2018-09130. 30-Day Notice for the “NEA Panelist Profile Data”; Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

National Endowment for the Arts, National Foundation of the Arts and the Humanities.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. Currently, the NEA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed information collection for the NEA Panelist Profile Data. Copies of this ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained by visiting www.Reginfo.gov.

DATES:

Comments should be sent to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for the National Endowment for the Arts, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, 202/395-7316, within 30 days from the date of this publication in the Federal Register.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is particularly interested in comments which:

• Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;
• Evaluate 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;
• Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
• 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, e.g., permitting electronic submissions of responses.

Agency: National Endowment for the Arts.

Title: NEA Panelist Profile Data Collection.

OMB Number: 3135-0098.

Frequency: Annually.

Affected Public: Individuals.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 600.

Total Burden Hours: 100 hours.

Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: 0.

Total Annual Costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing services): 0.

Description

The National Endowment for the Arts' (NEA) mission is “to strengthen the creative capacity of our communities by providing all Americans with diverse opportunities for arts participation.” With the advice of the National Council on the Arts and advisory panels, the Chairman establishes eligibility requirements and criteria for the review of applications for funding. Section 959(c) of the NEA's enabling legislation, as amended, directs the Chairman to utilize advisory panels to review applications and to make recommendations to the National Council on the Arts, which in turn makes recommendations to the Chairman.

The legislation requires the Chairman “(1) to ensure that all panels are composed, to the extent practicable, of individuals reflecting a wide geographic, ethnic, and minority representation as well as to (2) ensure that all panels include representation of lay individuals who are knowledgeable about the arts . . .” These panels are considered to be committees under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), which also requires that committees be balanced geographically and ethnically. In addition, the membership of each panel must change substantially from year to year and each individual is ineligible to serve on a panel for more than three consecutive years. To assist with efforts to meet these legislated mandates regarding representation on advisory panels, the NEA has established a database of names, addresses, areas of expertise and other basic information on individuals who are qualified to serve as panelists for the NEA.

The Panelist Profile Data Collection, for which clearance is requested, is used to gather basic information from qualified individuals recommended by the arts community; arts organizations; Members of Congress; the general public; local, state and regional arts organizations; NEA staff, and others.

Dated: April 26, 2018.

Jillian LeHew Miller,

Director, Office of Guidelines and Panel Operations, Administrative Services, National Endowment for the Arts.