Administration for Children and Families – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
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Unaccompanied Children Program Foundational Rule; Update To Accord With Statutory Requirements
ORR is amending a regulation so that it comports with the express language of the governing legislation. That regulation relates to key aspects of the placement, care, and services provided to unaccompanied alien children (UACs) referred to ORR, pursuant to ORR's responsibilities for coordinating and implementing the care and placement of UACs who are in Federal custody by reason of their immigration status under the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (HSA) and the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA).
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS) Automated Function Checklist and Data Quality Plan (Office of Management and Budget #0970-0463)
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is requesting a three-year extension of the Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS) information collection (Office of Management and Budget (OMB) #0970-0463, expiration 6/30/2025). The CCWIS information collection includes the Automated Function List and the Data Quality Plan. There are no required instruments associated with the data collection and no changes to the data collection.
Office of Refugee Resettlement; Notice of Change of Eligibility
In accordance with ORR regulations, the Director of ORR is announcing the shortening of the Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) and Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) eligibility period from 12 months to four months of assistance for participants who become eligible for ORR benefits 45 days after publication of this notice. For 30 years, ORR had not increased the RCA and RMA eligibility period. In 2022, during a surge in refugee admissions, ORR increased the eligibility period from eight months to 12 months. ORR has determined that it must shorten the RCA and RMA eligibility period to four months to avoid a significant budget shortfall.
Name Change From Office of Child Support Enforcement to Office of Child Support Services; Reopening of Comment Period and Delaying Effective Date
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS or Department) published a direct final rule entitled "Name Change From Office of Child Support Enforcement to Office of Child Support Services" in the Federal Register on December 31, 2024, which was to become effective March 3, 2025. HHS is reopening the public comment period and delaying the effective date for the purpose of reviewing any questions of fact, law, and policy that the rule may raise.
Submission for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Child Care Improper Payments Data Collection Instructions (OMB #0970-0323)
The Administration for Children and Families is proposing revisions to an approved information collection, the Child Care Improper Payments Data Collection Instructions (OMB #0970-0323, expiration 1/31/2025). In addition to the proposed changes, we are requesting a 3-year extension.
Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Child Support Annual Data Report and Instructions (OCSS-157) (Office of Management and Budget #: 0970-0177)
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Child Support Services (OCSS), is requesting the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the Child Support Annual Data Report and Instructions (OCSS-157), with minor revisions, for an additional three years. The current OMB approval expires on March 31, 2025.
Parentage Establishment in the Child Support Services Program; Withdrawal
This document withdraws a proposed rule that was published in the Federal Register on September 26, 2023. The proposed rule would have amended the Child Support Services Program to be inclusive of all family structures served by the child support services program.
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program Community Needs and Readiness Assessment Guidance and Implementation Plan Guidance (Office of Management and Budget#: 0970-0611)
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Early Childhood Development (ECD) is requesting revisions to the Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program Community Needs and Readiness Assessment Guidance and Implementation Plan Guidance (Office of Management and Budget (OMB) #: 0970-0611; expiration June 30, 2026) and a 3-year extension of approval.
Strengthening Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) as a Safety Net and Work Program; Withdrawal
This document withdraws a proposed rule that was published in the Federal Register on October 2, 2023. The proposed rule would have amended the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program regulations to strengthen the safety net and reduce administrative burden.
Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Administration for Native Americans Project Outcome Assessment Survey (Office of Management and Budget #: 0970-0379)
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is requesting a 3-year extension of the Administration for Native Americans Project Outcome Assessment Survey (OMB #: 0970-0379, expiration 6/30/2025). The survey was revised based on a review by the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) and feedback from grantees, which identified some data elements that could be eliminated and areas that could be clarified.
Amendment of the Statement of Organizations, Functions and Delegation of Authority
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is amending the Statement of Organization, Functions and Delegation of Authority ("Statement") issued in the Federal Register on April 28, 2009. The Statement delegated specific provisions of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, Public Law 110-457, section 235 from the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families to the Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement. This amendment modifies the Statement to authorize the Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement to redelegate the listed authorities contained within the Statement.
Notice of Allotment Percentages to States for Child Welfare Services State Grants; Correction
The Administration for Children and Families published a document in the Federal Register published Wednesday, December 4, 2024, concerning notice of Allotment Percentages to States for Child Welfare Services State Grants. The formula used to calculate the allotment percentages for each state was not applied correctly. Although the percentage for the State of Alabama percentage was calculated correctly, the formula used to calculate the allotment percentages was not correctly applied to the remaining states.
Notice of Meeting; National Advisory Committee on the Trafficking of Children and Youth in the United States
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), that a meeting of the National Advisory Committee on the Trafficking of Children and Youth in the United States (Committee) will be held on January 13, 2025. The purpose of the meeting is for the Committee to discuss its plans and responsibilities over its 24-month extension to advise on the development and implementation of successful interventions with children and youth who have been impacted by labor and sex trafficking, make recommendations for administrative and legislative changes regarding the trafficking of children and youth, and publish information on best practices regarding the labor and sex trafficking of children and youth.
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Regional Partnership Grants National Cross-Site Evaluation and Evaluation Technical Assistance (Office of Management and Budget #0970-0527)
The Children's Bureau (CB), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Administration for Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is requesting an extension with changes to the approved information collection: Regional Partnership Grants (RPG) National Cross-Site Evaluation and Evaluation Technical Assistance (Office of Management and Budget (OMB) #0970- 0527). The proposed information collection will be used in a national cross-site evaluation of the seventh cohort of CB's RPG. The cross-site evaluation will use a survey, interviews, focus groups, and data on participant enrollment, services, and outcomes.
Name Change From Office of Child Support Enforcement to Office of Child Support Services
In an effort to make child support regulations consistent with recent rulemaking and updated Tribal child support processes and reporting, this direct final rule (DFR) makes technical updates reflect the current name of the child support program, Office of Child Support Services (OCSS). This is a conforming update to align with the Federal Register notice changing the office's name in the Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority that was published on June 5, 2023, and updates based on the Elimination of the Tribal Non-Federal Share Requirement final rule issued on February 12, 2024.
Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Tribal Child Support Direct Funding Request: 45 CFR 309 (Office of Management and Budget #0970-0218)
The Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) is requesting a review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of revisions to the Tribal Child Support Direct Funding Request: (OMB #0970-0218). These revisions are necessary to align this collection with updates resulting from a final rule: Employment and Training Services for Noncustodial Parents in the Child Support Program, which will require tribes to amend tribal plans if they elect to participate in employment and training services for non-custodial parents in the child support program.
Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; State Plan for Child Support Collection and Establishment of Paternity Title IV-D of the Social Security Act
The Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) is requesting review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of revisions to the State Plan for Child Support Collection and Establishment of Paternity Under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act (State Plan; OMB # 0970- 0017). These revisions are necessary to align this collection with updates resulting from a final rule: Employment and Training Services for Noncustodial Parents in the Child Support Program which will require states to amend State Plans if they elect to participate in employment and training services for non-custodial parents in the child support program.
Proposed Information Collection Activity: Unaccompanied Children Bureau Assessments for Children and Sponsors (Office of Management and Budget #: 0970-NEW)
The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is inviting public comments on the proposed information collection, including proposed changes. The request consists of several forms that will allow the Unaccompanied Children Bureau (UCB) to continue conducting statutorily mandated assessments of unaccompanied children in ORR care and custody as well as their sponsors. These assessments allow ORR to understand the status and needs of the child and their potential sponsor; assessment findings inform all decisions concerning the child's care while in ORR custody and eventual reunification with a sponsor.
Proposed Information Collection Activity; National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) and Youth Outcomes Survey (Office of Management and Budget #0970-0340)
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is requesting a three-year extension of the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) and Youth Outcomes Survey (Office of Management and Budget (OMB)#: 0970-0340, expiration date May 31, 2025). There are no changes requested to the form.
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Evaluation of the Center for Legal and Judicial Innovation and Advancement (CLJIA) (Previously Evaluation of the Child Welfare Capacity Building Collaborative) (Office of Management and Budget #0970-0576)
This collection relates to survey instruments to be administered in conjunction with technical assistance (TA) delivered to legal and judicial staff who participate in strategic planning workshops and attorneys and judicial trainings with a Children's Bureau TA provider. This is a revision and extension to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) #0970-0576) to remove instruments that are no longer in use, revise the title of the collection, and to revise the name of the TA provider in the instruments still in use.
Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System; Correction
ACF is correcting a final rule (FR) that was published in the Federal Register on December 5, 2024, with an effective date of February 3, 2025. This rule finalizes revisions to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) regulations proposed on February 23, 2024. This final rule requires state title IV-E agencies to collect and report to ACF additional data related to the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA) for children in the AFCARS Out- of-Home Care Reporting Population. This correction provides that this final rule will be effective 30 days after its publication in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.
Office of Child Care; Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority; Correction
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) published a document in the Federal Register on December 4, 2024, concerning minor adjustments made to the organization of the Office of Child Care (OCC) in adding a Regional Operations Division. The document contained an incorrect code.
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) National Evaluation Overarching Generic (New Collection)
The Administration for Children and Families' (ACF) Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) requests Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for an overarching generic clearance to collect data from programs delivered by Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) grant recipients on behalf of the SRAE National Evaluation. The generic mechanism will allow ACF to rapidly respond to research and evaluation opportunities that would not otherwise be feasible under the timelines associated with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The opportunities may relate to innovative implementation strategies and program components in use by SRAE grant recipients as they arise, and in particular, for youth subpopulations served by grant recipients. The purpose of the data collections submitted under the generic will be to inform ACF programming by building evidence about what innovations work to improve programming and outcomes across the SRAE grant recipients and the youth they serve.
Investigations of Child Abuse and Neglect Rule; Correction
ORR is correcting an interim rule (IFR) that was published in the Federal Register on November 27, 2024 with an effective date of December 27, 2024. The Investigations of Child Abuse and Neglect IFR provides standards and processes for ORR to apply when it conducts investigations into allegations of child abuse and neglect that occur in certain care provider facilities funded by ORR to provide residential and other services for unaccompanied children; describes a process for appeal and review of substantiated allegations; and establishes an ORR Central Registry to list individuals with certain findings of child abuse and neglect that have been substantiated and sustained after exhausting the appeal and review process.
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Data Collection for the NextGen Project's Well-Being Storytelling Exhibit (New Collection)
The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is conducting additional data collection activities for the Next Generation of Enhanced Employment Strategies Project (NextGen Project) that provides an in- depth look at participant experiences. This effort includes photo elicitation methods and will be referred to as the Well-Being Storytelling Exhibit. The study team will use photo elicitation and human-centered design methods to explore how NextGen participants, staff, and community members conceptualize well-being. This data will help the study team explore the factors that may enhance or explain impact study findings.
Proposed Information Collection Activity: Home Study and Post Release Services Provided to Unaccompanied Children (Office of Management and Budget #: 0970-NEW)
The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is inviting public comments on the proposed information collection, including proposed changes. The request consists of several forms that will allow the Unaccompanied Children (UC) Bureau to continue providing statutorily mandated and discretionary services to promote safe reunifications between sponsors and unaccompanied children released from ORR care and custody.
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Unaccompanied Children Bureau Administrative Activities (Office of Management and Budget #: 0970-0547)
The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is inviting public comment on revisions to an approved information collection, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) #0970-0547. The request consists of several forms that allow ORR to perform Unaccompanied Children Bureau (UCB)- related administrative activities, such as facilitating stakeholder visits to care provider facilities; obtaining consent from children to share their case file information; and processing requests and waivers for the hiring of key and non-key personnel at care provider facilities.
Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Diaper Distribution Demonstration and Research Pilot Beneficiary Information
The Office of Community Services (OCS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is proposing to continue to collect data to understand diaper need and outcomes for beneficiaries of the Diaper Distribution Demonstration and Research Pilot (DDDRP).
Employment and Training Services for Noncustodial Parents in the Child Support Program
In an effort to make the child support program more effective, OCSS (or the Office) issues this final rule to allow State and Tribal child support agencies the option to use Federal financial participation (FFP) available under title IV-D of the Social Security Act to provide the following employment and training services to eligible noncustodial parents: job search assistance; job readiness training; job development and job placement services; skills assessments; job retention services; work supports; and occupational training and other skills training directly related to employment.
Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Intergovernmental Reference Guide (IRG) (Office of Management and Budget No.: 0970-0209)
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Child Support Services (OCSS), is requesting the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the Intergovernmental Reference Guide (IRG) for an additional three years. The IRG contains State and Tribal child support information that helps State and Tribal child support agencies (CSAs) administer their respective programs. Minor updates are proposed, as described below. The current OMB approval (OMB #: 0970- 0209) expires on February 28, 2025.
Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records
In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is modifying an existing system of records maintained by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) within HHS' Administration for Children and Families (ACF), System No. 09-80-0321, ORR Division of Children's Services Records (being renamed ORR Unaccompanied Children Bureau (UCB) Administrative Program Records).
Unaccompanied Children Office of the Ombuds (UCOO) Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has reorganized to establish the Unaccompanied Children Office of the Ombuds (UCOO) within the Immediate Office of the Assistant Secretary, to be headed by a Director ("Ombuds"), who reports directly to the HHS Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Request for Certification of Adult Victims of Human Trafficking
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) is requesting a 3-year extension of the form: Request for Certification of Adult Victims of Human Trafficking (RFC) form (Office of Management and Budget (OMB) #: 0970-0454, expiration April 30, 2025).
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Electronic Document Exchange (Office of Management and Budget #: 0970-0435)
The Office of Child Support Services (OCSS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), is requesting the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the Electronic Document Exchange (EDE), with minor revisions, for an additional three years. State child support agencies (CSAs) use the EDE to improve case processing. The current OMB approval expires on June 30, 2025.
Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Child Support Portal Registration (Office of Management and Budget #: 0970-0370)
The Office of Child Support Services (OCSS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), is requesting the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve the "Child Support Portal Registration," with minor revisions, for an additional three years. The OCSS Child Support Portal ("Portal") contains applications to help state child support agencies administer their programs. Authorized Portal users must register with OCSS to access Portal applications and provide OCSS with certain Portal application preferences. The current OMB approval expires on February 28, 2025.
Submission for Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; “State SNAP Agency NDNH Matching Program Performance Report” (Office of Management Budget #: 0970-0464)
OCSS is requesting the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the "State SNAP Agency NDNH Matching Program Performance Report," with minor revisions, for an additional three years. State agencies administering their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provide the annual performance report to OCSS in accordance with the computer matching agreement between state SNAP agencies and OCSS. The current OMB approval expires on February 28, 2025.
Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Local Evaluation Final Report (New Collection)
The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is requesting approval of the Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) Final Report Templates. HMRF grant programs are required to submit a final report describing their local evaluation analyses and findings. This request includes guidance for grant recipients in the form of templates. Information will inform technical assistance to support grantees in developing and submitting the final reports to ACF to fulfill a grant requirement.
Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System
This rule finalizes revisions to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) regulations proposed on February 23, 2024. This final rule requires state title IV-E agencies to collect and report to ACF additional data related to the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA) for children in the AFCARS Out-of-Home Care Reporting Population.
Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records
In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is establishing a new system of records to be maintained by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) within HHS' Administration for Children and Families (ACF), System No. 09-80-0323, ORR Unaccompanied Children Bureau (UCB) Child Abuse or Neglect Investigation Records and Central Registry.
Office of Child Care; Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has made minor adjustments to the organization of the Office of Child Care (OCC) by adding a new Regional Operations Division. Impacted staff are being moved from the Office of the Director to this new division.
Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation Statement of Organization, Functions, and Delegations of Authority
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has reorganized the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE). This reorganization creates a new Office of Research and Evaluation (ORE) and an Office of the Chief Data Officer (OCDO). This notice provides the Statement of Organizations, Functions, and Delegations of Authority for the new office of officer.
Notice of Allotment Percentages to States for Child Welfare Services State Grants.
The Department is publishing the allotment percentage for each State under the Title IV-B Subpart 1, Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Grant Program. The allotment percentages are one of the factors used in the computation of the Federal grants awarded under the Program.
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Performance Data Form (Office of Management and Budget #0970-0449)
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Office of Community Services (OCS) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is requesting an extension without change to the current version of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Performance Measures (Office of Management and Budget (OMB) #0970-0449) for use through June 30,2025, and for approval of a revised version to use beginning July 1, 2025.
Proposed Information Collection Activity: Services Provided to Unaccompanied Children (Office of Management and Budget #: 0970-0553)
The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is inviting public comments on the proposed information collection, including proposed changes. The request consists of several forms that will allow the Unaccompanied Children (UC) Bureau to continue providing statutorily mandated services to unaccompanied children in ORR care.
Submission for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Program Performance Analysis Study-Extension (OMB #0970-0536).
The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) and the Family and Youth Services Bureau in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) request an extension without changes of a currently approved information collection activity as part of the Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) Program Performance Analysis Study (PAS). The goal of the study is to collect, analyze, and report on performance measures data for the SRAE program (OMB Control No. 0970-0536; expiration date January 31, 2025). The purpose of the requested extension is to continue the ongoing data collection and submission of the performance measures by SRAE grant recipients. Minor updates were identified to incorporate into the OMB-approved versions of instruments.
Establishment of the National Advisory Committee on the Trafficking of Children and Youth in the United States
The National Advisory Committee on the Trafficking of Children and Youth in the United States (Committee) was established on November 7, 2024, to build on the work of the previous National Advisory Committee on the Sex Trafficking of Children and Youth in the United States, authorized pursuant to section 121 of the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act. The Committee advises on practical and general policies concerning improvements in the Nation's response to the human trafficking of children and youth in the United States, including the cooperation of Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments; child welfare agencies; social service providers; physical health and mental health providers; victim service providers; Federal, State, and local police; juvenile detention centers; State or local courts with responsibility for conducting or supervising proceedings related to child welfare or social services for children and their families; runaway and homeless youth programs; schools; technology, gaming and entertainment industry; and businesses and organizations that provide services to youth. While addressing the response to the trafficking of children and youth, the Committee shall consider recommendations related to the intersection of sex trafficking and labor trafficking among children and youth in the United States. Note that this Federal Register Notice of the Charter filing should have been published 15 days in advance.
Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Fiscal Responsibility Act-Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Work Outcomes Measures (New Collection)
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is proposing to collect data for new Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) work outcomes measures required by the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) of 2023. Information collections include the Work Outcomes of TANF Exiters Report, Secondary School Diploma or its Recognized Equivalent Rate, and the Supplemental Work Outcomes Report.
Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Child Care and Development Fund Plan for Tribes for Fiscal Year 2026-2028 (ACF-118A) (Office of Management and Budget #0970-0198)
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Office of Child Care (OCC) is requesting a 3-year extension of the form ACF-118A: Child Care and Development Fund for Tribes (Office of Management and Budget (OMB) #0970-0198, expiration April 30,2025) for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2026-2028. There are changes proposed to the form to improve formatting, streamline questions, and reduce burden.
Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Administration of Psychotropic Medication to Unaccompanied Children (New Collection)
The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is inviting public comment on the proposed collection. The request consists of two forms that will allow the Unaccompanied Children (UC) Bureau to obtain informed consent from authorized consenters and informed assent or agreement from unaccompanied children for the administration of psychotropic medication.
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