2016-15816. Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Periodically, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will publish a summary of information collection requests under OMB review, in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). To request a copy of these documents, call the SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer on [phone].

Project: Regulations To Implement SAMHSA's Charitable Choice Statutory Provisions—42 CFR Parts 54 and 54a (OMB No. 0930-0242)—Revision

Section 1955 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300x-65), as amended by the Children's Health Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-310) and Sections 581-584 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290kk et seq., as added by the Consolidated Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 106-554)), set forth various provisions which aim to ensure that religious organizations are able to compete on an equal footing for federal funds to provide substance abuse services. These provisions allow religious organizations to offer substance abuse services to individuals without impairing the religious character of the organizations or the religious freedom of the individuals who receive the services. The provisions apply to the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG), to the Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) formula grant program, and to certain Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) discretionary grant programs (programs that pay for substance abuse treatment and prevention services, not for certain infrastructure and technical assistance activities). Every effort has been made to assure that the reporting, recordkeeping and disclosure requirements of the proposed regulations allow maximum flexibility in implementation and impose minimum burden.

No changes are being made to the regulations; just a decrease in the burden hours.

Information on how states comply with the requirements of 42 CFR part 54 was approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as part of the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant FY 2016-2017 annual application and reporting requirements approved under OMB control number 0930-0168.

42 CFR Citation and Purpose	Number of respondents	Responses per respondent	Total responses	Hours per response	Total hours
Part 54—States Receiving SA Block Grants and/or Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH)
Reporting:
96.122(f)(5) Annual report of activities the state undertook to comply 42 CFR Part 54 (SABG)	60	1	60	1	60
54.8(c)(4) Total number of referrals to alternative service providers reported by program participants to States (respondents)
SABG	6	23 (avg.)	135	1	135
PATH	10	5	50	1	50
54.8 (e) Annual report by PATH grantees on activities undertaken to comply with 42 CFR Part 54	56	1	56	1	56
Disclosure:
54.8(b) State requires program participants to provide notice to program beneficiaries of their right to referral to an alternative service provider
SABG	60	1	60	.05	3
PATH	56	1	56	.05	3
Recordkeeping:
54.6(b) Documentation must be maintained to demonstrate significant burden for program participants under 42 U.S.C. 300x-57 or 42 U.S.C. 290cc-33(a)(2) and under 42 U.S.C. 290cc-21 to 290cc-35	60	1	60	1	60
Part 54—Subtotal	115		477		367
Part 54a—States, local governments and religious organizations receiving funding under Title V of the PHS Act for substance abuse prevention and treatment services
Reporting:
54a.8(c)(1)(iv) Total number of referrals to alternative service providers reported by program participants to states when they are the responsible unit of government	25	4	100	.083	8
54a(8)(d) Total number of referrals reported to SAMHSA when it is the responsible unit of government. (NOTE: This notification will occur during the course of the regular reports that may be required under the terms of the funding award.)	20	2	40	.25	10
Disclosure:
54a.8(b) Program participant notice to program beneficiaries of rights to referral to an alternative service provider	1,460	1	1,460	1	1,460
Part 54a—Subtotal	1,505		1,600		1,478
Total	1,620		2,077		1,845

Written comments and recommendations concerning the proposed information collection should be sent by August 4, 2016 to the SAMHSA Desk Officer at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB). To ensure timely receipt of comments, and to avoid potential delays in OMB's receipt and processing of mail sent through the U.S. Postal Service, commenters are encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to: [e-mail]. Although commenters are encouraged to send their comments via email, commenters may also fax their comments to: 202-395-7285. Commenters may also mail them to: Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, New Executive Office Building, Room 10102, Washington, DC 20503.

Summer King,

Statistician.