03-6897. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 concerning opportunity for public comment on proposed collections of information, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a copy of the information collection plans, call the SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer on [phone].

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collections of information are 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: The Annual Census of Patient Characteristics in State and County

Mental Hospital Inpatient Services (0930-0093, Extension)—The Census, which is conducted by SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), is a complete enumeration of all State and county mental hospitals and collects aggregate information by age, gender, race/ethnic identity and diagnosis for each State on the number of additions during the year and resident patients who are physically present for 24 hours per day in the inpatient service at the end of the reporting year. First conducted in 1840, the Census has provided information throughout the years that is not available from any other sources. The Census is the primary means within CMHS for assessing de-institutionalization practices of State and county mental hospitals. The annual burden estimate is shown in the table below.

	Number of respondents	Responses/ respondent	Burden/response (Hrs.)	Annual burden (Hrs.)
State Statisticians and Superintendents of State Mental Hospitals	52	1	2	104

Send comments to Nancy Pearce, SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer, Room 16-105, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

Dated: March 18, 2003.

Richard Kopanda,

Executive Officer, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration.