97-5278. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request Collection of Information for the Quality Control Sampling Plans Required by Part 275 of the Food Stamp Program's Regulations on Quality Control

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 4, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 9734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5278]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Consumer Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request Collection of Information for the Quality Control 
Sampling Plans Required by Part 275 of the Food Stamp Program's 
Regulations on Quality Control

AGENCY: Food and Consumer Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment 
on the proposed information collection for the Quality Control Sampling 
Plans required by Part 275 of the Food Stamp Program's regulations on 
Quality Control.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 5, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments and requests for copies of this information 
collection to: John Knaus, Chief, Quality Control Branch, Program 
Accountability Division, Food and Consumer Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302.
    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 has practical utility; 
(b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used; (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 those who are to 
respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Knaus, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Food Stamp Program Regulations, Part 275--Quality Control.
    OMB Number: 0584-0303.
    Form Number: Not Applicable.
    Expiration Date: 07/31/97.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: As part of the Performance Reporting System, each State 
agency is required to provide a systematic means of determining the 
accuracy of household eligibility and measuring the extent to which 
households receive the food stamp allotment to which they are entitled. 
The quality control system is designed to provide a basis for 
determining each State agency's error rates. Quality control data 
serves as an objective measure of program operations at the State level 
and is essential to the determination of a State agency's entitlement 
to an increased Federal share of its administrative costs or liability 
for sanctions.
    To help ensure that quality control data is reliable and unbiased, 
Section 275.11(a) requires each State agency to submit a quality 
control sampling plan to the Food and Consumer Service for approval. 
The sampling plan is a part of the inclusive State Plan of Operation.
    Affected Public: State or local governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 53.
    Estimated Time per Response: 5 Hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 266.
    Dated: February 26, 1997.

William E. Ludwig
Administrator, Food and Consumer Service.
[FR Doc. 97-5278 Filed 3-3-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-U