2013-12368. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

May 20, 2013.

The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments regarding (a) whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (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 should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), [e-mail] or fax [phone] and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these information collections are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling [phone].

An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Food and Nutrition Service

Title: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: State Issuance and Participation Estimates—Forms FNS-388 and FNS-388A.

OMB Control Number: 0584-0081.

Summary of Collection: Section 18(b) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended August 14, 1979 by Pubic Law 96-58, requires that “In any fiscal year, the Secretary shall limit the value of those allotments issued to an amount not in excess of the appropriation for such fiscal year.” Timely State monthly issuance estimates are necessary for the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to ensure that it remains within the appropriation and will have a direct effect upon the manner in which allotments would be reduced when necessary. FNS uses the FNS-388 report to obtain monthly statewide estimated or actual issuance and participation data for the current and previous months, and the actual participation data for the second preceding month. For the report months of January and July, the participation data must be categorized as non-assistance (NA) and public assistance (PA) and provided for each project areas. This NA and PA participation data is captured on the FNS-388A.

Need and Use of the Information: The FNS-388 and FNS-388A reports provide the necessary data for an early warning system to enable the Department to fulfill the requirements of Section 18(b) of the Food Stamp Act. In addition, the data is used to (1) validate the Annual Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Household Characteristic Survey; (2) to compile a Statistical Summary Report which is used for special studies and in response to Congressional and other inquiries; and (3) to compare against the reconciliation points' FNS-46 issuance data (for electronic benefit transfer (EBT), cash-out, and alternative issuance) for indication of accountability problems. FNS has also used the project area data to determine where to demonstrate pilot projects such as a test of school-based SNAP outreach initiatives.

Description of Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 53.

Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Monthly; Semi-annually.

Total Burden Hours: 5,157.

Ruth Brown,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.