[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 161 (Thursday, August 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44606-44607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22400]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of the Census
Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) Wave 10 of the
1996 Panel
ACTION: Proposed Collection; Comment Request.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public
and other federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 19,
1998.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions
should be directed to Michael McMahon, Bureau of the Census, FOB 3,
Room 3319, Washington, DC 20233-0001, (301) 457-3819.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Census Bureau conducts the SIPP which is a household-based
survey designed as a continuous series of national panels each lasting
four years. Respondents are interviewed once every four months in
monthly rotations. Approximately 37,000 households are in the current
panel.
The SIPP represents a source of information for a wide variety of
topics and allows information for separate topics to be integrated to
form a single, unified data base so that the interaction between tax,
transfer, and other government and private policies can be examined.
Government domestic policy formulators depend heavily upon the SIPP
information concerning the distribution of income received directly as
money or indirectly as in-kind benefits and the effect of tax and
transfer programs on this distribution. They also need improved and
expanded data on the income and general economic and financial
situation of the U.S. population. The SIPP has provided these kinds of
data on a continuing basis
[[Page 44607]]
since 1983 permitting levels of economic well-being and changes in
these levels to be measured over time.
The survey is molded around a central ``core'' of labor force and
income questions that will remain fixed throughout the life of a panel.
The core is supplemented with questions designed to answer specific
needs, such as obtaining information on taxes, the ownership and
contributions made to IRA, Keogh, 401K plans, examining patterns in
respondent work schedules, and child care arrangements. These
supplemental questions are included with the core and are referred to
as ``topical modules.''
The topical modules for the 1996 Panel Wave 10 collect information
about: (1) Annual Income and Retirement Accounts, (2) Taxes, (3) Child
Care, and (4) Work Schedule.
Wave 10 interviews will be conducted from April through July 1999.
II. Method of Collection
The SIPP is designed as a continuing series of national panels of
interviewed households that are introduced every 4 years with each
panel having a duration of 4 years in the survey. All household members
15 years old or over are interviewed using regular proxy-respondent
rules. They are interviewed a total of 12 times (12 waves) at 4-month
intervals making the SIPP a longitudinal survey. Sample persons (all
household members present at the time of the first interview) who move
within the country and reasonably close to a SIPP Primary Sampling Unit
will be followed and interviewed at their new address. Persons 15 years
old or over who enter the household after Wave 1 will be interviewed;
however, if these persons move, they are not followed unless they
happen to move along with a Wave 1 sample person.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0607-0813.
Form Number: SIPP/CAPI Automated Instrument.
Type of Review: Regular.
Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 77,700.
Estimated Time Per Response: 30 minutes per person.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 117,800.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: The only cost to respondents is their
time.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Section 182.
IV. Request for Comments
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
(including hours and cost) 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.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.
Dated: August 17, 1998.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information
Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-22400 Filed 8-19-98; 8:45 a.m.]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P