Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Food Program and Reporting System (FPRS), 49198-49199 [2015-20208]

Download as PDF 49198 Notices Federal Register Vol. 80, No. 158 Monday, August 17, 2015 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food and Nutrition Service Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request—Food Program and Reporting System (FPRS) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on a proposed information collection, which is a revision of a currently approved form. The purpose of the Food Programs Reporting System (FPRS) is to facilitate data gathering for the reporting of data for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Nutrition Programs. FPRS consolidated certain programmatic and financial data reporting requirements in an electronic reporting system and is the primary collection point for FNS program performance statistics and financial data from State agencies, Indian Tribal Organizations and U.S. Territories participating in the nutrition assistance programs. DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 16, 2015. 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 has practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden hours, 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 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:57 Aug 14, 2015 Jkt 235001 are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to Jane Duffield, Chief, State Administration Branch, Program Accountability and Administration Division, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 818, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to the attention of Jane Duffield at 703–605–0795, Room 824, or via email to SNAP-Ed@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 FNS during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) at 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 808, Alexandria, Virginia 22302. All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. All comments will also be a matter of public record. CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Requests for additional information should be directed to Usha Kalro at SNAP-Ed@fns.usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Food Programs Reporting System. OMB Number: 0584–0594. Form Number and Name: Worksheet FNS–759 Education and Administrative Reporting System. Expiration Date: 08/31/2016. Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information collection. Abstract: The purpose of the Education and Administrative Reporting System (EARS) maintained in FPRS is to collect uniform and standard information on nutrition education activities funded through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—Education (SNAP-Ed) program. The data collected through EARS informs management decisions, supports policy initiatives, and provides documentation for legislative, budget, and other requests that support planning within the agency. FNS PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 intends to update the EARS form so that it reflects changes, specifically those that are a direct result of provisions in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) of 2010. In addition, FNS continues to explore other ways to improve upon or incorporate metrics that will enhance the evaluation of SNAP-Ed programs. FNS developed EARS for SNAP’s nutrition education component, SNAP-Ed, which is provided for in Section 11 of the Food and Nutrition Act (FNA) 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020 (f)(3)(B)(ii)). In 2003, the Agency convened a workgroup of diverse stakeholders to assist with this task, including people from the Federal, State, and local levels, as well as academia. The EARS form (FNS–759) was approved by OMB in Fiscal Year (FY) 2007. FNS implemented the first phase of EARS in FY 2008, which required SNAP State agencies to report on financial items only. Full implementation of EARS reporting requirements was completed in FY 2010. EARS provides uniform data and information about the nutrition education activities of all participating States across the country, including the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Guam. Data gathered through the EARS form includes demographic characteristics of participants receiving nutrition education benefits, information about education topics and strategies, and use of resources. The EARS form is designed as an annual report that SNAP State agencies submit using FNS’ web-based Food Program Reporting System, OMB Control No: 0584–0594, Expiration Date 6/30/2017. State agencies submit data between October 15 and December 30 of each year for the prior FY’s nutrition education activities. In 2010, Congress passed the HHFKA. Section 241 of the HHFKA replaced the existing nutrition education program under Section 11(f) of the Food and Nutrition Act (‘‘FNS’’ or the ‘‘Act’’) (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) with the nutrition education and obesity prevention grant program under Section 28. FNS continues to refer to the redesigned program as SNAP-Ed. Changes to the program mandated by the HHFKA require revisions to the currently approved EARS form/worksheet. Some of the major changes to SNAP-Ed are: E:\FR\FM\17AUN1.SGM 17AUN1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 158 / Monday, August 17, 2015 / Notices (1) A focus on the critical problem of obesity—The program now has a wider range of evidence-based intervention strategies. Specifically, SNAP-Ed includes any combination of educational strategies, accompanied by environmental supports, designed to facilitate the voluntary adoption of healthy food and physical activity choices, as well as other nutritionrelated behaviors. It is conducive to the well-being of SNAP participants and other qualifying low-income individuals and may involve programs at complementary organizational and institutional levels in addition to community and public health approaches. (2) A target population which more closely aligns SNAP-Ed participants with those in other FNS, Federal, and State-administered benefit programs. In the past, SNAP-Ed participants included those receiving SNAP or those eligible to receive SNAP. Following the implementation of the HHFKA, the target population is extended to individuals who are eligible to receive SNAP or other means-tested Federal assistance programs or those residing in a community with a significant lowincome population. These means-tested programs include Medicaid and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, among others. (3) Requirement for evidence-based interventions—Evidence-based approaches have been defined by the FNS Administrator in consultation with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. FNS has provided States with more flexibility by permitting States to use funds for nutrition education and obesity prevention interventions that are developed by integrating the best available research evidence, practicebased evidence or emerging evidence. In accordance with the SNAP-Ed Guidance, these may include the implementation and measurement of policy, systems and environmental changes (PSEs). Expanding the types of environmental and policy approaches that can be used in SNAP-Ed allows State programs to build upon nutrition education and health promotion efforts in a way that better supports a more comprehensive focus on obesity prevention. (4) A new funding mechanism—As opposed to matching State funds for SNAP-Ed programs, FNS allocates 100 percent Federal grant funding to States, which may coordinate SNAP-Ed activities through partnerships with public and private entities in order to better leverage their financial resources. The formula proscribed by the HHFKA VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:57 Aug 14, 2015 Jkt 235001 builds progressively to a 50/50 weighting of SNAP-Ed expenditures to SNAP participation based on the funding from the previous 12-month period ending January 31. For Fiscal Year 2015, 80 percent of the funding was based on expenditures and 10 percent of the funding was based on the State’s SNAP participation rate. The 50/ 50 weighting applies to Fiscal Year 2018 and beyond. The revised form is available for review with this docket on www.Regulations.gov, in Supporting Documents. The proposed modifications to the current EARS form/worksheet include the following, where the items pertain to the proposed draft unless stated otherwise: • Collect data on the number and percentage of SNAP-Ed eligibles and those reached through Direct Education, Social Marketing and PSE change interventions in a State (Item 1a-e). • Collect data on the estimated percentage of SNAP-Ed funds expended to reach SNAP-Ed eligibles through the above intervention types (Item 1f). • Added a statement about the Community Eligibility Provision as a special circumstance for determining SNAP status (Items 2a and 2b). • Collect data on whether SNAP-Ed participation counts for each age group are actual or estimated values (Items 2a and 2b). • Collect data on additional settings where education is provided to SNAPEd participants (Item 5). • Collect data on whether Direct Education programs are part of a Social Marketing initiative (Item 6a). • Collect data on whether Direct Education supports PSEs (Item 6b). • Collect data on whether direct education programs are part of a social marketing and/or PSE interventions (Item 6a and 6b). • Removed question 8 on Indirect Education (on the current form) and added the column on ‘‘Source(s) of Data’’ to the table ‘‘Description of All Social Marketing Campaigns’’ (Item 7). • Collect data on PSEs (Item 8). • Collect data focused on classifying partnerships and their role in SNAP-Ed programs (Item 9). • Removed the last question on funding (Item 9 in the current form) since funds are now 100 percent federal allocations to States according to a specified formula and do not require a State match. The form has been rearranged to better accommodate the instructions and improve the flow of questions. This revision also reflects an increase in burden estimates. FNS estimates that 53 State agencies will respond once a year PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 49199 for a total of 53 annual responses. The current burden it takes each State agency to respond is 54 burden hours. In the revised data collection instrument, it will take approximately 60 burden hours for each State agency to respond which reflects an increase of six burden hours per State from the last submission. The current burden for this collection is 2,808. FNS calculates the revised total burden for this collection is 3,180 annual burden hours which reflects an increase of 300 burden hours due to program changes and adjustments. There are no recordkeeping requirements imposed by this information collection. As this is a revision to the EARS form within the FPRS system, the total FPRS burden is summarized below. Affected Public: SNAP State agencies and Business. Respondent Type: Businesses are identified as non-profit organizations serving as implementing partners, such as extension universities, and local program operators. Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,267. Number of Responses per Respondent: 7.28191. Estimated Total Annual Responses: 23,790. Hours per Response: 3.65157629. Total Annual Burden Hours (Reporting Only): 86,871. Dated: August 2, 2015. Audrey Rowe, Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service. [FR Doc. 2015–20208 Filed 8–14–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–30–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Gallatin Resource Advisory Committee Forest Service, USDA. Notice of meeting. AGENCY: ACTION: The Gallatin Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Bozeman, Montana. The committee is authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community SelfDetermination Act (the Act) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the committee is to improve collaborative relationships and to provide advice and recommendations to the Forest Service concerning projects and funding consistent with Title II of the Act. Additional RAC information, including the meeting agenda and the meeting summary/minutes can be found at the following Web site: https:// SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\17AUN1.SGM 17AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 158 (Monday, August 17, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49198-49199]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20208]


========================================================================
Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
appearing in this section.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 158 / Monday, August 17, 2015 / 
Notices

[[Page 49198]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Food Program and Reporting System (FPRS)

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 a proposed information collection, which is a revision of a 
currently approved form.
    The purpose of the Food Programs Reporting System (FPRS) is to 
facilitate data gathering for the reporting of data for the 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special 
Nutrition Programs. FPRS consolidated certain programmatic and 
financial data reporting requirements in an electronic reporting system 
and is the primary collection point for FNS program performance 
statistics and financial data from State agencies, Indian Tribal 
Organizations and U.S. Territories participating in the nutrition 
assistance programs.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 16, 
2015.

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 has practical utility; 
(b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden hours, 
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 
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments may be sent to Jane Duffield, Chief, State Administration 
Branch, Program Accountability and Administration Division, 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 
818, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to 
the attention of Jane Duffield at 703-605-0795, Room 824, or via email 
to SNAP-Ed@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 FNS during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 
Monday through Friday) at 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 808, Alexandria, 
Virginia 22302.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. All 
comments will also be a matter of public record.

CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:  Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Usha Kalro at SNAP-Ed@fns.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Food Programs Reporting System.
    OMB Number: 0584-0594.
    Form Number and Name: Worksheet FNS-759 Education and 
Administrative Reporting System.
    Expiration Date: 08/31/2016.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The purpose of the Education and Administrative Reporting 
System (EARS) maintained in FPRS is to collect uniform and standard 
information on nutrition education activities funded through the 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program--Education (SNAP-Ed) program. 
The data collected through EARS informs management decisions, supports 
policy initiatives, and provides documentation for legislative, budget, 
and other requests that support planning within the agency. FNS intends 
to update the EARS form so that it reflects changes, specifically those 
that are a direct result of provisions in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids 
Act (HHFKA) of 2010. In addition, FNS continues to explore other ways 
to improve upon or incorporate metrics that will enhance the evaluation 
of SNAP-Ed programs. FNS developed EARS for SNAP's nutrition education 
component, SNAP-Ed, which is provided for in Section 11 of the Food and 
Nutrition Act (FNA) 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020 (f)(3)(B)(ii)). In 2003, the 
Agency convened a workgroup of diverse stakeholders to assist with this 
task, including people from the Federal, State, and local levels, as 
well as academia.
    The EARS form (FNS-759) was approved by OMB in Fiscal Year (FY) 
2007. FNS implemented the first phase of EARS in FY 2008, which 
required SNAP State agencies to report on financial items only. Full 
implementation of EARS reporting requirements was completed in FY 2010. 
EARS provides uniform data and information about the nutrition 
education activities of all participating States across the country, 
including the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Guam. Data 
gathered through the EARS form includes demographic characteristics of 
participants receiving nutrition education benefits, information about 
education topics and strategies, and use of resources. The EARS form is 
designed as an annual report that SNAP State agencies submit using FNS' 
web-based Food Program Reporting System, OMB Control No: 0584-0594, 
Expiration Date 6/30/2017. State agencies submit data between October 
15 and December 30 of each year for the prior FY's nutrition education 
activities.
    In 2010, Congress passed the HHFKA. Section 241 of the HHFKA 
replaced the existing nutrition education program under Section 11(f) 
of the Food and Nutrition Act (``FNS'' or the ``Act'') (7 U.S.C. 2011 
et seq.) with the nutrition education and obesity prevention grant 
program under Section 28. FNS continues to refer to the redesigned 
program as SNAP-Ed. Changes to the program mandated by the HHFKA 
require revisions to the currently approved EARS form/worksheet. Some 
of the major changes to SNAP-Ed are:

[[Page 49199]]

    (1) A focus on the critical problem of obesity--The program now has 
a wider range of evidence-based intervention strategies. Specifically, 
SNAP-Ed includes any combination of educational strategies, accompanied 
by environmental supports, designed to facilitate the voluntary 
adoption of healthy food and physical activity choices, as well as 
other nutrition-related behaviors. It is conducive to the well-being of 
SNAP participants and other qualifying low-income individuals and may 
involve programs at complementary organizational and institutional 
levels in addition to community and public health approaches.
    (2) A target population which more closely aligns SNAP-Ed 
participants with those in other FNS, Federal, and State-administered 
benefit programs. In the past, SNAP-Ed participants included those 
receiving SNAP or those eligible to receive SNAP. Following the 
implementation of the HHFKA, the target population is extended to 
individuals who are eligible to receive SNAP or other means-tested 
Federal assistance programs or those residing in a community with a 
significant low-income population. These means-tested programs include 
Medicaid and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, among others.
    (3) Requirement for evidence-based interventions--Evidence-based 
approaches have been defined by the FNS Administrator in consultation 
with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 
FNS has provided States with more flexibility by permitting States to 
use funds for nutrition education and obesity prevention interventions 
that are developed by integrating the best available research evidence, 
practice-based evidence or emerging evidence. In accordance with the 
SNAP-Ed Guidance, these may include the implementation and measurement 
of policy, systems and environmental changes (PSEs). Expanding the 
types of environmental and policy approaches that can be used in SNAP-
Ed allows State programs to build upon nutrition education and health 
promotion efforts in a way that better supports a more comprehensive 
focus on obesity prevention.
    (4) A new funding mechanism--As opposed to matching State funds for 
SNAP-Ed programs, FNS allocates 100 percent Federal grant funding to 
States, which may coordinate SNAP-Ed activities through partnerships 
with public and private entities in order to better leverage their 
financial resources. The formula proscribed by the HHFKA builds 
progressively to a 50/50 weighting of SNAP-Ed expenditures to SNAP 
participation based on the funding from the previous 12-month period 
ending January 31. For Fiscal Year 2015, 80 percent of the funding was 
based on expenditures and 10 percent of the funding was based on the 
State's SNAP participation rate. The 50/50 weighting applies to Fiscal 
Year 2018 and beyond.
    The revised form is available for review with this docket on 
www.Regulations.gov, in Supporting Documents. The proposed 
modifications to the current EARS form/worksheet include the following, 
where the items pertain to the proposed draft unless stated otherwise:
     Collect data on the number and percentage of SNAP-Ed 
eligibles and those reached through Direct Education, Social Marketing 
and PSE change interventions in a State (Item 1a-e).
     Collect data on the estimated percentage of SNAP-Ed funds 
expended to reach SNAP-Ed eligibles through the above intervention 
types (Item 1f).
     Added a statement about the Community Eligibility 
Provision as a special circumstance for determining SNAP status (Items 
2a and 2b).
     Collect data on whether SNAP-Ed participation counts for 
each age group are actual or estimated values (Items 2a and 2b).
     Collect data on additional settings where education is 
provided to SNAP-Ed participants (Item 5).
     Collect data on whether Direct Education programs are part 
of a Social Marketing initiative (Item 6a).
     Collect data on whether Direct Education supports PSEs 
(Item 6b).
     Collect data on whether direct education programs are part 
of a social marketing and/or PSE interventions (Item 6a and 6b).
     Removed question 8 on Indirect Education (on the current 
form) and added the column on ``Source(s) of Data'' to the table 
``Description of All Social Marketing Campaigns'' (Item 7).
     Collect data on PSEs (Item 8).
     Collect data focused on classifying partnerships and their 
role in SNAP-Ed programs (Item 9).
     Removed the last question on funding (Item 9 in the 
current form) since funds are now 100 percent federal allocations to 
States according to a specified formula and do not require a State 
match.
    The form has been rearranged to better accommodate the instructions 
and improve the flow of questions. This revision also reflects an 
increase in burden estimates. FNS estimates that 53 State agencies will 
respond once a year for a total of 53 annual responses. The current 
burden it takes each State agency to respond is 54 burden hours. In the 
revised data collection instrument, it will take approximately 60 
burden hours for each State agency to respond which reflects an 
increase of six burden hours per State from the last submission. The 
current burden for this collection is 2,808. FNS calculates the revised 
total burden for this collection is 3,180 annual burden hours which 
reflects an increase of 300 burden hours due to program changes and 
adjustments. There are no recordkeeping requirements imposed by this 
information collection. As this is a revision to the EARS form within 
the FPRS system, the total FPRS burden is summarized below.
    Affected Public: SNAP State agencies and Business. Respondent Type: 
Businesses are identified as non-profit organizations serving as 
implementing partners, such as extension universities, and local 
program operators.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,267.
    Number of Responses per Respondent: 7.28191.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 23,790.
    Hours per Response: 3.65157629.
    Total Annual Burden Hours (Reporting Only): 86,871.

    Dated: August 2, 2015.
Audrey Rowe,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-20208 Filed 8-14-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
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