03-14899. Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Comment Request Standardized Form for Collecting Information Regarding Race and Ethnic Data

AGENCY:

Office of the Administration for Chief Information Officer, HUD.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The proposed information collection requirement described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

DATES:

Comments due: August 12, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB Control Number and should be sent to: Wayne Eddins, Reports Management Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., L'Enfant Plaza Building, Room 8001, Washington, DC 20410, or [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Eric Gauff, AJT, Office of Departmental Grants Management and Oversight, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410; telephone [phone] (this is not a toll-free number) for copies of the proposed forms and other available information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Department will submit the proposed information collection to OMB for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended).

This Notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and affecting agencies concerning the proposed collection of information to: (1) 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; (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond; including through the use of appropriate automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

This Notice also lists the following information:

Title of Proposal: Standardized Form for Collecting Information Regarding Collection of Race and Ethnic Data.

OMB Control Number: 2535-0113.

Description of the need for the information and proposed use: HUD's standardized form for the Collection of Race and Ethnic Data complies with OMB's revised standards for Federal agencies issued, October 30, 1997. These standards apply to HUD program office and partners that collect, maintain, and report Federal data on race and ethnicity for program administrative reporting, and civil rights compliance reporting. The new standards are intended to give Federal agencies enhanced ability to collect information that reflect, the growing diversity of the U.S. population.

Agency Form Numbers, if Applicable: HUD-27061.

Members of Affected Public: Individuals or Households, Business or other for-profit, not-for-profit institutions, State, Local or Tribal government.

Estimation of the total number of hours needed to prepare the information collection including number of respondents, frequency of response, and hours of response: This proposal will result in no significant increase in the current information collection burden. An estimation of the total number of hours needed to provide the information for each grant application is 0.01 hour (approximately on minute), however, the burden will be assessed against each individual grant program submission under the Paperwork Reduction Act; number of respondents is an estimated 11,000; 60% of responses will be quarterly and 40% annually.

Status of the proposed information collection: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Authority: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended.

Dated: June 9, 2003.

Wayne Eddins,

Departmental Reports Management Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer.