01-23326. Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

Proposed Projects

Title: Methodology for Determining If an Increase in a State's Child Poverty Rate Is the Result of TANF.

OMB No. 0970-0186.

Description: In accordance with Section 413(i) of the Social Security Act and 45 CFR part 284, DHHS intends to extend the following information collection requirements for instances when Census Bureau data show that a State's child poverty rate increased by 5% or more from 1 year to the next: (1) Optional submission of data on child poverty from an independent source; (2) if the increase in the State's child poverty rate is still determined to be 5% or more, an assessment of the impact of the TANF program(s) in the State on the child poverty rate; and (3) if DHHS 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, a corrective action plan.

Respondents: The respondents are the 50 States and the District of Columbia; and when reliable Census Bureau data become available for the Territories, additional respondents will be Guam, Puerto Rico, 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	54	1	8	432
Assessment of the Impact of TANF on the Increase in Child Poverty	54	1	120	6480
Corrective Action Plan	54	1	160	8640
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours				15552

In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(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 Information Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. 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; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques and other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted within 60 days of this publication.

Dated: September 13, 2001.

Bob Sargis,

Reports Clearance Officer.