Agency Information Collection Activities: Longitudinal Study of SNAP Households AKA The Study of Household Insights and Nutritional Experiences (SHINE), 83826-83827 [2024-24160]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Food and Nutrition Service

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 202 (Friday, October 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 83826-83827]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-24160]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Longitudinal Study of 
SNAP Households AKA The Study of Household Insights and Nutritional 
Experiences (SHINE)

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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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 new collection will 
provide the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service 
(FNS) key information from a large representative sample of SNAP 
households to enable FNS to examine how SNAP households change through 
time.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before December 17, 
2024.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: Michael Burke, 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 Michael 
Burke at 703-305-4369.

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: Longitudinal Study of SNAP Households AKA The Study of 
Household Insights and Nutritional Experiences (SHINE).
    Form Number: N/A.
    OMB Number: 0584-NEW.
    Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Abstract: This is a new information collection request. The 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides monthly 
benefits to low-income households to reduce food insecurity and improve 
health and well-being. SNAP policies and benefit calculations change 
over time in response to economic factors, such as inflation, high 
unemployment, and changes in Federal budget priorities. To understand 
SNAP's effectiveness at helping participants maintain their food-
purchasing power following such changes, the Food and Nutrition Service 
(FNS) requires accurate and timely data about SNAP households. The 
sample must be large enough to produce reliable conclusions and 
detailed enough to examine policy changes affecting only subpopulations 
of SNAP participants. The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended 
through Public Law 116-94, enacted December 20, 2019, provides the 
legislative authority for FNS to administer SNAP. Section 17 of the Act 
authorizes FNS to conduct research to help improve the administration 
and effectiveness of SNAP.
    The proposed study--Longitudinal Study of SNAP Households AKA The 
Study of Household Insights and Nutritional Experiences (SHINE)--will 
conduct a longitudinal survey among a nationally representative sample 
of SNAP households. The study will also field a dietary recall 
assessment interview among a subset of households. These data will 
enable FNS to conduct detailed analyses of SNAP participants' 
characteristics over time and observe how they respond to Federal, 
State, and local policy and economic changes. With these data, FNS will 
be able to examine how participating SNAP households fared before and 
after potential economic shocks or policy changes, reducing reliance on 
comparisons of changes for broad groups of participants.
    SHINE overcomes the limitations of the data FNS currently uses to 
examine SNAP policies and effects on households. FNS' currently 
available data sources typically lack the detail required for in-depth 
study, do not include a representative sample, or do not include the 
same households over time. This study addresses these issues by 
collecting key information for a large representative sample of SNAP 
households through time, drawn from State SNAP administrative data.

[[Page 83827]]

Specifically, the study's objective is to produce:

1. A longitudinal data collection framework that completely and 
accurately documents the approach to ensuring an enduring and robust 
annual data collection
2. Descriptive statistics on a wide range of sociodemographic and 
economic characteristics of households
3. Descriptive statistics on other key household characteristics
4. Cross-tabulations between key sociodemographic, economic, and other 
key characteristics of households, and identification of statistically 
significant differences
5. Descriptive statistics on the dietary quality of a randomly selected 
adult household member in a subsample of households
6. Cross-tabulations between key sociodemographic and economic 
characteristics and markers of dietary quality
7. Public and restricted-use data sets and documentation that allow FNS 
to reproduce analysis results and public-use data sets that will 
promote use of the data by the research community

    At the first wave of data collection, the 35-minute longitudinal 
survey will be conducted among a representative sample of 9,000 SNAP 
participants. The survey will employ a multistage sampling approach, 
first identifying States, and then counties within those States, from 
which to draw the sample. Within selected counties, the study will use 
States' SNAP data to draw a random sample of households, producing a 
nationally representative sample for key subgroups (households with 
children, households with a person who is age 60 or older, and 
households without an older adult but with a person with a disability), 
as well as the full SNAP population. During the first wave, FNS will 
also field a dietary intake instrument among approximately 25 percent 
of households that complete the survey.
    Affected Public: Respondent groups identified include: (a) 
Individuals/Households (county residents in the selected counties); (b) 
State, Local and Tribal Government (State/County SNAP agencies).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of 
respondents is 19,489. The number of respondents includes: 19,464 SNAP 
participants (47% of whom will complete interviews) and 25 State SNAP 
agency directors or other State agency staff. The total estimated 
number of non-respondents is 4,871 and includes 4,866 SNAP participants 
(who will be contacted to complete surveys) and 5 State SNAP agency or 
other State agency staff.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: Across all 
respondents, the average number of responses is 11.87. Respondents 
include SNAP participants, members of SNAP households, and State SNAP 
agency directors or other State agency staff.
    Sampled SNAP participants will be asked to participate in a 
household survey. SNAP participants will receive several notifications 
about the survey, including an invitation letter, emails or text 
messages, and reminder letters. Participants who choose to complete the 
survey will complete a 35-minute web or phone survey. After completing 
the survey, a subset of cases will receive an invitation to participate 
in a dietary recall interview. A random member of the household will be 
selected and invited to participate in this second interview. Dietary 
recall interview respondents may receive a mailed invitation and text 
and email reminder notifications.
    State SNAP agency staff will provide administrative data to the 
study team quarterly.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 317,923 (231,423 respondents and 
86,500 nonrespondents).
    Estimated Time per Response: The estimated time of response varies 
from a few minutes to over an hour, depending on respondent group, but 
averages 0.051 hours (or about 3 minutes) for all respondents as shown 
in the table below.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,281,441 minutes 
(21,357.35 hours). See the table below for estimated total annual 
burden for each type of respondent.

Tameka Owens,
Acting Administrator and Assistant Administrator, Food and Nutrition 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-24160 Filed 10-17-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P