion, provide
technical information to States, and
offer Florida’s Department of Children
and Family Services a tool for
responding efficiently to the variety of
stakeholder queries received.
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before March 7, 2006.
ADDRESSES: 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 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.
Comments may be sent to Erika Jones,
Project Officer, Food and Nutrition
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA
22302. Comments may also be
submitted via fax to the attention of
Erika Jones at 703–305–2576 or via email to erika.jones@fns.usda.gov.
All written comments will be open for
public inspection at the office of the
Food and Nutrition Service, through
prior arrangement with the project
officer, during regular business hours
(8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday) at 3101 Park Center Drive,
Alexandria, Virginia 22302, Room 1014.
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
for OMB 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 Erika Jones on
703–305–2124.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: A Case Study: Modernization of
the Food Stamp Program in Florida.
OMB Number: Not Yet Assigned.
Form Number: N/A.
Expiration Date: To be determined.
Type of Request: New collection of
information.
Abstract: The Florida Department of
Family and Children’s Services (DCFS)
is implementing organizational changes,
simplifying policies, streamlining
procedures and introducing a variety of
technology improvements to improve
access and customer service while
improving administrative efficiency.
DCFS is in the process of modernizing
its program districts which are at
different stages of implementation. Key
features of the State’s organizational
changes include toll-free phone access
to regional call centers, an interactive
voice response system, an Internetbased application, document scanning,
and automated support for some
verification procedures. DCFS also is
developing partnerships with
community-based service providers to
engage them in client application
support and other customer assistance
activities.
In an effort to understand outcomes
associated with program modernization,
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)
plans to systematically examine
Florida’s modernization model in order
to understand better the relationship
between Food Stamp Program structure,
operations, costs and performance.
Project results will inform FNS policy
discussions, provide technical and
procedurally relevant information to
States, and offer Florida DCFS a tool for
assessing potential model enhancements
and responding efficiently to the variety
of stakeholder queries received.
Specifically, the project will be
guided by following objectives: (1)
Developing a description of changes to
food stamp policies and procedures that
have been made in support of
Automated Community Connection to
Economic Self-Sufficiency Florida
(ACCESS Florida), (2) Identifying how
technology is used to support the range
of food stamp eligibility determination
and case management functions; (3)
Describing the roles and experiences of
State food stamp staff, vendors, and
community partners working at
different levels; (4) Understanding the
E:\FR\FM\06JAN1.SGM
06JAN1
cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 4 / Friday, January 6, 2006 / Notices
experiences and satisfaction of food
stamp participants, applicants and
eligible non-participants; and (5)
Describing Food Stamp Program
performance overtime.
A descriptive case study,
incorporating both qualitative and
quantitative data, will be implemented
to address these objectives. The study
will rely on extant data to describe FSP
performance before and after the State’s
modernization initiative with respect to
participation rates, payment accuracy,
administrative costs and other
outcomes. Data will also be obtained
through interviews with local, regional
and state-level staff as well as
community partners; and include
discussion groups with food stamp
participants and eligible nonparticipants.
While state-level performance data
will be collected, along with interviews
of state program staff, there will be a
special focus on 6 of the 13 program
districts providing food stamp services.
Districts will be chosen to reflect
diversity of modernization
implementation across Florida. In each
of these districts, a combination of inperson and telephone interviews will be
conducted with FSP staff and
community partners. In each region, the
study will also conduct focus groups
with participants, applicants, and
eligible non-participants.
Interview and focus group questions
will be kept as simple and respondentfriendly as possible. Responses to all
questions will be voluntary. The
contractor will take the following steps
to treat the data provided in a
confidential manner: (1) No data will be
released in a form that identifies
individual respondents by name and (2)
information collected through
interviews will be combined across
other respondents in the same category
and reported only in aggregate form.
Respondents will be notified of these
confidentiality measures during data
collection.
Respondents: Staff associated with
ACCESS Florida at the state and
regional level, including regional call
centers; staff from local food stamp
service and case maintenance centers,
state, regional and local staff from
community partners assisting with the
modernization efforts; and food stamp
participants, applicants, and eligible
non-participants.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
The study will collect data from a total
of 118 respondents. This number
represents the sum of 23 State, districts
and phone center staff (composed of 7
phone interviews and 16 in-person
interviews); 33 local FSP staff
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:23 Jan 05, 2006
Jkt 208001
909
(including 17 phone interviews and 16
in-person interviews); 26 staff members
from community partners involved in
modernization (12 phone interviews
and 14 in-person interviews); 24 FSP
participants and applicants and 12
eligible non-participants.
Number of Responses per
Respondent: 1.
Estimated Time per Response: All
burden estimates include respondents’
time to prepare for and complete
interviews or focus groups. In-person
interviews: 1.5 hours each; Phone
interviews: 1.5 hours each; and Focus
groups: 1.5 hours per participant.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: Total of 177 hours,
including: State, regional and phone
center staff, 34.5 hours; local ACCESS
Florida staff, 49.5 hours; community
partners, 39 hours; FSP applicants
participants and eligible nonparticipants, 54 hours.
Deletions
Dated: December 30, 2005.
Steven N. Christensen,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition
Service.
[FR Doc. E6–33 Filed 1–5–06; 8:45 am]
Products
Product/NSN: Bag, Produce, Star Bottom.
NSN: 8105–00–NIB–1046—Bag, Produce,
Star Bottom.
NPA: Envision, Inc., Wichita, Kansas.
Contracting Activity: Defense Commissary
Agency, Fort Lee, Virginia.
Product/NSN: Pen, Rollerball, Executive and
Refill.
NSN: 7520–01–424–4882—Pen, Rollerball,
Executive and Refill.
NPA: San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind,
San Antonio, Texas.
Contracting Activity: Office Supplies & Paper
Products Acquisition Center, New York,
NY.
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM
PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR
SEVERELY DISABLED
Procurement List Proposed Deletions
Committee for Purchase from
People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled.
ACTION: Proposed Addition to and
Deletions from Procurement List.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Committee is proposing
to delete products previously furnished
by such agencies.
DATES: Comments Must Be Received On
or Before: February 5, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase
From People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled, Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800,
1421 Jefferson Davis Highway,
Arlington, Virginia 22202–3259.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO SUBMIT
COMMENTS CONTACT: Sheryl D. Kennerly,
Telephone: (703) 603–7740, Fax: (703)
603–0655, or e-mail
SKennerly@jwod.gov.
This
notice is published pursuant to 41 U.S.C
47(a)(2) and 41 CFR 51–2.3. Its purpose
is to provide interested persons an
opportunity to submit comments on the
proposed actions.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
I certify that the following action will
not have a significant impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
The major factors considered for this
certification were:
1. If approved, the action may result
in additional reporting, recordkeeping
or other compliance requirements for
small entities.
2. If approved, the action may result
in authorizing small entities to furnish
the products to the Government.
3. There are no known regulatory
alternatives which would accomplish
the objectives of the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46–48c) in
connection with the products proposed
for deletion from the Procurement List.
End of Certification
The following products are proposed
for deletion from the Procurement List:
Patrick Rowe,
Executive Deputy Director.
[FR Doc. E6–3 Filed 1–5–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6353–01–P
COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM
PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR
SEVERELY DISABLED
Procurement List Additions
Committee for Purchase from
People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled.
ACTION: Additions to Procurement List.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This action adds to the
Procurement List services to be
furnished by nonprofit agencies
employing persons who are blind or
have other severe disabilities.
EFFECTIVE DATE: February 5, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase
From People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled, Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800,
1421 Jefferson Davis Highway,
Arlington, Virginia 22202–3259.
E:\FR\FM\06JAN1.SGM
06JAN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 4 (Friday, January 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 908-909]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-33]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collections;
Comment Request--A Case Study: Modernization of the Food Stamp Program
in Florida
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment
on proposed information collections.
This notice announces the Food and Nutrition Service's (FNS) intent
to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for
new information collection in the state of Florida. The Food and
Nutrition Service (FNS) plans to systematically examine Florida's
modernization model in order to understand better the relationship
between Food Stamp Program structure, operations, costs, and
performance. This review will consist of both a quantitative study
using extant data and a qualitative study relying on the responses of
state and local food stamp staff, community partners, food stamp
applicants and participants and eligible non-participants. Project
results will inform FNS policy discussion, provide technical
information to States, and offer Florida's Department of Children and
Family Services a tool for responding efficiently to the variety of
stakeholder queries received.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before March 7, 2006.
ADDRESSES: 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 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.
Comments may be sent to Erika Jones, Project Officer, Food and
Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center
Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to
the attention of Erika Jones at 703-305-2576 or via e-mail to
erika.jones@fns.usda.gov.
All written comments will be open for public inspection at the
office of the Food and Nutrition Service, through prior arrangement
with the project officer, during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5
p.m., Monday through Friday) at 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria,
Virginia 22302, Room 1014.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB 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 Erika Jones
on 703-305-2124.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: A Case Study: Modernization of the Food Stamp Program in
Florida.
OMB Number: Not Yet Assigned.
Form Number: N/A.
Expiration Date: To be determined.
Type of Request: New collection of information.
Abstract: The Florida Department of Family and Children's Services
(DCFS) is implementing organizational changes, simplifying policies,
streamlining procedures and introducing a variety of technology
improvements to improve access and customer service while improving
administrative efficiency. DCFS is in the process of modernizing its
program districts which are at different stages of implementation. Key
features of the State's organizational changes include toll-free phone
access to regional call centers, an interactive voice response system,
an Internet-based application, document scanning, and automated support
for some verification procedures. DCFS also is developing partnerships
with community-based service providers to engage them in client
application support and other customer assistance activities.
In an effort to understand outcomes associated with program
modernization, The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) plans to
systematically examine Florida's modernization model in order to
understand better the relationship between Food Stamp Program
structure, operations, costs and performance. Project results will
inform FNS policy discussions, provide technical and procedurally
relevant information to States, and offer Florida DCFS a tool for
assessing potential model enhancements and responding efficiently to
the variety of stakeholder queries received.
Specifically, the project will be guided by following objectives:
(1) Developing a description of changes to food stamp policies and
procedures that have been made in support of Automated Community
Connection to Economic Self-Sufficiency Florida (ACCESS Florida), (2)
Identifying how technology is used to support the range of food stamp
eligibility determination and case management functions; (3) Describing
the roles and experiences of State food stamp staff, vendors, and
community partners working at different levels; (4) Understanding the
[[Page 909]]
experiences and satisfaction of food stamp participants, applicants and
eligible non-participants; and (5) Describing Food Stamp Program
performance overtime.
A descriptive case study, incorporating both qualitative and
quantitative data, will be implemented to address these objectives. The
study will rely on extant data to describe FSP performance before and
after the State's modernization initiative with respect to
participation rates, payment accuracy, administrative costs and other
outcomes. Data will also be obtained through interviews with local,
regional and state-level staff as well as community partners; and
include discussion groups with food stamp participants and eligible
non-participants.
While state-level performance data will be collected, along with
interviews of state program staff, there will be a special focus on 6
of the 13 program districts providing food stamp services. Districts
will be chosen to reflect diversity of modernization implementation
across Florida. In each of these districts, a combination of in-person
and telephone interviews will be conducted with FSP staff and community
partners. In each region, the study will also conduct focus groups with
participants, applicants, and eligible non-participants.
Interview and focus group questions will be kept as simple and
respondent-friendly as possible. Responses to all questions will be
voluntary. The contractor will take the following steps to treat the
data provided in a confidential manner: (1) No data will be released in
a form that identifies individual respondents by name and (2)
information collected through interviews will be combined across other
respondents in the same category and reported only in aggregate form.
Respondents will be notified of these confidentiality measures during
data collection.
Respondents: Staff associated with ACCESS Florida at the state and
regional level, including regional call centers; staff from local food
stamp service and case maintenance centers, state, regional and local
staff from community partners assisting with the modernization efforts;
and food stamp participants, applicants, and eligible non-participants.
Estimated Number of Respondents: The study will collect data from a
total of 118 respondents. This number represents the sum of 23 State,
districts and phone center staff (composed of 7 phone interviews and 16
in-person interviews); 33 local FSP staff (including 17 phone
interviews and 16 in-person interviews); 26 staff members from
community partners involved in modernization (12 phone interviews and
14 in-person interviews); 24 FSP participants and applicants and 12
eligible non-participants.
Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Time per Response: All burden estimates include
respondents' time to prepare for and complete interviews or focus
groups. In-person interviews: 1.5 hours each; Phone interviews: 1.5
hours each; and Focus groups: 1.5 hours per participant.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: Total of 177 hours,
including: State, regional and phone center staff, 34.5 hours; local
ACCESS Florida staff, 49.5 hours; community partners, 39 hours; FSP
applicants participants and eligible non-participants, 54 hours.
Dated: December 30, 2005.
Steven N. Christensen,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. E6-33 Filed 1-5-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
