2011-21554. Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

Proposed Projects

Title: Methodology for Determining Whether an Increase in a State's Child Poverty Rate is the Result of the TANF program—NPRM

OMB No.: 0970-0186

Description: In accordance with Section 413(i) of the Social Security Act and 45 CFR part 284, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) intends to extend without change the following information collection requirements. For instances when Census Bureau data show that a State's child poverty rate increased by 5 percent or more from one year to the next, a State may submit independent estimates of its child poverty rate. If HHS determines that the State's independent estimates are not more reliable than the Census Bureau estimates, HHS will require the State to submit an assessment of the impact of the TANF program(s) in the State on the child poverty rate. If HHS determines from the assessment and other information that the child poverty rate in the State increased as a result of the TANF program(s) in the State, HHS will then require the State to submit a corrective action plan.

Respondents: The respondents are the 50 States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico; when reliable Census Bureau data become available for the Territories, additional respondents might include Guam and the Virgin Islands.

Annual Burden Estimates

Instrument	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Average burden hours per response	Total burden hours
Optional Submission of Data on Child Poverty from an Independent Source	52	1	8	416
Assessment of the Impact of TANF on the Increase in Child Poverty	52	1	120	6,240
Corrective Action Plan	52	1	160	8,320

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 14,976.

In compliance with the requirements of Section 506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described above. Copies of the proposed collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. E-mail address: [e-mail]. All requests should be identified by the title of the information collection.

The Department specifically requests comments 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) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden information to be collected; and (e) 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. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted within 60 days of this publication.

Robert Sargis,

Reports Clearance Officer.