01-29513. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Comment Request

In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects (section 3506(c)(2)(A) of Title 44, United States Code, as amended by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) publishes periodic summaries of proposed projects being developed for submission to OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and draft instruments, call the HRSA Reports Clearance Officer on [phone].

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; (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 respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Proposed Project: Disadvantaged Assistance Tracking and Outcome Report (OMB No. 0915-0233)—Revision

The Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) and the Centers of Excellence (COE) Program (sections 740 and 739 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, respectively) provide opportunities for under-represented minorities and disadvantaged individuals to enter and graduate from health professions schools. The Disadvantaged Assistance Tracking and Outcome Report (DATOR), is used to track program participants throughout the health professions pipeline into the health care workforce. This request includes minor revisions to the previously approved data collection instrument that will address a number of data collection, data entry, as well as analytical problems encountered by the respondents.

The DATOR, to be completed annually by HCOP AND COE grantees, includes basic data on students participants (name, social security number, gender, race/ethnicity; targeted health professions, their status in the educational pipeline from pre-professional through professional training; financial assistance received through the grants funded under sections 739 and 740 of the PHS Act in the form of stipends, fellowships or per diem; and their employment or practice setting following their entry into the health care work force).

The proposed reporting instrument is not expected to add significantly to the grantees reporting burden. This reporting instrument complements the grantees internal automated reporting mechanisms of using name and social security number in tracking students. The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, and financial resources expended to maintain, retain and provide the information including: (1) Reviewing instructions; (2) downloading and utilizing technology for the purposes of collecting, validating, and processing the data; and (3) transmitting electronically, or otherwise disclosing the information. Estimates of annualized burden are as follows:

Type of report	Number of respondents	Responses per respondent	Hours per response	Total burden hours
Dator	150	1	5.5	825

Send comments to Susan G. Queen, Ph.D., HRSA Reports Clearance Officer, Room 14-33, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

Dated: November 20, 2001.

James J. Corrigan,

Associate Administrator for Management and Program Support.