Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request, 63913-63914 [07-5612]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
• Administration for Children and Families
• Children and Families Administration

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 218 (Tuesday, November 13, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63913-63914]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-5612]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

Proposed Projects

    Title: Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) Post-expenditure Report.
    OMB No.: 0970-0234.
    Description: The purpose of this information collection is to (1) 
extend the collection of post-expenditure data using the current OMB 
approved reporting form (OMB No. 0970-0234) past the current expiration 
date of May 31, 2008; and (2) request that States voluntarily use the 
post-expenditure report format to estimate expenditures and recipients, 
by service category, as part of the required annual intended use plan.
    The Social Services Block Grant program (SSBG) provides funds to 
assist States in delivering critical services to vulnerable older 
adults, persons with disabilities, at-risk adolescents and young 
adults, and children and families in the State. Funds are allocated to 
the States in proportion to their populations. States have substantial 
discretion in their use of funds and may determine what services will 
be provided, who will be eligible, and how funds will be distributed 
among the various services. State or local SSBG agencies (i.e., county, 
city, regional offices) may provide the services or may purchase them 
from qualified agencies, organizations or individuals. States report as 
recipients of SSBG-funded services any individuals who receive a 
service funded in whole or in part by SSBG.
    States are required to report their annual SSBG expenditures on a 
standard post-expenditure report. This request seeks approval to 
continue the use of the current form with no changes. This standard 
post-expenditure report form includes a yearly total of adults and 
children served and annual expenditures in each of 29 service 
categories. The annual report is to be submitted within six months of 
the end of the period covered by the report, and must address: (1) The 
number of individuals (as well as the number of children and the number 
of adults) who receive services paid for, in whole or in part, with 
Federal funds under the SSBG; (2) the amount of SSBG funds spent in 
providing each service; (3) the total amount of Federal, State, and 
local funds spent in providing each service, including SSBG funds; and 
(4) the method(s) by which each service is provided, showing separately 
the services provided by public and private agencies. These reporting 
requirements can be found at 45 CFR 96.74.
    Information collected on the post-expenditure report is analyzed 
and described in an annual report on SSBG expenditures and recipients 
produced by the Office of Community Services (OCS), Administration for 
Children and Families (ACF). The information contained in this report 
is used for program planning and management. The data establish how 
SSBG funding is used for the provision of services in each State to 
each of many specific populations of needy individuals.
    Federal regulation and reporting requirements for the SSBG also 
require each State to develop and submit an

[[Page 63914]]

annual intended use plan that describes how the State plans to 
administer its SSBG funds for the coming year. This report is to be 
submitted 30 days prior to the start of the fiscal year (June 1 if the 
State operates on a July-June fiscal year, or September 1 if the State 
operates on a Federal fiscal year).
    No specific format is required for the intended use plan. The 
intended use of SSBG funds, including the types of activities to be 
supported and the categories and characteristics of individuals to be 
served, must be provided. States vary greatly in the information they 
provide and the structure of the report. States are required to submit 
a revised intended use plan if the planned use of SSBG funds changes 
during the year.
    In order to provide a more accurate analysis of the extent to which 
funds are spent ``in a manner consistent'' with each of the States' 
plan for their use, as required by 42 USC 1397e(a), ACF is requesting 
that States voluntarily use the format of the post-expenditure report 
form to provide estimates of the amount of expenditures and the number 
of recipients by service category, that the State plans to use SSBG 
funds to support as part of the intended use plan. Many states are 
already using the format of the post-expenditure report form as part of 
their pre-expenditure report.
    Respondents: States.

                                             Annual Burden Estimates
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                                                             Number of        Average burden
             Instrument                   Number of        responses per        hours per         Total burden
                                         respondents         respondent          response            hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post-Expenditure Report.............                 56                  1                110              6,160
Use of Post-Expenditure Report Form                  56                  1                  2                112
 as Part of the Intended Use Plan...
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,272.
    In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and 
Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the 
information collection described above. Copies of the proposed 
collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded 
by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of 
Administration, Office of Information Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, 
SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. E-mail 
address: infocollection@acf.hhs.gov. All requests should be identified 
by the title of the information collection.
    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.

    Dated: November 6, 2007
Robert Sargis,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 07-5612 Filed 11-9-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M