Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Evaluation of the Demonstrations of National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program (NSLP/SBP) Direct Certification of Children Receiving Medicaid Benefits, 10593-10595 [2013-03470]

Download as PDF 10593 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 31 / Thursday, February 14, 2013 / Notices Expiration Date: 5/31/2013. Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection. Abstract: Section 18(b) of the Food and Nutrition Act, (the Act) 7 U.S.C. 2027(b), limits the value of allotments paid to SNAP households to an amount not in excess of the appropriation for the fiscal year. If allotments in any fiscal year would exceed the appropriation, the Secretary of Agriculture is required to direct State agencies to reduce the value of SNAP allotments to the extent necessary to stay within appropriated funding limits. Timely State monthly issuance estimates are necessary for FNS to ensure that it remains within the appropriation. The estimates will also have a direct effect upon the manner in which allotments would be reduced if necessary. While benefit reductions have never been ordered in the past under Section 18(b) nor are they anticipated based on current data, the Department must continue to monitor actual program costs against the appropriation. Section 11(e)(12) of the Food and Nutrition Act, 7 U.S.C. 2020(e)(12), requires that the State Plan of Operations provide for the submission of reports required by the Secretary of Agriculture. State agencies are required to report on a monthly basis on the FNS–388, State Issuance and Participation Estimates, estimated or actual issuance and participation data for the current month and previous month, and actual participation data for the second preceding month. The FNS– 388 report provides the necessary data for an early warning system to enable the Department to monitor actual and estimated costs for all benefit types against the appropriation. State agencies in general only submit one Statewide FNS–388 per month, which covers benefits from their electronic benefit transfer (EBT) system. The exception is that State agencies which choose to operate an approved alternative issuance demonstration project such as a cash-out system submit a separate report for each additional type of issuance system. In addition, State agencies are required to submit a project area breakdown on the FNS–388 of issuance and participation data twice a year. The Number of respondents Frequency of response project area breakdown attached to the FNS–388 twice a year is known as the FNS–388A. This data is useful in identifying project areas that operate fraud detection units in accordance with the Act. As of December, 2012, 100 percent of respondents submitted the FNS–388 and FNS–388A data electronically. Affected Public: State agencies that administer SNAP. Estimated Number of Respondents: 53. Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 27.17. Estimated Hours per Response: 3.581. Estimated Total Annual Responses: 1440. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: The annual reporting and recordkeeping burden for OMB No. 0584–0081, is estimated to be 5,157 hours. For the FNS–388, the frequency of response has decreased slightly from an estimated 11.509 times per year to 11.32. This results in a burden reduction of 86 hours annually. See the table below for estimated total annual burden for each type of respondent. Time per response (hrs) Total annual responses Annual burden hours Affected public Forms State Agencies ............................................. FNS–388 FNS– 388A. 53 53 11.32 2.26 600 120 5.6 14.83 3360 1779.6 Reporting Burden ................................. ................ 53 ........................ 720 .......................... 5139.6 Number of recordkeepers Frequency of response Total annual records 11.32 2.26 Affected public Forms State Agencies ............................................. FNS–388 FNS– 388A. 53 53 Recordkeeping Burden ......................... ................ 53 Grand Total ................................... ................ 53 .024 .024 14.4 2.88 .......................... 720 ........................ 17.28 27.170 1440 3.581 5156.88 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE [FR Doc. 2013–03340 Filed 2–13–13; 8:45 am] Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request—Evaluation of the Demonstrations of National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program (NSLP/SBP) Direct Certification of Children Receiving Medicaid Benefits sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Food and Nutrition Service Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:16 Feb 13, 2013 Jkt 229001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Annual record– keeping hours 600 120 Dated: January 31, 2013. Jeffrey J. Tribiano, Acting Administrator, Food Nutrition Service. BILLING CODE 3410–30–P Time per response (hrs) Sfmt 4703 notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This is a new collection for Evaluation of the Demonstrations of NSLP/SBP (National School Lunch Program/School Breakfast Program) Direct Certification of Children Receiving Medicaid Benefits. Written comments must be received on or before April 15, 2013. DATES: 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 ADDRESSES: E:\FR\FM\14FEN1.SGM 14FEN1 10594 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 31 / Thursday, February 14, 2013 / Notices 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. Comments may be sent to: Steve Carlson, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1040, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to the attention of Steve Carlson at 703–305–2017 or via email to steve.carlson@fns.usda.gov. Comments will also be accepted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov, and follow the online instructions for submitting comments electronically. All written comments will be open for public inspection at the office of the Food and Nutrition Service during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday) at 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1040, Alexandria, Virginia 22302. 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 Steve Carlson at 703–305–2017. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Evaluation of the Demonstrations of NSLP/SBP Direct Certification of Children Receiving Medicaid Benefits. Form Number: N/A. OMB Number: Not Yet Assigned. Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined. Type of Request: New collection. Abstract: The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (the Act), Section 103, directs USDA to demonstrate direct certification for free lunches and breakfasts to children who are receiving Medicaid and whose households have a gross income as measured by Medicaid that does not exceed 133 percent Federal Poverty Level (FPL). The Direct Certification-Medicaid (DC–M) demonstration may expand the number of students certified for free meals and affect the costs that States and local education agencies (LEAs) incur when certifying students. While the process of matching students to Medicaid data will increase certification costs for States and some LEAs, DC–M can generate cost savings if it leads fewer families to submit applications for school meals. DC–M may also have an impact on federal costs if it leads to an increase in certifications for free and reduced price meals. To determine the impact and effectiveness of direct certification using Medicaid data, FNS will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of DC–M through three investigative areas: (1) Identify the potential impact that DC–M may have on children’s access to the NSLP and SBP; (2) Measure the actual impact of DC– M on participation and costs observed over two years of demonstrations. This component of the study will examine whether DC–M leads to changes in the number and distribution of certified students and higher or lower certification costs in LEAs. The results of this analysis will be used to project the impact of DC–M on number of meals served and on the dollar amount of federal meal reimbursements distributed to districts. The study will also identify Respondent type State Challenge Interviews State Agencies (includes 6 State nutrition directors and 3 Medicaid directors). State Agencies (includes 6 State nutrition directors and 6 Medicaid directors). Local Education Agencies (LEA) (includes 534 child nutrition program directors, 534 business managers, and 9 pretest respondents). Local Education Agency (LEA) Cost Survey NonResponders. State Cost Interview ............ sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES LEA Cost Survey ................ VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:16 Feb 13, 2013 Jkt 229001 PO 00000 Responses annually per respondent Estimated # respondents Action Frm 00003 the challenges that States and LEAs face when implementing DC–M; and (3) Examine the conditions that would make SES certification procedures a cost-effective alternative to current certification procedures. The study will gather data from State and LEAs to include: (1) Certification and participation records; (2) cost surveys and interviews that include certification costs, start-up costs, local meal costs, and federal benefit costs; as well as (3) challenges in conducting DC–M matching. Data will be collected through web surveys and telephone interviews for school year 2012–13 (SY1) and school year 2013–2014 (SY2). Affected Public: State and Local Government—Respondent groups identified include: (1) State level administrators that administer the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs from nine State agencies (six States in SY1 and an additional three States in SY2); and (2) District/School level administrators from 698 LEAs in SY1, increasing to 1,200 LEAs in SY2. Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,776. Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: The average estimated annual number of responses per respondent in the first school year is 1.03, and the average in the second school year is 4.24, for an aggregate average over the two years of 3.09 responses. Estimated Time per Response: The estimated time per response is .767 hours (or approximately 46 minutes). The estimated time of response varies from 10 minutes to 5 hours depending upon respondent action, as shown in the table below. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: The total estimated annual burden is 1,265.34 hours in year 1 and 7,684.52 hours in year 2, as shown in the table below. Total annual responses Estimated avg. # of hours per response Estimated total hours 9 2 18 1.00 18.00 12 3 36 3.50 126.00 1,077 1 1,077 1.00 1,077.00 266 1 266 0.1667 44.34 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\14FEN1.SGM 14FEN1 10595 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 31 / Thursday, February 14, 2013 / Notices Action SY1 TOTAL ................. State Challenge Interviews State Cost Survey ............... LEA Cost Survey ................ LEA Challenge Interviews ... Match Validation Substudy Responses annually per respondent Estimated # respondents Respondent type State & Local Government State Agencies (includes 9 State nutrition directors and 9 Medicaid directors). State Agencies (includes 9 State nutrition directors and 9 Medicaid directors). LEA (includes 960 child nutrition program directors and 960 business managers). LEA Cost Survey Non-Responders. LEA (includes 27 child nutrition program directors). LEA Challenge Interview Non-Responders. State Agencies (includes 1 child nutrition director). State Agencies (includes 3 Medicaid directors). LEA (includes 10 district child nutrition administrators and 10 business managers). Estimated avg. # of hours per response Total annual responses Estimated total hours a 1,355 1.03 1,397 0.91 1,265.34 18 2 36 1.00 36.00 18 3 54 3.50 189.00 1,920 5 9,600 0.75 7,200.00 480 1 480 0.1667 80.02 27 2 54 1.00 54.00 3 1 3 0.1667 0.50 1 2 2 5.00 10.00 3 1 3 5.00 15.00 20 2 40 2.50 100.00 SY2 TOTAL ................. State & Local Government b c 2,421 4.24 10,272 0.75 7,684.52 Grand Total .................. State & Local Government 3,776 3.09 11,669 0.767 8,949.86 a In SY1, the 9 State challenge interview respondents in SY1 are also completing cost interviews. 24 Match Validation substudy respondents are also included in the SY2 cost survey respondents. c In SY2, the 18 State challenge interview respondents are also completing the cost interviews, and the 27 district challenge interview respondents are also completing the district cost survey. b The Dated: January 29, 2013. Audrey Rowe, Administrator. [FR Doc. 2013–03470 Filed 2–13–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–30–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Olympic Peninsula Resource Advisory Committee Forest Service, USDA. Outreach for new RAC Replacement members. AGENCY: ACTION: Interested citizens are invited to serve on the Olympic Peninsula Resource Advisory Committee (RAC). The RAC will be responsible for reviewing and recommending land management projects to be funded under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act, should the act be reauthorized this year. RAC members represent a wide range of interests. The committee consists of 15 members and each member is assigned to one of three categories. A replacement member is also assigned to sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:55 Feb 13, 2013 Jkt 229001 each category. The replacement member becomes a full time member when and if an assigned member can not complete his or her four-year term. The Olympic Peninsula RAC has vacancies for replacement members in Categories A, B, and C. • Category A represents organized labor, developed outdoor recreation, offhighway vehicle use, commercial recreation activities, energy development interests, the commercial timber industry, and Federal grazing or other land use permits. • Category B represents nationally recognized environmental organizations, regionally or locally recognized environmental organizations, dispersed recreational activities, archaeological and historical interests. • Category C represents state, county, or local elected offices, American Indian tribes, school officials or teachers, and the affected public-at-large. A four-year term would begin upon appointment by the Secretary of Agriculture. Committee members serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for travel expenses. Members must be Washington residents, PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 preferably living in one of the Olympic Peninsula counties. Meetings are held at least once and up to four times per year within Thurston, Mason, Jefferson, Clallam, or Grays Harbor Counties. Interested participants should submit the required AD 755 application, available on the forest’s Web site at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/olympic/ workingtogether/advisorycommittees. All applications must be received at the Olympic National Forest Supervisor’s Office by March 29, 2013. DATES: Please mail all AD 755 forms to: Olympic National Forest, 1835 Black Lake Blvd. SW., Olympia, WA 98512, Attention: Grace Haight. ADDRESSES: For additional information, please contact Donna Nemeth at 360–956–2274 or Bill Shelmerdine at 360–956–2282. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dated: February 7, 2013. Reta Laford, Forest Supervisor, Olympic National Forest. [FR Doc. 2013–03290 Filed 2–13–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–M E:\FR\FM\14FEN1.SGM 14FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 31 (Thursday, February 14, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10593-10595]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03470]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Evaluation of the Demonstrations of National School 
Lunch and School Breakfast Program (NSLP/SBP) Direct Certification of 
Children Receiving Medicaid Benefits

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), 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 this proposed information collection. This is a new collection for 
Evaluation of the Demonstrations of NSLP/SBP (National School Lunch 
Program/School Breakfast Program) Direct Certification of Children 
Receiving Medicaid Benefits.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before April 15, 2013.

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

[[Page 10594]]

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.
    Comments may be sent to: Steve Carlson, Food and Nutrition Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1040, 
Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to the 
attention of Steve Carlson at 703-305-2017 or via email to 
steve.carlson@fns.usda.gov. Comments will also be accepted through the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov, and 
follow the online instructions for submitting comments electronically.
    All written comments will be open for public inspection at the 
office of the Food and Nutrition Service during regular business hours 
(8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday) at 3101 Park Center Drive, 
Room 1040, Alexandria, Virginia 22302.
    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 Steve 
Carlson at 703-305-2017.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Evaluation of the Demonstrations of NSLP/SBP Direct 
Certification of Children Receiving Medicaid Benefits.
    Form Number: N/A.
    OMB Number: Not Yet Assigned.
    Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Abstract: The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (the Act), 
Section 103, directs USDA to demonstrate direct certification for free 
lunches and breakfasts to children who are receiving Medicaid and whose 
households have a gross income as measured by Medicaid that does not 
exceed 133 percent Federal Poverty Level (FPL). The Direct 
Certification-Medicaid (DC-M) demonstration may expand the number of 
students certified for free meals and affect the costs that States and 
local education agencies (LEAs) incur when certifying students. While 
the process of matching students to Medicaid data will increase 
certification costs for States and some LEAs, DC-M can generate cost 
savings if it leads fewer families to submit applications for school 
meals. DC-M may also have an impact on federal costs if it leads to an 
increase in certifications for free and reduced price meals.
    To determine the impact and effectiveness of direct certification 
using Medicaid data, FNS will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of DC-
M through three investigative areas:
    (1) Identify the potential impact that DC-M may have on children's 
access to the NSLP and SBP;
    (2) Measure the actual impact of DC-M on participation and costs 
observed over two years of demonstrations. This component of the study 
will examine whether DC-M leads to changes in the number and 
distribution of certified students and higher or lower certification 
costs in LEAs. The results of this analysis will be used to project the 
impact of DC-M on number of meals served and on the dollar amount of 
federal meal reimbursements distributed to districts. The study will 
also identify the challenges that States and LEAs face when 
implementing DC-M; and
    (3) Examine the conditions that would make SES certification 
procedures a cost-effective alternative to current certification 
procedures.
    The study will gather data from State and LEAs to include: (1) 
Certification and participation records; (2) cost surveys and 
interviews that include certification costs, start-up costs, local meal 
costs, and federal benefit costs; as well as (3) challenges in 
conducting DC-M matching. Data will be collected through web surveys 
and telephone interviews for school year 2012-13 (SY1) and school year 
2013-2014 (SY2).
    Affected Public: State and Local Government--Respondent groups 
identified include: (1) State level administrators that administer the 
National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs from nine State agencies 
(six States in SY1 and an additional three States in SY2); and (2) 
District/School level administrators from 698 LEAs in SY1, increasing 
to 1,200 LEAs in SY2.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,776.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: The average estimated 
annual number of responses per respondent in the first school year is 
1.03, and the average in the second school year is 4.24, for an 
aggregate average over the two years of 3.09 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: The estimated time per response is 
.767 hours (or approximately 46 minutes). The estimated time of 
response varies from 10 minutes to 5 hours depending upon respondent 
action, as shown in the table below.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: The total estimated 
annual burden is 1,265.34 hours in year 1 and 7,684.52 hours in year 2, 
as shown in the table below.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                          Estimated avg.
                                                                             Estimated       Responses     Total annual     of      Estimated
                 Action                          Respondent type                  annually per      responses       hours per      total hours
                                                                            respondents     respondent                       response
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State Challenge Interviews.............  State Agencies (includes 6                    9               2              18            1.00           18.00
                                          State nutrition directors and
                                          3 Medicaid directors).
State Cost Interview...................  State Agencies (includes 6                   12               3              36            3.50          126.00
                                          State nutrition directors and
                                          6 Medicaid directors).
LEA Cost Survey........................  Local Education Agencies (LEA)            1,077               1           1,077            1.00        1,077.00
                                          (includes 534 child nutrition
                                          program directors, 534
                                          business managers, and 9
                                          pretest respondents).
                                         Local Education Agency (LEA)                266               1             266          0.1667           44.34
                                          Cost Survey Non-Responders.
                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 10595]]

 
    SY1 TOTAL..........................  State & Local Government.......       \a\ 1,355            1.03           1,397            0.91        1,265.34
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State Challenge Interviews.............  State Agencies (includes 9                   18               2              36            1.00           36.00
                                          State nutrition directors and
                                          9 Medicaid directors).
State Cost Survey......................  State Agencies (includes 9                   18               3              54            3.50          189.00
                                          State nutrition directors and
                                          9 Medicaid directors).
LEA Cost Survey........................  LEA (includes 960 child                   1,920               5           9,600            0.75        7,200.00
                                          nutrition program directors
                                          and 960 business managers).
                                         LEA Cost Survey Non-Responders.             480               1             480          0.1667           80.02
LEA Challenge Interviews...............  LEA (includes 27 child                       27               2              54            1.00           54.00
                                          nutrition program directors).
                                         LEA Challenge Interview Non-                  3               1               3          0.1667            0.50
                                          Responders.
Match Validation Substudy..............  State Agencies (includes 1                    1               2               2            5.00           10.00
                                          child nutrition director).
                                         State Agencies (includes 3                    3               1               3            5.00           15.00
                                          Medicaid directors).
                                         LEA (includes 10 district child              20               2              40            2.50          100.00
                                          nutrition administrators and
                                          10 business managers).
                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    SY2 TOTAL..........................  State & Local Government.......       b c 2,421            4.24          10,272            0.75        7,684.52
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Grand Total........................  State & Local Government.......           3,776            3.09          11,669           0.767        8,949.86
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ In SY1, the 9 State challenge interview respondents in SY1 are also completing cost interviews.
\b\ The 24 Match Validation substudy respondents are also included in the SY2 cost survey respondents.
\c\ In SY2, the 18 State challenge interview respondents are also completing the cost interviews, and the 27 district challenge interview respondents
  are also completing the district cost survey.


    Dated: January 29, 2013.
Audrey Rowe,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-03470 Filed 2-13-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
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