Agency Information Collection Activities, Proposed Collection: Request for Comments on Evaluating the Interview Requirement for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Certification Study, 23539-23545 [2024-07164]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 66 / Thursday, April 4, 2024 / Notices
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17:01 Apr 03, 2024
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[FR Doc. 2024–07127 Filed 4–3–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection
Activities, Proposed Collection:
Request for Comments on Evaluating
the Interview Requirement for
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP) Certification Study
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 is a new information collection for
the contract of the study titled
‘‘Evaluating the Interview Requirement
for SNAP Certification.’’ The purpose of
this collection is to help FNS describe
the effects of waiving the interview
requirement, including SNAP agency
processes and staff experiences with
implementing the no-interview
demonstration, analyzing the
differences in outcomes for SNAP
applicants and recipients, and
identifying key lessons to inform future
policy or implementation.
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before June 3, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to
Amanda Wyant, Food and Nutrition
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
1320 Braddock Place, 5th Floor,
Alexandria, VA 22314. Comments may
also be submitted via email to
Amanda.Wyant@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 responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
for Office of Management and Budget
SUMMARY:
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23539
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 Amanda Wyant at
703–305–7537.
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: Evaluating the Interview
Requirement for SNAP Certification
Study.
Form Number: N/A.
OMB Number: 0584–NEW.
Expiration Date: Not yet determined.
Type of Request: New collection.
Abstract: The Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP) is the
foundation of the nation’s nutrition
assistance safety net and is a core source
of support to millions of Americans,
particularly during economic
downturns. To help States handle
increased need and participation amid
the health risks of the pandemic, the
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)
offered States a range of flexibilities
which provided support to States
administering the program and clients
in the application process, including the
option to waive the certification and
recertification interview requirement.
This allowed States to continue
administering SNAP during the public
health emergency with minimal client
contact. FNS required States that
waived the interview requirement to
document their experiences processing
cases without the interview. However,
more rigorous evidence is needed to
confidently understand the effects of
waiving the interview requirement.
The Evaluating the Interview
Requirement for SNAP Certification
study will collect information in five
States to assess how eliminating
interviews affects outcomes, including
administrative efficiency, costs, benefit
accuracy, and client access. The project
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will include a randomized control trial
(RCT) to analyze the impacts of
outcomes between those clients
assigned to receive an interview (the
regular interview process group) and
those assigned to not receive an
interview (the no-interview group). The
project will also include collection of
administrative and quality control data,
as well as qualitative information. The
qualitative data collection will include
virtual site visits and observations, a
workflow analysis, and a time-use
study. During the site visits, the team
will conduct interviews with staff
involved with all stages of certification
and recertification processes. Site
visitors will observe verification calls
between eligibility workers and nointerview SNAP applicants to collect
information about whether staff carry
out policies and procedures as intended.
The workflow analysis will involve
small group interviews with State and
local staff and will support the
assessment of the changes required
when implementing the no-interview
demonstration and the possible
challenges. Finally, the study will
include a staff time-use survey to
determine whether application
processing requires more or less time for
workers when there is an interview
compared to when there is not.
Affected public. Members of the
public affected by the data collection
include State and local government
workers from SNAP agencies in five
States, as well as staff at not-for-profit
organizations, and individuals who
apply for or participate in SNAP.
Respondent groups identified include
(1) State SNAP directors, (2) State SNAP
policy directors, (3) State SNAP field
operations managers, (4) State data
systems staff, (5) State quality control
(QC) staff, (6) local SNAP directors, (7)
local SNAP office supervisors, (8)
eligibility workers, (9) customer service
staff, (10) community based
organizations (CBOs) and advocates,
and (11) SNAP applicants and
participants.
Estimated number of respondents.
The total estimated number of unique
respondents—which includes everyone
contacted for data collection regardless
of whether they participate—is 494.
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This includes up to 65 individuals/
households, 409 State and local
government staff, and 20 community
based organization staff or advocates.
The study team will contact 65
individuals/households, out of which
50 SNAP applicants or participants will
participate in an observation and 15
SNAP applicants or participants will be
considered nonrespondents. The study
team will contact 63 State SNAP agency
staff, which includes SNAP directors,
SNAP policy directors, State SNAP field
operations managers, State data systems
staff, and State QC staff. The study team
will contact 67 local agency directors/
supervisors, out of which 20 will be
considered nonrespondents. The study
team will contact 279 local agency
direct service staff, out of which 80 will
be considered nonrespondents. Fifteen
of the State directors will provide
administrative data. The study team will
contact 20 community based
organizations or advocates for virtual
interviews.
Respondents will participate in
multiple activities as follows:
• 5 State SNAP directors (one from each
State will participate in the interviews
and workflow analysis)
• 5 State SNAP policy directors (one
from each State will participate in the
interviews, document review and
workflow analysis)
• 20 State field operations managers
(four from each State will participate
in the interviews and workflow
analysis)
• 15 State data systems staff (three from
each State will participate in the
interviews, workflow analysis, and
administrative data collection)
• 15 Local SNAP directors (three from
each State will participate in the
interviews and work flow analysis)
• 30 Local SNAP office supervisors (6
from each State will participate in the
time-use survey, workflow analysis,
and/or the interviews)
• 135 Eligibility workers (27 from each
State will participate in the time-use
survey, observations, workflow
analysis, and/or interviews. Eligibility
workers could participate in one or
multiple activities in the study.
Amongst the 135 eligibility workers,
90 will have participated in the time-
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use survey, 50 will have participated
in the observations, 45 will have
participated in the interviews, and 30
will have participated in the
workflow analysis)
• 60 customer service staff (12 from
each State will participate in the timeuse survey, workflow analysis, and/or
the interviews. Customer service staff
could participate in the time-use
survey and the interviews or the
interviews and observations or only
one of these activities. Amongst the
60 customer service staff, 30 will have
participated in the time-use survey,
30 will have participated in the
workflow analysis, and 30 will have
participated in the interviews)
The 15 State QC staff will participate
in the interviews. Before the start of data
collection in one non-study State, we
will pretest the semi-structured
interview guide with one State SNAP
director, one State SNAP policy
director, one State data system staff, one
Local SNAP director, one eligibility
worker, and one customer service staff
member. We also will pretest the timeuse survey with one eligibility worker,
one customer service staff, and one
Local SNAP office supervisor.
Estimated number of responses per
respondent. Across all 494 unique
respondents (379 respondents and 115
non-respondents) and 3,159 annual
responses, the average number of
responses is 6.39.
Estimated total annual responses.
3,159.
Estimated time per response. The time
per all respondent/non-respondent
group was used to determine the annual
frequency estimates. The estimated time
per response varies from 0.0835 hours
for activities related to reading email
reminders for the time-use survey to 24
hours for State data systems staff to
provide administrative data. The
response time will vary depending on
the respondent group, with an average
estimated time of 105 minutes (1.75
hours).
Estimated total annual burden on
respondents. The total estimated annual
burden on respondents is 108,300
minutes (1,805 hours).
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
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RESPONDENTS
NON-RESPONDENTS
Jkt 262001
PO 00000
Frequency
of
response
Total
annual
responses
Hours
per
response
Annual
burden
(hours)
Number
of nonrespondents
Frequency
of
response
Total
annual
respon
-ses
Hours
per
response
Annual
burden
(hours)
15
15
1
15
24.00
360.00
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
360.00
$51.99
$18,716.40
5
5
1
5
0.50
2.50
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
2.50
83.18
$207.95
50
50
1
50
0.58
29.17
0
0
0
000
000
29.17
26.08
$760.67
Houri
y
Wage
rate•
Total
cost
with
fringe
benefits
(33%)
Total annualized cost of
respondent
burden
Frm 00005
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Sfmt 4725
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Affected public
Slate/Local
Government
Type of
respondents
State Data
Systems Staff
Instruments
Administrative
data
Slate/Local
Government
State SNAP
Policy Director
Document
review
State/Local
Government
Eligibility
Worker
Observations
Slate/Local
Government
State SNAP
Director
Semi-structured
Interview
5
5
1
5
1.25
6.25
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
6.25
83.18
$519.88
Slate/Local
Government
State SNAP
Policy Director
Semi-structured
Interview
5
5
1
5
1.25
6.25
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
6.25
83.18
$519.88
Slate/Local
Government
State Field
Operations
Manager
Semi-structured
Interview
20
20
1
20
1.25
25.00
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
25.00
52.14
$1,303.50
Slate/Local
Government
State Data
Systems Staff
Semi-structured
Interview
15
15
1
15
1.25
18.75
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
18.75
51.99
$974.81
Slate/Local
Government
State QC Staff
Semi-structured
Interview
15
15
1
15
1.25
18.75
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
18.75
51.99
$974.81
State/Local
Government
Local SNAP
Director
Semi-structured
Interview
15
15
1
15
1.25
18.75
0
0
0
000
000
18.75
83.18
$1,559.63
Slate/Local
Government
Semi-structured
Interview
30
30
1
30
1.25
37.50
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
37.50
83.18
$3,119.25
Slate/Local
Government
Local SNAP
Office
Supervisor
Eligibility
Worker
Semi-structured
Interview
45
45
1
45
1.25
56.25
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
56.25
26.08
$1,467.00
Slate/Local
Government
Customer
Service Staff
Semi-structured
Interview
30
30
1
30
1.25
37.50
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
37.50
19.80
$742.50
State/Local
Government
State SNAP
Director
1
1
1
1
1.75
1.75
0
0
0
000
000
1.75
83.18
$145.57
Slate/Local
Government
State SNAP
Policy Director
1
1
1
1
1.75
1.75
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
1.75
83.18
$145.57
Stale/Local
Government
State Data
Systems Staff
1
1
1
1
1.75
1.75
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
1.75
51.99
$90.98
Slate/Local
Government
Local SNAP
Director
Semi-structured
Interview
pretest
Semi-structured
Interview
pretest
Semi-structured
Interview
pretest
Semi-structured
Interview
pretest
1
1
1
1
1.75
1.75
0
0
0
000
000
1.75
83.18
$145.57
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 66 / Thursday, April 4, 2024 / Notices
17:01 Apr 03, 2024
Sample
size
Number
of
respondents
Grand
total
annual
burden
estimate
(hours)
23541
EN04AP24.052</GPH>
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23542
1
175
175
0
0
0
000
000
175
2608
S4564
1
1
1
1
1.75
1.75
0
0
0
000
000
1.75
19.80
S34.65
30
30
5
150
075
11250
0
0
0
000
000
11250
5214
$5,865 75
Slate/Local
Government
Time-use
survey
90
90
5
450
075
33750
0
0
0
000
000
33750
2608
$8,802 00
Customer
Service Staff
Time-use
survey
30
30
5
150
075
11250
0
0
0
000
000
11250
1980
$2,227 50
PO 00000
State/Local
Government
Loca I SI,JAP
Office
Supervisor
Time-use
survey daily
afternoon
reminder email
30
30
5
150
008
1250
0
0
0
000
000
1250
5214
S65175
Frm 00006
Slate/Local
Government
Elrg1b1lrty
Worker
Time-use
90
90
5
450
0.08
3750
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
37.50
26.08
S978.00
Slate/Local
Government
Customer
Service Staff
30
30
5
150
008
1250
0
0
0
000
000
1250
1980
S247 50
Stale/Local
Government
30
30
5
150
0.08
12.50
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
12.50
52.14
S65175
Slate/Local
Government
Local Sl~AP
Office
Supervisor
Eligibility
Worker
90
90
5
450
0.08
37.50
0
0
0
000
000
37.50
26.08
S978.00
Stale/Local
Government
Customer
Service Staff
30
30
5
150
0.08
12.50
0
0
0
000
000
12.50
1980
S247.50
Stale/Local
Government
Loca I Sl'IAP
Office
Supervisor
50
30
1
30
0.17
5.00
20
1
20
0.17
3.33
8.33
52.14
S434.50
Slate/Local
Government
Eligibility
Worker
150
90
1
90
0.17
15.00
60
1
60
0.17
1000
25.00
26.08
S652.00
Slate/Local
Government
Customer
Service Staff
50
30
1
30
017
500
20
1
20
017
333
8.33
1980
S165 00
Stale/Local
Government
1
1
1
1
0.75
075
0
0
0
000
000
075
83.18
S62.39
Slate/Local
Government
Loca I SI,JAP
Office
Supervisor
Eligibility
Worker
Time-use
survey pretest
1
1
5
5
0.75
375
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
375
26.08
S97.80
State/Local
Government
Customer
Service Staff
Time-use
survey pretest
1
1
5
5
0.75
375
0
0
0
000
000
375
19.80
S74.25
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4725
E:\FR\FM\04APN1.SGM
04APN1
EN04AP24.053</GPH>
Eligibility
Worker
Slate/Local
Government
Customer
Service Staff
State/Local
Government
Local S~JAP
Office
Supervisor
Eligibility
Worker
State/Local
Government
Semi-structured
Interview
pretest
Semi-structured
Interview
pretest
Time-use
survey
survey daily
afternoon
reminder email
Time-use
survey daily
afternoon
reminder email
Time-use
survey daily
morning email
Time-use
survey daily
morning email
Time-use
survey daily
morning email
Time-use
survey
1nstruclional
email
Time-use
survey
1nstructional
email
Time-use
survey
1nstructional
email
Time-use
survey pretest
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 66 / Thursday, April 4, 2024 / Notices
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17:01 Apr 03, 2024
1
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1
State/Local
Government
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Elig1bil1ty
Worker
State/Local
Government
Customer
Service Staff
State/Local
Government
Local s1,JAP
Office
Supervisor
State/Local
Government
Elig1bil1ty
Worker
Frm 00007
Stale/Local
Government
Customer
Service Staff
Stale/Local
Government
State/Local
Government
Local s1,1AP
Office
Supervisor
Elig1bil1ty
Worker
State/Local
Government
Customer
Service Staff
State/Local
Government
Local s1,1AP
Office
Supervisor
State/Local
Government
Elig1bil1ty
Worker
State/Local
Government
Customer
Service Staff
State/Local
Government
Slate/Local
Government
Local s1,JAP
Office
Supervisor
Ellg1b1l1ty
Worker
Slate/Local
Government
Customer
Service Staff
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Sfmt 4725
E:\FR\FM\04APN1.SGM
04APN1
Time-use
survey pretest
afternoon
reminder email
Time-use
survey pretest
afternoon
reminder email
Time-use
survey pretest
afternoon
reminder email
Time-use
survey pretest
instructional
email
Time-use
survey pretest
instructional
email
Time-use
survey pretest
instructional
email
Time-use
survey pretest
morning email
Time-use
survey pretest
morning email
Time-use
survey pretest
morning email
Time-use
survey pretest
staff
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Time-use
survey pretest
staff
questionnaire
Time-use
survey pretest
staff
questionnaire
Time-use
survey staff
questionnaire
Time-use
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questionnaire
Time-use
survey staff
questionnaire
1
1
1
1
0.08
0.08
0
0
0
000
000
0.08
83.18
$6.93
1
1
1
1
0.08
0.08
0
0
0
000
000
0.08
2608
$2.17
1
1
1
1
0.08
0.08
0
0
0
000
000
0.08
19.80
$1.65
1
1
1
1
0.17
0.17
0
0
0
000
000
0.17
83.18
$13.86
1
1
1
1
017
017
0
0
0
ODO
000
017
2608
$435
1
1
1
1
017
017
0
0
0
ODO
000
017
1980
$330
1
1
1
1
0.08
0.08
0
0
0
ODO
000
0.08
83.18
$6.93
1
1
1
1
008
008
0
0
0
000
000
008
2608
$217
1
1
1
1
0.08
0.08
0
0
0
000
000
0.08
19.80
$1.65
1
1
1
1
0.17
0.17
0
0
0
000
000
0.17
83.18
$13.86
1
1
1
1
0.17
0.17
0
0
0
000
000
0.17
26.08
$4.35
1
1
1
1
0.17
0.17
0
0
0
000
000
0.17
19.80
$3.30
30
30
1
30
0.17
5.00
0
0
0
000
000
5.00
52.14
$260.70
90
90
1
90
0.17
15.00
0
0
0
000
000
15.00
26.08
$391.20
30
30
1
30
017
500
0
0
0
000
000
500
1980
$9900
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 66 / Thursday, April 4, 2024 / Notices
State/Local
Government
17:01 Apr 03, 2024
Local S~IAP
Office
Supervisor
PO 00000
VerDate Sep<11>2014
State/Local
Government
23543
EN04AP24.054</GPH>
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
23544
VerDate Sep<11>2014
State/Local
Government
State SNAP
Policy Director
Jkt 262001
State/Local
Government
State/Local
Government
State SNAP
Field
Operations
Manager
State Data
Systems Staff
State/Local
Government
Local SNAP
Director
State/Local
Government
State/Local
Government
Local SNAP
Office
Supervisor
El1g1b11i1y
Worker
State/Local
Government
Customer
Service Staff
Not-for-Profit
Organizations
Community
based
organizations
(CBOs) and
advocates
Workflow
analysis group
interview
Workflow
analysis group
interview
Workflow
analysis group
interview
Frm 00008
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4725
Workflow
analysis group
interview
Workflow
analysis group
interview
Workflow
analysis group
interview
Workflow
analysis group
interview
Workflow
analysis group
interview
Semi-structured
Interview
E:\FR\FM\04APN1.SGM
Individuals/Hou
sehold
SNAP
Observations
applicants and
~arl1c1~anls
Subtotal of unique State agency SNAP Staff
04APN1
5
1
5
2.50
12.50
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
12.50
83.18
$1,039.75
5
5
1
5
2.50
12.50
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
12.50
83.18
$1,039.75
15
15
1
15
2.50
37.50
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
37.50
52.14
$1,955.25
15
15
1
15
2.50
37.50
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
37.50
51.99
$1,949.63
15
15
1
15
2.50
37.50
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
37.50
83.18
$3,119.25
30
30
1
30
2.50
75.00
0
0
0
000
000
75.00
83.18
$6,238.50
30
30
1
30
2.50
75.00
0
0
0
000
000
75.00
26.08
$1,956.00
30
30
1
30
2.50
75.00
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
75.00
19.80
$1,485.00
20
20
1
20
1.25
25.00
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
25.00
46.83
$1,170.75
65
50
1
50
0.50
25.00
15
1
15
0.08
1.25
26.25
7.25
$190.31
63
63
13
118
44
530.25
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
530.25
n/a
$37,340
346
246
67
2856
31
1206.67
100
3
100
0.50
16.67
1223.33
n/a
$35,868
20
20
1
20
1.25
25.00
0
0
0
0.00
0.00
25.00
n/a
$1,171
Subtotal of unique Local agency SNAP staff
Subtotal of unique CBOs and advocates
Subtotal of unique SNAP applicants and
participants
Grand total
EN04AP24.055</GPH>
5
85
50
1
50
0.50
494
379
102
3,044
76.08
25.00
1,767
15
1
15
0.08
1.25
28.25
n/a
115
4
115
0.58
17.92
1,904.83
n/a
$ 190
$99,178
$74,570
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 66 / Thursday, April 4, 2024 / Notices
State SNAP
Director
PO 00000
17:01 Apr 03, 2024
State/Local
Government
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 66 / Thursday, April 4, 2024 / Notices
Tameka Owens,
Assistant Administrator, Food and Nutrition
Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–07164 Filed 4–3–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–30–C
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Assessment of
Administrative Costs of Electronic
Healthy Incentives Projects (eHIP)
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 is a new collection for the study
‘‘Assessment of Administrative Costs of
Electronic Healthy Incentives Projects
(eHIP).’’ This study will calculate costs
incurred by eHIP, which will provide
incentives through EBT integration to
increase purchase of healthy foods (e.g.,
fruits and vegetables) by Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
participants.
SUMMARY:
Written comments must be
received on or before June 3, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to:
Kathleen Patton, Food and Nutrition
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
1320 Braddock Place, 5th Floor,
Alexandria, VA 22314. Comments may
also be submitted via email to
Kathleen.Patton@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 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 Kathleen Patton at
Kathleen.Patton@usda.gov or 703–305–
2813.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
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 information shall have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:01 Apr 03, 2024
Jkt 262001
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: Assessment of Administrative
Costs of Electronic Healthy Incentives
Projects (eHIP).
Form Number: Not Applicable.
OMB Number: 0584–NEW.
Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.
Type of Request: New Collection.
Abstract: The Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP),
administered by the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA),
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS),
distributes benefits to eligible lowincome households through Electronic
Benefits Transfer (EBT) card technology.
In fiscal year 2023 FNS awarded grants
to three States, Colorado, Louisianna,
and Washington for implementing
Electronic Healthy Incentives Projects
(eHIP) to leverage EBT integration to
deliver financial incentives at point of
purchase to SNAP households when
they purchase qualifying foods (e.g.,
fruits and vegetables). The aim of this
study is to calculate the costs of eHIP in
the three States to determine the startup
and ongoing costs of administering
incentives to SNAP households through
EBT integration and to estimate the cost
of administering eHIP at scale. The
study will quantify startup and ongoing
administrative costs to State grantees,
retailers, and other eHIP stakeholders. It
will also compare administrative costs
to the amount of funding distributed as
incentives.
Data will be collected from the three
project States and multiple entities
working with these States, including
retailers, EBT processors, third-party
processors (TPPs). These data will
include both cost data, collected
through cost data templates submitted
to the States/entities, as well as
interviews with State and other project
representatives to contextualize the cost
data. In addition, existing national data
(such as SNAP caseloads and SNAPauthorized retailers) and State data from
non-project States (such as State wage
rates) will be examined in order to
estimate the cost of nationwide
expansion of eHIP. Lastly, data from
select Gus Schumacher Nutrition
Incentive Program (GusNIP) grantees—
that do not use EBT integration for
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
23545
delivering incentives to SNAP
households for purchasing fruits and
vegetables will be examined to estimate
the costs and return on investment (ROI)
of GusNIP and compare these to the
eHIP costs and ROI, in order to provide
information on how these two incentive
delivery modalities differ in costs and
economic impact.
Data collection is expected to occur
beginning in March 2025 with an
approximate end date of May 2026. Data
collection activities will be designed to
address the three main objectives for the
study:
1. Quantify, to the extent possible, the
cost of administering eHIP;
2. Estimate the cost of nationwide
expansion of eHIP; and
3. Compare the cost of administering
eHIP with other incentive programs for
SNAP households that do not use EBT
integration.
Design consists of building and
populating a central cost model for
estimating the costs of implementing
and administering eHIP. This model
will then be expanded, through the use
of publicly available State and national
data, to estimate the nationwide costs of
implementation and administration.
Finally, existing data on GusNIP
programs will be used to compare costs
between eHIP and GusNIP.
Affected Public: State respondents are
eHIP project staff. For-profit and not-forprofit business respondents are eHIPparticipating EBT vendor staff, TPP
staff, and retailer staff.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
The estimated number of respondents is
38. Within each State, the study expects
responses from 4 State staff (4 staff × 3
States = 12 State staff). In addition, the
study expects to have responses from 6
retailer staff for each eHIP State (6 staff
× 3 States = 18 retailer staff), as well as
2 TPP staff for each eHIP State (2 staff
× 3 States = 6 TPP staff). Finally, the
study expects responses from 2 EBT
processor staff, 1 each from the two EBT
processor firms working with the three
eHIP States.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: Across all respondents, the
average number of responses is 7.3 (277
responses across 38 respondent). The
number of responses will vary by
respondent group and the specific data
collection activity.
For the State SNAP agency staff:
D One staffer within each State will be
asked to respond once to the pre-test of
the cost templates and three times to the
cost data templates data collection.
D Two staffers in each State will be
asked to respond twice to the phone
interview data collection. Staff will
receive an electronic letter (i.e., email)
E:\FR\FM\04APN1.SGM
04APN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 66 (Thursday, April 4, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23539-23545]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-07164]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities, Proposed Collection:
Request for Comments on Evaluating the Interview Requirement for
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Certification Study
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 information
collection for the contract of the study titled ``Evaluating the
Interview Requirement for SNAP Certification.'' The purpose of this
collection is to help FNS describe the effects of waiving the interview
requirement, including SNAP agency processes and staff experiences with
implementing the no-interview demonstration, analyzing the differences
in outcomes for SNAP applicants and recipients, and identifying key
lessons to inform future policy or implementation.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before June 3, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Amanda Wyant, Food and Nutrition
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1320 Braddock Place, 5th
Floor, Alexandria, VA 22314. Comments may also be submitted via email
to [email protected]. 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 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 Amanda
Wyant at 703-305-7537.
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: Evaluating the Interview Requirement for SNAP Certification
Study.
Form Number: N/A.
OMB Number: 0584-NEW.
Expiration Date: Not yet determined.
Type of Request: New collection.
Abstract: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is
the foundation of the nation's nutrition assistance safety net and is a
core source of support to millions of Americans, particularly during
economic downturns. To help States handle increased need and
participation amid the health risks of the pandemic, the Food and
Nutrition Service (FNS) offered States a range of flexibilities which
provided support to States administering the program and clients in the
application process, including the option to waive the certification
and recertification interview requirement. This allowed States to
continue administering SNAP during the public health emergency with
minimal client contact. FNS required States that waived the interview
requirement to document their experiences processing cases without the
interview. However, more rigorous evidence is needed to confidently
understand the effects of waiving the interview requirement.
The Evaluating the Interview Requirement for SNAP Certification
study will collect information in five States to assess how eliminating
interviews affects outcomes, including administrative efficiency,
costs, benefit accuracy, and client access. The project
[[Page 23540]]
will include a randomized control trial (RCT) to analyze the impacts of
outcomes between those clients assigned to receive an interview (the
regular interview process group) and those assigned to not receive an
interview (the no-interview group). The project will also include
collection of administrative and quality control data, as well as
qualitative information. The qualitative data collection will include
virtual site visits and observations, a workflow analysis, and a time-
use study. During the site visits, the team will conduct interviews
with staff involved with all stages of certification and
recertification processes. Site visitors will observe verification
calls between eligibility workers and no-interview SNAP applicants to
collect information about whether staff carry out policies and
procedures as intended. The workflow analysis will involve small group
interviews with State and local staff and will support the assessment
of the changes required when implementing the no-interview
demonstration and the possible challenges. Finally, the study will
include a staff time-use survey to determine whether application
processing requires more or less time for workers when there is an
interview compared to when there is not.
Affected public. Members of the public affected by the data
collection include State and local government workers from SNAP
agencies in five States, as well as staff at not-for-profit
organizations, and individuals who apply for or participate in SNAP.
Respondent groups identified include (1) State SNAP directors, (2)
State SNAP policy directors, (3) State SNAP field operations managers,
(4) State data systems staff, (5) State quality control (QC) staff, (6)
local SNAP directors, (7) local SNAP office supervisors, (8)
eligibility workers, (9) customer service staff, (10) community based
organizations (CBOs) and advocates, and (11) SNAP applicants and
participants.
Estimated number of respondents. The total estimated number of
unique respondents--which includes everyone contacted for data
collection regardless of whether they participate--is 494. This
includes up to 65 individuals/households, 409 State and local
government staff, and 20 community based organization staff or
advocates. The study team will contact 65 individuals/households, out
of which 50 SNAP applicants or participants will participate in an
observation and 15 SNAP applicants or participants will be considered
nonrespondents. The study team will contact 63 State SNAP agency staff,
which includes SNAP directors, SNAP policy directors, State SNAP field
operations managers, State data systems staff, and State QC staff. The
study team will contact 67 local agency directors/supervisors, out of
which 20 will be considered nonrespondents. The study team will contact
279 local agency direct service staff, out of which 80 will be
considered nonrespondents. Fifteen of the State directors will provide
administrative data. The study team will contact 20 community based
organizations or advocates for virtual interviews.
Respondents will participate in multiple activities as follows:
5 State SNAP directors (one from each State will participate
in the interviews and workflow analysis)
5 State SNAP policy directors (one from each State will
participate in the interviews, document review and workflow analysis)
20 State field operations managers (four from each State will
participate in the interviews and workflow analysis)
15 State data systems staff (three from each State will
participate in the interviews, workflow analysis, and administrative
data collection)
15 Local SNAP directors (three from each State will
participate in the interviews and work flow analysis)
30 Local SNAP office supervisors (6 from each State will
participate in the time-use survey, workflow analysis, and/or the
interviews)
135 Eligibility workers (27 from each State will participate
in the time-use survey, observations, workflow analysis, and/or
interviews. Eligibility workers could participate in one or multiple
activities in the study. Amongst the 135 eligibility workers, 90 will
have participated in the time-use survey, 50 will have participated in
the observations, 45 will have participated in the interviews, and 30
will have participated in the workflow analysis)
60 customer service staff (12 from each State will participate
in the time-use survey, workflow analysis, and/or the interviews.
Customer service staff could participate in the time-use survey and the
interviews or the interviews and observations or only one of these
activities. Amongst the 60 customer service staff, 30 will have
participated in the time-use survey, 30 will have participated in the
workflow analysis, and 30 will have participated in the interviews)
The 15 State QC staff will participate in the interviews. Before
the start of data collection in one non-study State, we will pretest
the semi-structured interview guide with one State SNAP director, one
State SNAP policy director, one State data system staff, one Local SNAP
director, one eligibility worker, and one customer service staff
member. We also will pretest the time-use survey with one eligibility
worker, one customer service staff, and one Local SNAP office
supervisor.
Estimated number of responses per respondent. Across all 494 unique
respondents (379 respondents and 115 non-respondents) and 3,159 annual
responses, the average number of responses is 6.39.
Estimated total annual responses. 3,159.
Estimated time per response. The time per all respondent/non-
respondent group was used to determine the annual frequency estimates.
The estimated time per response varies from 0.0835 hours for activities
related to reading email reminders for the time-use survey to 24 hours
for State data systems staff to provide administrative data. The
response time will vary depending on the respondent group, with an
average estimated time of 105 minutes (1.75 hours).
Estimated total annual burden on respondents. The total estimated
annual burden on respondents is 108,300 minutes (1,805 hours).
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
[[Page 23541]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN04AP24.052
[[Page 23542]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN04AP24.053
[[Page 23543]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN04AP24.054
[[Page 23544]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN04AP24.055
[[Page 23545]]
Tameka Owens,
Assistant Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-07164 Filed 4-3-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-C
