[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 166 (Monday, August 27, 2012)] [Notices] [Page 51811] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2012-21001] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children and Families Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request Title: Emergency Contingency Fund for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Programs OFA-100. OMB No.: 0970-0366. Description On February 17, 2009, the President signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), which establishes the Emergency Contingency Fund for State TANF Programs (Emergency Fund) as section 403(c) of the Social Security Act (the Act). This legislation provides up to $5 billion to help States, Territories, and Tribes in fiscal year (FY) 2009 and FY 2010 that have an increase in assistance caseloads and basic assistance expenditures, or in expenditures related to short-term benefits or subsidized employment. The Recovery Act made additional changes to TANF extending supplemental grants through FY 2010, expanding flexibility in the use of TANF funds carried over from one fiscal year to the next, and adding a hold-harmless provision to the caseload reduction credit for States and Territories serving more TANF families. The Emergency Fund is intended to build upon and renew the principles of work and responsibility that underlie successful welfare reform initiatives. The Emergency Fund provides resources to States, Territories, and Tribes to support work and families during this difficult economic period. On July 20, 2009 we issued a Program Instruction accompanied by the Emergency Fund Request Form (OFA-100), and instructions for jurisdictions to complete the OFA-100 to apply for emergency funds. Failure to collect this data would compromise ACF's ability to monitor caseload and expenditure data that must increase in order for jurisdictions to receive awards under the Emergency Fund. Documentation maintenance on financial reporting for the Emergency Fund is governed by 45 CFR 92.20 and 45 CFR 92.42. ACF is planning to extend the information collection with the adjustment to the Estimated Annual Burden shown in the table below. Based on our projections for a lower Estimated Annual Burden, we have revised the Number of Respondents to 6 from its previous number of 93 and the Number of Responses per Respondent to 3 from its previous number of 5. Because the Number of Respondents and the Number of Responses per Respondents have been revised, the Estimated Total Burden Hours is now 432, down from its previous number of 11,160. Respondents State, Territory, and Tribal agencies administering the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program that are applying for the Emergency Fund. Annual Burden Estimates ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Average burden Instrument Number of responses per hours per Total burden respondents respondent response hours ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TANF Emergency Fund Request Form, OFA-100... 6 5 24 432 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 432. Additional Information Copies of the proposed collection may be obtained 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. All requests should be identified by the title of the information collection. Email address: [email protected]. OMB Comment OMB is required to make a decision concerning the collection of information between 30 and 60 days after publication of this document in the Federal Register. Therefore, a comment is best assured of having its full effect if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent directly to the following: Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project, Fax: 202-395-7285, Email: [email protected]. Attn: Desk Officer for the Administration for Children and Families. Robert Sargis, Reports Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2012-21001 Filed 8-24-12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4184-01-P