Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request, 33558 [2014-13529]

Agencies

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

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 112 (Wednesday, June 11, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 33558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-13529]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

Proposed Projects

    Title: Trafficking Victims Tracking System.
    OMB No.: 0970-NEW.
    Description: The Trafficking Victims Protection Act, Public Law 
106-386, Division A, 114 Stat. 1464 (2000), requires the Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS) to certify adult alien (``foreign'') 
victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons (``human 
trafficking'') who are willing to assist law enforcement in the 
investigation and prosecution of human trafficking, unless unable to 
cooperate due to physical or psychological trauma, and who have either 
made a bona fide application for T nonimmigrant status that has not 
been denied or been granted Continued Presence (CP) from the U.S. 
Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Issued by the Office of Refugee 
Resettlement (ORR) within the HHS Administration for Children and 
Families, certification letters grant adult foreign victims of human 
trafficking access to federal and state benefits and services to the 
same extent as refugees.
    In general, ORR initiates the certification process when it 
receives a notice from DHS that DHS has granted a foreign victim of 
trafficking CP or T nonimmigrant status, or has determined an 
application for T nonimmigrant status is bona fide. To issue 
certification letters, it is necessary for ORR to collect information 
from a victim's representative, such as an attorney, case manager, or 
law enforcement victim specialist, including an address to send the 
letter. In line with other ORR Anti-Trafficking in Persons Program 
activities, ORR may ask if the victim is in need of a service provider 
and the current location (city, state) of the victim, and refer the 
victim to an appropriate service provider in his or her area, if 
requested. ORR will also ask about the victim's language and urgent 
concerns, such as medical care or housing, and transmit this 
information to the service provider.
    Finally ORR collects information, such as the victim's sex and the 
type of human trafficking the victim experienced, to provide to 
Congress in an annual report on U.S. Government activities to combat 
trafficking that is prepared by the U.S. Department of Justice. 
Congress requires HHS and other appropriate Federal agencies to report, 
at a minimum, information on the number of persons who received 
benefits or other services under subsections (b) and (f) of section 
7105 of Title 22 of the U.S. Code, the TVPA, in connection with 
programs or activities funded or administered by HHS. HHS includes in 
these annual reports additional information about the victims that it 
collects when assisting each victim to obtain certification or 
eligibility. ORR will store this information and any other details 
regarding the victim's case in the Trafficking Victims Tracking System 
(TVTS) on ORR's secure database. Other details maintained in the 
victim's file may include ORR staff actions, referrals, and notes 
regarding the victim's interest in receiving services. Maintaining 
victim records on TVTS will ensure efficient service for victims, allow 
ORR staff to track victims' progress toward certification, verify their 
eligibility for benefits, and organize information for reporting to 
Congress.
    The TVTS also includes information about foreign victims of 
trafficking and potential victims who were minors when an eligibility 
letter was sought from ORR. Information about these individuals is 
collected pursuant to an OMB-approved collection, OMB Control Number 
0970-0362.
    In January 2011, the Archivist of the United States approved an 
Electronic System Schedule for the disposition of TVTS records.
    Respondents: Respondents can include attorneys, legal 
representatives, social service providers, case managers, and 
volunteers acting on behalf of the adult foreign victim of trafficking.

                                             Annual Burden Estimates
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                                                                     Number of    Average burden
                   Instrument                        Number of     responses per     hours per     Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent       response          hours
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Request for information.........................             800               1              .1              80
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours.........  ..............  ..............  ..............              80
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    In compliance with the requirements of Section 506(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 
Planning, Research and Evaluation, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW., 
Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. Email 
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.

Robert Sargis,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-13529 Filed 6-10-14; 8:45 am]
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