[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 225 (Monday, November 23, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64732-64733]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31105]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR-4351-N-10]
Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment
AGENCY: Office of Policy Development and Research, HUD.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement described
below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department
is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.
DATES: Comments due: December 23, 1998.
[[Page 64733]]
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding
this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB
Control Number and should be sent to: Reports Liaison Officer, Office
of Policy Development and Research, Department of Housing and Urban
Development, 451 7th Street, SW, Room 8226, Washington, DC 20410.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Riley, Office of Policy
Development and Research, Department of Housing and Urban Development,
451 7th Street, SW, Room 8222, Washington, DC 20410, telephone 202-708-
9426, extension 5861. This is not a toll-free number. Copies of the
proposed forms and other available documents may be obtained from
Joseph Riley.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department will submit the proposed
information collection to OMB for review, as required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended).
This Notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and
affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information to:
(1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including if the information will have practical utility; (2) Evaluate
the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection of information; (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 collection techniques or other
forms of information technology that will reduce respondent burden
(e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses).
This Notice also provides the following information:
Title of Proposal: Quality Control for Rental Assistance Subsidy
Determinations.
Description of the Need for Information and Proposed Use: The
Department is conducting under contract a study to update its estimates
of the extent and type of errors associated with income, rent, and
subsidy determinations for the 4.5 million households covered by Public
Housing and Section 8 housing subsidies. The QC process involves
selecting a nationally representative sample of assisted households to
measure the extent and types of errors in rent and income
determinations, which in turn cause subsidy errors. On-site tenant
interviews, file reviews, and third-party income verifications are
conducted. The data obtained are used to identify the most serious
problems and their associated costs. HUD program offices are then
responsible for designing and implementing corrective actions. Error
rates will be compared with error rates from the first QC study, which
was completed in 1995, to measure whether corrective actions initiated
after the first study have had impacts and if changes in priorities are
needed.
The first QC study found that about one-half of the errors measured
using on-site tenant interviews and file reviews could not be detected
with the 50058/50059 form data collected by the Department, which is
why HUD and other agencies with means-tested program have determined
that on-site reviews and interviews are an essential complement to
remote monitoring measures. This study will provide information on the
quality of tenant interviewing (e.g., whether they are being asked
about all sources of income) and the reliability of eligibility
determinations and income verification. It is anticipated successive
studies will be done on a two year cycle to provide updates on the
nature and extent of errors and the effectiveness of error reduction
strategies.
Members of the Affected Public: Recipients of Public Housing and
Section 8 housing assistance subsidies.
Estimation of the Total Number of Hours Needed With Those Surveyed
to Conduct the Information Collection, Including Number of Respondents,
Frequency of Response, and Hours of Response: The researchers will
survey approximately 388 PHA/program sponsor staff about
(re)certification procedures, training, interview procedures, and
problems encountered in conducting (re)certifications. Although more
than one staff member may need to be contacted to obtain answers to all
questions, the questionnaire will be administered once at each
participating project and the interviews are expected to take less than
35 minutes. Researchers will survey, 2,800 program participants to
obtain information on household composition, expenses, and income. The
time required for these interviews will vary, but it estimated to
require less than 50 minutes per interview.
The time estimates provided are based on the first QC survey. This
survey will make use of Computer Assisted Interviewing (CAI)
questionnaires and equipment, which are being used in part because they
are known to reduce interview times. The above interview time estimates
are therefore higher than likely actual interview times, but until
questionnaire software development is completed we are unable to
provide a good estimate of the extent to which interview times will be
reduced.
Status of the Proposed Information Collection: To be submitted to
OMB for approval subsequent to receiving comments from this notice.
Authority: Sec. 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44
U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended.
Dated: November 9, 1998.
Lawrence L. Thompson,
General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research.
[FR Doc. 98-31105 Filed 11-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-62-M
