02-18325. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Comment Request

In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects (section 3506(c)(2)(A) of Title 44, United States Code, as amended by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) publishes periodic summaries of proposed projects being developed for submission to OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and draft instruments, call the HRSA Reports Clearance Officer on [phone].

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 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: Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Grantee Survey—(NEW)

Because of the differences in the way emergency medical services are managed and provided in different States and the challenges faced delivering services in different parts of the country, there are many unanswered questions about the overall capability of these systems to respond to emergencies. In order to improve the quality of EMSC, more information is needed to identify State needs and resources.

HRSA is therefore planning to conduct a needs assessment to obtain information about the characteristics of State EMS systems, and the degree to which they have been adapted to address the needs of children. The results of this assessment will be used to determine funding priorities, including development of appropriate guidelines and provision of technical assistance to States, demonstration grants, information collection and sharing among State agencies, and training programs for health professionals.

HRSA has included national performance measures for EMSC in this survey in accordance with the requirements of the “Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993” (Public Law 103-62). This act requires the establishment of measurable goals for Federal programs that can be reported as part of the budgetary process, thus linking funding decisions with performance.

The estimated response burden is as follows:

Type of form	Number of respondents	Responses per respondent	Burden hours per response
Self Assessment questionnaire	56	1	10

Send comments to Susan G. Queen, Ph.D., HRSA Reports Clearance Officer, Room 11A-33, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

Dated: July 16, 2002.

Jane M. Harrison,

Director, Division of Policy Review and Coordination.