2018-11305. 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Public Housing Flat Rent Exception Request Market Analysis

AGENCY:

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing, HUD.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

HUD is seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the information collection described below. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, HUD is requesting comment from all interested parties on the proposed collection of information. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment.

DATES:

Comments Due Date: July 24, 2018.

ADDRESSES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB Control Number and should be sent to: Colette Pollard, Reports Management Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, Room 4176, Washington, DC 20410-5000; telephone [phone] (this is not a toll-free number) or email at [e-mail] for a copy of the proposed forms or other available information. Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Arlette Mussington, Office of Policy, Programs and Legislative Initiatives, PIH, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, (L'Enfant Plaza, Room 2206), Washington, DC 20410; telephone [phone], (this is not a toll-free number). Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this number via TTY by calling the Federal Information Relay Service at [phone]. Copies of available documents submitted to OMB may be obtained from Ms. Mussington.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This notice informs the public that HUD is seeking approval from OMB for the information collection described in Section A.

A. Overview of Information Collection

Title of Information Collection: Public Housing Flat Rent Exception Request Market Analysis.

OMB Approval Number: Pending OMB approval.

Type of Request: New Collection.

Form Number: Under development.

Description of the need for the information and proposed use: The form will streamline the process and reduce burden on PHAs when submitting a market analysis as part of a flat rent exception request in accordance with Notice PIH 2015-13(HA), which implements Section 238 of Title II of Public Law 113-235, the Department of Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act of 2015. Notice PIH 2015-13(HA) allows PHAs to request flat rents that are based on the local rental market conditions, when the PHA can demonstrate through a market analysis that the FMRs are not reflective of the local market. The current submission process does not stipulate a template for PHA submissions, therefore PHAs spend widely varying amounts of time and effort compiling information which may or may not facilitate HUD's review of their request.

Respondents: Public Housing Authorities (PHAs)

Information collection	Number of respondents	Frequency of response	Responses per annum	Burden hour per response	Annual burden hours	Hourly cost per response	Annual cost
	95	1	1	8	760	$17.11	$13,003.60
Total

Explanation of burden hour and cost calculation:

• Number of respondents = 95
• Frequency of response/responses per annum = 1/1 (PHAs make one submission per fiscal year)
• Burden hours per response = estimated time to complete a market analysis
• Annual burden hours = 95 * 1 *1 *8
• Hourly cost per response = the average hourly pay rate earned by a housing specialist in a PHA responsible for collecting market data
• Annual cost = 760 * $17.11

B. Solicitation of Public Comment

This notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and affected parties concerning the collection of information described in Section A on the following:

(1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(2) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information;

(3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(4) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond; including through the use of appropriate automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

HUD encourages interested parties to submit comment in response to these questions.

Authority: Section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

Date: May 15, 2018.

Merrie Nichols-Dixon,

Director, Office of Policy, Programs and Legislative Initiatives.