Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Request-Evaluation of the Independent Review of Applications Process for School Meal Programs, 5235-5239 [2018-02379]
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5235
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 83, No. 25
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
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.
AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
U.S. Agency for International
Development.
ACTION: Notice of public information
collections.
AGENCY:
In an effort to reduce the
paperwork burden, the U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID)
invites the general public and other
Federal agencies to take this
opportunity to comment on the
following continuing information
collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act for 1995.
Comments are requested concerning: (a)
Whether the collections of information
are necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
agency, including whether the
information has practical utility; (b) the
accuracy of the burden estimates; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information collected; and
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on the
respondents, including through the use
of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
DATES: Submit comments on or before
April 9, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Address all comments
concerning this notice to Lyudmila
Bond, Bureau for Management, Office of
Acquisition and Assistance, Policy
Division (M/OAA/P), Room 867, SA–44,
Washington, DC 20523–2052. Submit
comments, identified by title of the
action and Regulation Identifier Number
(RIN) by any of the following methods:
1. Through the Federal eRulemaking
Portal at https://www.regulations.gov by
following the instructions for submitting
comments.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
M/OAA/P, Ms. Lyudmila Bond, Room
867, SA–44, NW, U.S. Agency for
International Development, Washington,
DC 20523–2053. Telephone (202) 567–
4753.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Notice of Request for Extension,
Without Change of the Currently
Approved Information Collections;
Comments Requested
SUMMARY:
2. By Mail addressed to: USAID,
Bureau for Management, Office of
Acquisition & Assistance, Policy
Division, Room 867M, SA–44,
Washington, DC 20523–2052.
(1) Type of Information Collections:
USAID is requesting the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) to
extend the approval of the information
collections under OMB No: OMB 0412–
0520 for an additional three years. This
submission does not propose any
revisions to the information collections.
(2) Title of the Form: Contractor
Employee Biographical Data Sheet.
(3) Agency Form No.: AID 1420–17.
(4) Affected public who will be asked
or required to respond, as well as a brief
abstract: The U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID) is
authorized to contract with any
corporation, international organization,
or other body of persons in or outside
of the United States in furtherance of
the purposes and within limitations of
the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA). The
information collection requirements
placed on the public are published in 48
CFR chapter 7, and include the
following offeror or contractor reporting
requirements, identified by the AIDAR
section number, as specified in the
AIDAR 701.106: 752.219–8, 752.245–70,
752.245–71(c)(2), 752.247–70(c),
752.7001, 752.7002(j), 752.7003,
752.7004 and 752.7032.
The pre-award requirements are based
on a need for prudent management in
the determination that an offeror either
has or can obtain the ability to
competently manage development
assistance programs using public funds.
The requirements for information
collections during the post-award
period are based on the need to
prudently administer public funds.
(5) An estimate of the total number of
respondents and the amount of time
estimated for an average respondent to
respond: USAID estimates that 4,873
respondents will submit 36,467
submissions per year. The amount of
time estimated to complete each
response varies by item.
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(6) An estimate of the total public
burden (in hours) associated with the
collections: 49,482.
(7) An estimate of the total public
burden (in cost) associated with the
collections: $3,139,106. Note that while
the burden for these information
collections falls on the public, most of
the submissions are reimbursable either
directly or indirectly under Agency
contracts, the cost for most of these
collections falls under the federal cost
burden. Thus, the estimated total public
cost burden that is not reimbursed
through Agency contracts is $35,970.
Mark Walther,
Acting Senior Procurement Executive.
[FR Doc. 2018–02336 Filed 2–5–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6116–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comments Request—Evaluation of the
Independent Review of Applications
Process for School Meal Programs
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
this proposed information collection.
This collection is a new collection. The
primary purpose of this study is to
provide FNS with information about the
effectiveness of the Independent Review
of Applications (IRA) requirement that
is conducted by local educational
agencies in the school meal programs
identified by the State agency as
demonstrating high levels of, or a high
risk for, administrative error in the
certification of free and reduced price
applications.
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before April 9, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to:
Jinee Burdg, MPP, RDN, LDN, 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 Jinee Burdg at 703–305–2744 or via
email to Jinee.Burdg@fns.usda.gov.
SUMMARY:
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5236
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 25 / Tuesday, February 6, 2018 / Notices
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, 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 Jinee Burdg at
703–305–2744.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 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.
Title: Evaluation of the Independent
Review Process.
Form Number: Not applicable.
OMB Number: 0584—NEW.
Expiration Date: Not yet determined.
Type of Request: New collection.
Abstract: USDA’s Food and Nutrition
Service (FNS) administers the National
School Lunch Program (NSLP) and
School Breakfast Program (SBP) at the
Federal level. Collectively, these
programs are referred to as the school
meal programs. At the State level, State
agencies, typically State Departments of
Education or Agriculture, operate the
programs through agreements with
Local Education Agencies (LEAs). Based
on federal regulations at 7 CFR part 210,
LEAs have the legal authority to operate
the NSLP and SBP, and certify and
verify student eligibility for free and
reduced-price meals. Section 9 of the
Richard B. Russell National School
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758) and
regulations at 7 CFR part 245 provide
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the requirements related to determining
free and reduced-price meal eligibility
including certification and verification
requirements and procedures.
Program integrity is a long-standing
issue of concern for the school meal
programs. Prior studies revealed
administrative error rates associated
with certification of eligibility for free
and reduced price meals between 3.00
percent and 3.75 percent in School Year
(SY) 2005–2006 for the NSLP and SBP.
In an effort to reduce the administrative
certification error rate, the Healthy,
Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA,
Pub. L. 111–296) amended the Richard
B. Russell National School Lunch Act
(42 U.S.C 1769c (b)) to require an
‘‘independent review of applications’’
(IRA) of the eligibility determinations
made via free and reduced price
applications for certain LEAs. The
provision is required of those LEAs that
demonstrate high levels of, or a high
risk for, administrative error associated
with certification, verification, and
other school meal program
administrative processes, as determined
by the State agency.
Program regulations at 7 CFR 245.11
provide two criteria to identify which
LEAs must conduct the IRA: LEAs with
10 percent or more of certification/
benefit issuances in error, as determined
by the State agency during an
administrative review (Criteria 1); and
LEAs that the State agency considers at
risk for certification error but were not
selected under Criteria 1 (e.g., those
with new electronic systems) (Criteria
2). LEAs must conduct the IRA before
contacting the households to inform
them of their eligibility status, and
someone other than the original
determining official must conduct it.
LEAs first implemented the IRA
requirement in SY 2014–2015.
FNS requires State agencies to submit
an annual report on the results of the
IRA process via Form FNS–874, Local
Educational Agency Second Review of
Applications Report (approved under
OMB #0584–0594 Food Programs
Reporting System (FPRS), expiration
date September 30, 2019). The FNS–874
provides information on the results of
the IRA for each LEA subject to the
requirement, including the number of
applications with changed eligibility
determinations based on the IRA; the
types of changes (e.g., free to reduced
price); and reasons for changes (e.g.,
gross income calculation error,
incomplete application error).
Examination of the data received by
FNS for SY 2014–2015 and SY 2015–
2016 showed that few LEAs subject to
IRA reported any changes in initial
certification decisions as a result of
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conducting the IRA. This was
unexpected given that the primary
criterion for identifying LEAs to
complete the IRA process is a
demonstrated error rate of 10 percent or
more on Administrative Review.
FNS is conducting a study, the
Evaluation of the Independent Review
Process, to provide important
information about the IRA process at the
State and LEA levels, its results, and its
overall effectiveness. The key research
objectives are to: (1) Describe the IRA
processes and policies at the State and
LEA levels; (2) review household
applications; and (3) assess the
effectiveness of the IRA process and
provide recommendations for best
practices. This study will help FNS
identify best practices and inform if
changes may be needed to the process.
The study approach includes surveys,
key informant interviews, and analyses
of household applications. Using web
surveys of the 54 State Child Nutrition
Directors and key informant telephone
interviews with food service directors of
30 LEAs that conducted IRA, the study
will describe implementation and
burden of the IRA provision at the State
and LEA levels. The study will then
select a subsample of 20 LEAs and
collect and review a sample of
household applications from those LEAs
for two non-consecutive school years to
help evaluate the process and
effectiveness of this requirement.
Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal
government (54 State government
respondents and 0 non-respondents; 90
Local government respondents and 5
non-respondents). We estimate there
will be 5 Local government nonrespondents at the LEAs who will be
contacted but choose not to participate.
The burden for all respondents is
broken down in the table below.
Type of Respondents: State Child
Nutrition (CN) Agency Directors; LEA
Directors and key staff.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
The total estimated number of
respondents is 155. This includes 3 LEA
Directors and 3 LEA staff for cognitive
testing. The main study includes 54
State Child Nutrition Agency Directors,
30 LEA Directors, 60 LEA key staff, and
5 non-respondents among the LEA
Directors.
Estimated Frequency of Response:
The overall frequency for the collection
is 5.95. The estimated frequency of
response is 6.08 annually for
respondents and 2.0 annually for nonrespondents.
Estimated Total Annual Responses:
The total estimated number of responses
for data collection is 922. This includes
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912 for respondents and 10 for nonrespondents.
Estimated Time per Respondent: The
estimated time of response varies from
1 minute to 2 hours, depending on the
respondent group and activity. We will
cognitively test both the State Director
Survey and the LEA interview guide.
We will test the survey with FNS
Regional Office staff who have frequent
interaction with State agencies. We will
not test the survey with State agency
directors because they will ultimately
take the survey. The cognitive tests of
the interview guide with LEA Directors
and key staff will take 10 minutes to
schedule (0.167 hours), and 90 minutes
(1.5 hours) to conduct.
The electronic study notification
letters for the State CN Directors will
take 3 minutes each (0.0501 hours), as
will the electronic notification letter
from the State CN Agency to the LEA
Directors. The electronic notification
from the study team to the LEA
Directors, which will include a request
to schedule the interview, will take 10
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minutes (0.167 hours). Scheduling
interviews with LEA key staff will also
take 10 minutes (0.167 hours). The State
Director Survey will take 1 hour and 14
minutes from sending the online survey
link to the final thank you note (1 hour
to complete the online survey; 1 minute
each (0.0167 hours) for the electronic
invitation with a link to the survey, the
two electronic reminder letters to nonrespondents, and one electronic thank
you letter; 10 minutes (0.1670 hours) for
a phone call to the State CN Directors
who have not submitted the survey
within 5 days of the deadline). The
study team will send 30 State CN
Directors a notification letter about the
selection of LEAs for in-depth telephone
interviews, which will take 3 minutes
(0.0501 hours). Those Directors will
send a letter that the study team has
drafted to the selected LEAs to notify
them, which will take 10 minutes (0.167
hours). The in-depth telephone
interview for LEA Directors and LEA
key staff will take 90 minutes (1.5
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5237
hours), and the electronic interview
follow up and thank you note will take
10 minutes (0.167 hours). The collection
of household applications will take 3
minutes (0.0501 hours) for the initial
electronic request sent to the LEA
Directors, two 30-minute phone calls
(0.5 hours each) with the Director and
key staff to discuss sampling and data
collection, 2 hours for two LEA staff to
compile and securely transmit two years
of applications, and 1 minute (0.0167
hours) for the electronic thank you note.
The average estimated time per response
across all respondents is 0.425 hours.
The overall average response across all
of the respondents (including nonrespondents) in the entire collection is
0.421 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: The total public reporting
burden for this collection of information
is estimated at 388.6 hours (annually).
The estimated burden for each type of
respondent is provided in the table
below.
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Electronic Study Notification Letter from FNS ....
Electronic Study Notification Letter from Westat
Electronic Letter with Link to Online Survey ......
Electronic Survey Reminder Letter #1 ...............
Electronic Survey Reminder Letter #2 ...............
Phone Calls to Nonrespondent State Directors
Online survey ......................................................
Electronic thank you note following survey completion.
Electronic Notifcation Letter from Westat regarding LEA selection.
Electronic Letter from State CN Agency to Selected LEAs.
Instruments
......................................
......................................
.............................................................................
.............................................................................
Scheduling Cognitive Test of Interview Guide ...
Cognitive Test of Interview Guide ......................
Electronic Study Notification Letter from State
CN Agency.
Electronic Study Notification Letter from Westat,
incl. Request to Schedule Phone Interview.
In-Depth Phone Interview (includes consent) ....
In-Depth Interview Follow Up and Thank You
Note.
Electronic Letter Request for Sample of Household Applications.
Phone Call to Discuss Sampling and Collection
of Household Applications.
Scheduling Cognitive Test of Interview Guide ...
Cognitive Test of Interview Guide ......................
Scheduling the In-Depth Phone Interview ..........
In-Depth Phone Interview (includes consent) ....
In-Depth Phone Interview Follow Up and Thank
You Note.
Phone Call to Discuss Sampling and Collection
of Household Applications.
Collection of Sample of Household Applications
Electronic Thank You Note for Household Applications.
LEA Director .................
LEA Key Staff ..............
.............................................................................
......................................
State Director ...............
Type of
respondents
Footnote: Annual burden hours are rounded to the nearest tenth.
Total ...............
Local Government
Sub-Total.
State Government
Sub-Total.
Local Education Agency
(LEA).
State Child Nutrition
(CN) Agency.
Respondent
category
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30
30
30
3
3
30
20
30
30
40
155
150
96
40
40
101
40
40
40
3
3
60
60
60
20
3
3
60
60
60
20
20
30
30
35
3
3
35
54
30
30
54
54
54
54
30
15
5
54
54
Number of
respondents
54
54
54
30
15
5
54
54
Sample
size
6.08
5.54
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
7.04
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Frequency
of
response
912
532
40
40
80
3
3
60
60
60
40
20
30
30
30
3
3
30
380
30
30
54
54
54
30
15
5
54
54
Total
annual
responses
Responsive
0.4249
0.5981
2.0000
0.0167
0.5000
0.1670
1.5000
0.1670
1.5000
0.1667
0.5000
0.0501
1.5000
0.1670
0.1670
0.1670
1.5000
0.0501
0.1824
0.1670
0.0501
0.0501
0.0501
0.0167
0.0167
0.0167
0.1670
1.0000
0.0167
Hours
per
response
387.5
318.2
80.0
0.7
40.0
0.5
4.5
10.0
90.0
10.0
20.0
1.0
45.0
5.0
5.0
0.5
4.5
1.5
69.3
5.0
1.5
2.7
2.7
0.9
0.5
0.3
0.8
54.0
0.9
Annual
burden
(hours)
5
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Number
of nonrespondents
2.00
2.00
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0.00
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Frequency
of
response
10
10
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total
annual
responses
Non-Responsive
0.1086
0.1086
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.000
0.000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.1670
0.000
0.000
0.0501
0.0000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
Hours
per
response
1.1
1.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.8
0.0
0.0
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Annual
burden
(hours)
388.6
319.3
80.0
0.7
40.0
0.5
4.5
10.0
90.0
10.0
20.0
1.0
45.0
5.0
5.8
0.5
4.5
1.8
69.3
5.0
1.5
2.7
2.7
0.9
0.5
0.3
0.8
54.0
0.9
Grand
total
annual
burden
estimate
(hours)
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 25 / Tuesday, February 6, 2018 / Notices
06FEN1
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Dated: January 25, 2018.
Brandon Lipps,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2018–02379 Filed 2–5–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Foreign Agricultural Service
Notice of Request for Revision of a
Currently Approved Information
Collection
Foreign Agricultural Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces that the Foreign
Agricultural Service (FAS) intends to
request a revision for a currently
approved information collection
procedure for entry of specialty sugars
into the United States.
DATES: Comments should be received on
or before April 9, 2018 to be assured of
consideration.
ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit
comments as requested in this
document. In your comment, include
the volume, date, and page number of
this issue of the Federal Register. You
may submit comments by any of the
following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
online instructions for submitting
comments.
• Mail, hand delivery, or courier:
William Janis, International Economist,
Import Policies and Programs Division,
Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Stop 1021,
1400 Independence Ave. SW,
Washington, DC 20250–1021;
• Email: William.Janis@fas.usda.gov;
or
• Telephone: (202) 720–2194.
Comments will be available for
inspection online at https://
www.regulations.gov and at the mail
address listed above between 8:00 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except holidays.
Persons with disabilities who require
an alternative means for communication
of information (e.g., Braille, large print,
audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s
Target Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice
and TDD).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
William Janis, (202) 720–2194,
William.Janis@fas.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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SUMMARY:
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Title: Specialty Sugar Certificate
Application.
OMB Number: 0551–0025.
Expiration Date of Approval: June 30,
2018.
Type of Request: Revision of a
currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: The quota system
established by Presidential
Proclamation 4941 of May 5, 1982,
prevented imports of certain sugars used
for specialized purposes which
originated in countries without quota
allocations. Therefore, the regulation at
15 CFR part 2011 (Allocation of TariffRate Quota on Imported Sugars, Syrups
and Molasses, subpart B—Specialty
Sugar) established terms and conditions
under which certificates are issued
permitting U.S. importers holding
certificates to enter specialty sugars
from specialty sugar source countries
under the sugar tariff-rate quotas (TRQ).
Nothing in this subpart affects the
ability to enter specialty sugars at the
over-TRQ duty rates. Applicants for
certificates for the import of specialty
sugars must supply the information
required by 15 CFR 2011.205 to be
eligible to receive a specialty sugar
certificate. The specific information
required on an application must be
collected from those who wish to
participate in the program in order to
grant specialty sugar certificates, ensure
that imported specialty sugar does not
disrupt the current domestic sugar
program, and administer the issuance of
the certificates effectively.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average 2 hours per
response.
Respondents: Importers.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
60.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 120 hours.
Request for Comments: We are
requesting comments on all aspects of
this information collection to help us to:
(1) Evaluate whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of FAS’s functions,
including whether the information will
have practical utility; (2) Evaluate the
accuracy of FAS’s estimate of burden
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (3)
Enhance the quality, utility and clarity
of the information to be collected; and
(4) 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
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
5239
technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Copies of this information collection
can be obtained from Connie Ehrhart,
the Agency Information Collection
Coordinator, at (202) 690–1578 or email
at Connie.Ehrhart@fas.usda.gov.
All comments received in response to
this notice, including names and
addresses when provided, will be a
matter of public record. Comments will
be summarized and included in the
submission for Office of Management
and Budget approval.
E-Government Act Compliance
FAS is committed to complying with
the E-Government Act, to promote the
use of the internet and other
information technologies to provide
increased opportunities for citizen
access to Government information and
services, and for other purposes.
Dated: January 19, 2018.
Bobby Richey Jr.,
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018–02266 Filed 2–5–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–10–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Foreign Agricultural Service
Notice of Request for Revision of a
Currently Approved Information
Collection
Foreign Agricultural Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces that the Foreign
Agricultural Service (FAS) intends to
request a revision for a currently
approved information collection
procedure for Sugar Import Licensing
Programs.
DATES: Comments should be received on
or before April 9, 2018 to be assured of
consideration.
ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit
comments as requested in this
document. In your comment, include
the volume, date, and page number of
this issue of the Federal Register. You
may submit comments by any of the
following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
online instructions for submitting
comments.
• Mail, hand delivery, or courier:
William Janis, International Economist,
Import Policies and Programs Division,
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\06FEN1.SGM
06FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 6, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5235-5239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02379]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comments Request--Evaluation of the Independent Review of Applications
Process for School Meal Programs
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 collection is a new
collection. The primary purpose of this study is to provide FNS with
information about the effectiveness of the Independent Review of
Applications (IRA) requirement that is conducted by local educational
agencies in the school meal programs identified by the State agency as
demonstrating high levels of, or a high risk for, administrative error
in the certification of free and reduced price applications.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before April 9, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: Jinee Burdg, MPP, RDN, LDN, 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 Jinee Burdg at 703-305-2744 or via email to
[email protected].
[[Page 5236]]
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,
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 Jinee Burdg
at 703-305-2744.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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
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.
Title: Evaluation of the Independent Review Process.
Form Number: Not applicable.
OMB Number: 0584--NEW.
Expiration Date: Not yet determined.
Type of Request: New collection.
Abstract: USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) administers the
National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP)
at the Federal level. Collectively, these programs are referred to as
the school meal programs. At the State level, State agencies, typically
State Departments of Education or Agriculture, operate the programs
through agreements with Local Education Agencies (LEAs). Based on
federal regulations at 7 CFR part 210, LEAs have the legal authority to
operate the NSLP and SBP, and certify and verify student eligibility
for free and reduced-price meals. Section 9 of the Richard B. Russell
National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758) and regulations at 7 CFR
part 245 provide the requirements related to determining free and
reduced-price meal eligibility including certification and verification
requirements and procedures.
Program integrity is a long-standing issue of concern for the
school meal programs. Prior studies revealed administrative error rates
associated with certification of eligibility for free and reduced price
meals between 3.00 percent and 3.75 percent in School Year (SY) 2005-
2006 for the NSLP and SBP. In an effort to reduce the administrative
certification error rate, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010
(HHFKA, Pub. L. 111-296) amended the Richard B. Russell National School
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C 1769c (b)) to require an ``independent review of
applications'' (IRA) of the eligibility determinations made via free
and reduced price applications for certain LEAs. The provision is
required of those LEAs that demonstrate high levels of, or a high risk
for, administrative error associated with certification, verification,
and other school meal program administrative processes, as determined
by the State agency.
Program regulations at 7 CFR 245.11 provide two criteria to
identify which LEAs must conduct the IRA: LEAs with 10 percent or more
of certification/benefit issuances in error, as determined by the State
agency during an administrative review (Criteria 1); and LEAs that the
State agency considers at risk for certification error but were not
selected under Criteria 1 (e.g., those with new electronic systems)
(Criteria 2). LEAs must conduct the IRA before contacting the
households to inform them of their eligibility status, and someone
other than the original determining official must conduct it. LEAs
first implemented the IRA requirement in SY 2014-2015.
FNS requires State agencies to submit an annual report on the
results of the IRA process via Form FNS-874, Local Educational Agency
Second Review of Applications Report (approved under OMB #0584-0594
Food Programs Reporting System (FPRS), expiration date September 30,
2019). The FNS-874 provides information on the results of the IRA for
each LEA subject to the requirement, including the number of
applications with changed eligibility determinations based on the IRA;
the types of changes (e.g., free to reduced price); and reasons for
changes (e.g., gross income calculation error, incomplete application
error). Examination of the data received by FNS for SY 2014-2015 and SY
2015-2016 showed that few LEAs subject to IRA reported any changes in
initial certification decisions as a result of conducting the IRA. This
was unexpected given that the primary criterion for identifying LEAs to
complete the IRA process is a demonstrated error rate of 10 percent or
more on Administrative Review.
FNS is conducting a study, the Evaluation of the Independent Review
Process, to provide important information about the IRA process at the
State and LEA levels, its results, and its overall effectiveness. The
key research objectives are to: (1) Describe the IRA processes and
policies at the State and LEA levels; (2) review household
applications; and (3) assess the effectiveness of the IRA process and
provide recommendations for best practices. This study will help FNS
identify best practices and inform if changes may be needed to the
process.
The study approach includes surveys, key informant interviews, and
analyses of household applications. Using web surveys of the 54 State
Child Nutrition Directors and key informant telephone interviews with
food service directors of 30 LEAs that conducted IRA, the study will
describe implementation and burden of the IRA provision at the State
and LEA levels. The study will then select a subsample of 20 LEAs and
collect and review a sample of household applications from those LEAs
for two non-consecutive school years to help evaluate the process and
effectiveness of this requirement.
Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal government (54 State
government respondents and 0 non-respondents; 90 Local government
respondents and 5 non-respondents). We estimate there will be 5 Local
government non-respondents at the LEAs who will be contacted but choose
not to participate. The burden for all respondents is broken down in
the table below.
Type of Respondents: State Child Nutrition (CN) Agency Directors;
LEA Directors and key staff.
Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of
respondents is 155. This includes 3 LEA Directors and 3 LEA staff for
cognitive testing. The main study includes 54 State Child Nutrition
Agency Directors, 30 LEA Directors, 60 LEA key staff, and 5 non-
respondents among the LEA Directors.
Estimated Frequency of Response: The overall frequency for the
collection is 5.95. The estimated frequency of response is 6.08
annually for respondents and 2.0 annually for non-respondents.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: The total estimated number of
responses for data collection is 922. This includes
[[Page 5237]]
912 for respondents and 10 for non-respondents.
Estimated Time per Respondent: The estimated time of response
varies from 1 minute to 2 hours, depending on the respondent group and
activity. We will cognitively test both the State Director Survey and
the LEA interview guide. We will test the survey with FNS Regional
Office staff who have frequent interaction with State agencies. We will
not test the survey with State agency directors because they will
ultimately take the survey. The cognitive tests of the interview guide
with LEA Directors and key staff will take 10 minutes to schedule
(0.167 hours), and 90 minutes (1.5 hours) to conduct.
The electronic study notification letters for the State CN
Directors will take 3 minutes each (0.0501 hours), as will the
electronic notification letter from the State CN Agency to the LEA
Directors. The electronic notification from the study team to the LEA
Directors, which will include a request to schedule the interview, will
take 10 minutes (0.167 hours). Scheduling interviews with LEA key staff
will also take 10 minutes (0.167 hours). The State Director Survey will
take 1 hour and 14 minutes from sending the online survey link to the
final thank you note (1 hour to complete the online survey; 1 minute
each (0.0167 hours) for the electronic invitation with a link to the
survey, the two electronic reminder letters to non-respondents, and one
electronic thank you letter; 10 minutes (0.1670 hours) for a phone call
to the State CN Directors who have not submitted the survey within 5
days of the deadline). The study team will send 30 State CN Directors a
notification letter about the selection of LEAs for in-depth telephone
interviews, which will take 3 minutes (0.0501 hours). Those Directors
will send a letter that the study team has drafted to the selected LEAs
to notify them, which will take 10 minutes (0.167 hours). The in-depth
telephone interview for LEA Directors and LEA key staff will take 90
minutes (1.5 hours), and the electronic interview follow up and thank
you note will take 10 minutes (0.167 hours). The collection of
household applications will take 3 minutes (0.0501 hours) for the
initial electronic request sent to the LEA Directors, two 30-minute
phone calls (0.5 hours each) with the Director and key staff to discuss
sampling and data collection, 2 hours for two LEA staff to compile and
securely transmit two years of applications, and 1 minute (0.0167
hours) for the electronic thank you note. The average estimated time
per response across all respondents is 0.425 hours. The overall average
response across all of the respondents (including non-respondents) in
the entire collection is 0.421 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: The total public
reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated at
388.6 hours (annually). The estimated burden for each type of
respondent is provided in the table below.
[[Page 5238]]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsive Non-Responsive Grand
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- total
Sample annual
Respondent category Type of respondents Instruments size Number of Frequency Total Hours per Annual Number of Frequency Total Hours per Annual burden
respondents of annual response burden non- of annual response burden estimate
response responses (hours) respondents response responses (hours) (hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State Child Nutrition (CN) Agency....... State Director............. Electronic Study 54 54 1 54 0.0501 2.7 0 0 0 0.000 0.0 2.7
Notification Letter from 54 54 1 54 0.0501 2.7 0 0 0 0.000 0.0 2.7
FNS.
Electronic Study
Notification Letter from
Westat.
Electronic Letter with Link 54 54 1 54 0.0167 0.9 0 0 0 0.000 0.0 0.9
to Online Survey.
Electronic Survey Reminder 30 30 1 30 0.0167 0.5 0 0 0 0.000 0.0 0.5
Letter #1.
Electronic Survey Reminder 15 15 1 15 0.0167 0.3 0 0 0 0.000 0.0 0.3
Letter #2.
Phone Calls to 5 5 1 5 0.1670 0.8 0 0 0 0.000 0.0 0.8
Nonrespondent State
Directors.
Online survey.............. 54 54 1 54 1.0000 54.0 0 0 0 0.000 0.0 54.0
Electronic thank you note 54 54 1 54 0.0167 0.9 0 0 0 0.000 0.0 0.9
following survey
completion.
Electronic Notifcation 30 30 1 30 0.0501 1.5 0 0 0 0.000 0.0 1.5
Letter from Westat
regarding LEA selection.
Electronic Letter from 30 30 1 30 0.1670 5.0 0 0 0 0.000 0.0 5.0
State CN Agency to
Selected LEAs.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State Government Sub-Total.......... ........................... ........................... 54 54 7.04 380 0.1824 69.3 0 0.00 0 0.0000 0.0 69.3
Local Education Agency (LEA)............ LEA Director............... Scheduling Cognitive Test 3 3 1 3 0.1670 0.5 0 0 0 0.000 0.0 0.5
of Interview Guide. 3 3 1 3 1.5000 4.5 0 0 0 0.000 0.0 4.5
Cognitive Test of Interview
Guide.
Electronic Study 35 30 1 30 0.0501 1.5 5 1 5 0.0501 0.3 1.8
Notification Letter from
State CN Agency.
Electronic Study 35 30 1 30 0.1670 5.0 5 1 5 0.1670 0.8 5.8
Notification Letter from
Westat, incl. Request to
Schedule Phone Interview.
In-Depth Phone Interview 30 30 1 30 1.5000 45.0 0 0 0 0.0000 0.0 45.0
(includes consent).
In-Depth Interview Follow 30 30 1 30 0.1670 5.0 0 0 0 0.0000 0.0 5.0
Up and Thank You Note.
Electronic Letter Request 20 20 1 20 0.0501 1.0 0 0 0 0.0000 0.0 1.0
for Sample of Household
Applications.
Phone Call to Discuss 20 20 2 40 0.5000 20.0 0 0 0 0.0000 0.0 20.0
Sampling and Collection of
Household Applications.
LEA Key Staff.............. Scheduling Cognitive Test 3 3 1 3 0.1670 0.5 0 0 0 0.000 0.0 0.5
of Interview Guide.
Cognitive Test of Interview 3 3 1 3 1.5000 4.5 0 0 0 0.000 0.0 4.5
Guide.
Scheduling the In-Depth 60 60 1 60 0.1670 10.0 0 0 0 0.0000 0.0 10.0
Phone Interview.
In-Depth Phone Interview 60 60 1 60 1.5000 90.0 0 0 0 0.0000 0.0 90.0
(includes consent).
In-Depth Phone Interview 60 60 1 60 0.1667 10.0 0 0 0 0.0000 0.0 10.0
Follow Up and Thank You
Note.
Phone Call to Discuss 40 40 2 80 0.5000 40.0 0 0 0 0.0000 0.0 40.0
Sampling and Collection of
Household Applications.
Collection of Sample of 40 40 1 40 2.0000 80.0 0 0 0 0.0000 0.0 80.0
Household Applications.
Electronic Thank You Note 40 40 1 40 0.0167 0.7 0 0 0 0.0000 0.0 0.7
for Household Applications.
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Local Government Sub-Total.......... ........................... ........................... 101 96 5.54 532 0.5981 318.2 5 2.00 10 0.1086 1.1 319.3
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total........................... ........................... ........................... 155 150 6.08 912 0.4249 387.5 5 2.00 10 0.1086 1.1 388.6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Footnote: Annual burden hours are rounded to the nearest tenth.
[[Page 5239]]
Dated: January 25, 2018.
Brandon Lipps,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-02379 Filed 2-5-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
