02-31833. Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

Title: Child Care and Development Fund Plan for States/Territories.

OMB No.: 0970-0114.

Description: The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Plan for States and Territories is required from the Child Care Lead Agency by section 658E of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-508), 42 U.S.C. 9858). The implementing regulations for the statutorily required Plan are at 45 CFR 98.10 through 98.18. The Plan, submitted on the ACF-118, is required biennially and remains in effect for two years. This Plan provides ACF and the public with a description of, and assurance about, the State's child care program. The ACF-118 is approved through February 29, 2004, making it available to States and Territories needing to submit Plan Amendments through the end of the FY 2003 Plan Period. However, in July 2003, States and Territories will be required to submit their FY 2004-2005 Plans. consistent with the statute and regulations, ACF requests extension of the ACF-118 with minor corrections and modification. The Tribal Plan (ACF-118A) is not affected by this notice.

Respondents: State and Territorial Lead Agencies.

Annual Burden Estimates

Instrument	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Average burden hours per response	Total burden hours
ACF-118	56	.5	162.57	.552

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,552.

In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described above. Copies of the proposed collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Administration, Office of Information Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. All requests should be identified by the title of the information collection. The Department specifically requests comment to: (a) Evaluate 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) evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given comments and suggestions submitted within 60 days of this publication.

Dated: December 12, 2002.

Bob Sargis,

Reports Clearance Officer.