[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 56 (Monday, March 24, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15936-15940]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-06282]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request--Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Repayment
Demand and Program Disqualification
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment
on the proposed information collection. This is a revision of currently
approved information collection requirements associated with initiating
collection actions against households who have received an overissuance
in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 23, 2014.
ADDRESSES: 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 of the
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions that were used; (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
those who are to respond, including use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Comments may be sent to: Jane Duffield, Chief, State Administration
Branch, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
3101 Park Center Drive, Room 822, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may
also be submitted via email to [email protected], or through the
federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to http://www.regulations.gov, and
follow the online instructions for submitting comments electronically.
All written comments will be open for public inspection at the FNS
office located at 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 822, Alexandria,
Virginia 22302, during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday through Friday).
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will
be a matter of public record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of this information collection should be directed to Kelly
Stewart at 703-305-2425.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program Repayment Demand and Program Disqualification
OMB Number: 0584-0492
Form Number: None
Expiration Date: September 30, 2014
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Abstract: Section 13(b) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as
amended (7 U.S.C. 2022(b)), and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP) regulations at 7 CFR 273.18(a)(2) require State agencies
to initiate collection action against households that have been
overissued benefits. To initiate collection action, State agencies must
provide an affected household with written notification informing the
household of the claim and demanding repayment. This process is
automated in most State agencies. Note that for overissuance claims,
this information collection only covers the activities associated with
initiating collection. The burden associated with reporting collections
and other claims management information on form FNS-209 is covered
under currently approved OMB number 0584-0069, expiration date 9/30/
2015. The burden associated with referring delinquent claims and
receiving collections through the Treasury Offset Program is covered
under currently approved OMB number 0584-0446, expiration date 4/30/
2016.
SNAP regulations at 7 CFR 273.16(a)(1) require State agencies to
investigate any case of suspected fraud and, where applicable, make an
intentional Program violation (IPV) determination either
administratively or judicially. Notifications and activities involved
in the IPV process include:
7 CFR 273.16(e)(3)--The State agency providing written
notification informing an individual suspected of committing an IPV of
an impending administrative disqualification hearing or court action;
7 CFR 273.16(f)(2) and 273.16(h)(2)--An individual opting
to accept the disqualification and waiving the right to an
administrative disqualification hearing or court action by signing
either a waiver to an administrative disqualification hearing or a
disqualification consent agreement in cases of deferred adjudication
and returning it to the State agency; and
7 CFR 273.16(e)(9)--Once a determination is made regarding
an IPV, the State agency sending notification to the affected
individual of the action taken on the administrative disqualification
hearing or court decision.
SNAP regulations at 7 CFR 273.16(i)(4) require State agencies to
use disqualified recipient data to ascertain the correct penalty for
IPVs, based on prior disqualifications. State agencies determine this
by accessing and reviewing records located in the
[[Page 15937]]
Electronic Disqualified Recipient System (eDRS). eDRS is an automated
system developed by FNS that contains records of disqualifications in
every State. State agencies are also responsible for updating the
system, as required at 273.16(i)(2)(i), which includes reporting
disqualifications in eDRS as they occur and updating eDRS when records
are no longer accurate, relevant, or complete.
Summary of Estimated Burden
The burden consists of two major components: the initiation of
overissuance collection and actions associated with IPV determinations.
The estimated total annual burden for this collection is 207,833 hours
(141,506 SA reporting hours + 33,455 SA recordkeeping hours + 32,872
household reporting hours). The net aggregate change to this collection
is an increase of 41,487 total burden hours from the currently approved
burden of 166,346 hours. The burden hours associated with overissuance
collection initiation have increased due to an increase in the amount
of claims established in fiscal year (FY) 2012. The burden hours
associated with IPV activity have decreased slightly as a result of a
decreased number of SNAP households that States initiated IPV activity
against in FY 2012.
Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal government (SA); Individual/
Households (I/H),
Respondent Type: SNAP participants
SA Reporting Burden
Estimated Number of Respondents: 53
Estimate Total Number of Responses per Respondent: 20,660.730
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 1,095,018
Estimated Time per Response: 0.12923
Estimated Total Annual Reporting Burden: 141,506.314
Initiation of Overissuance Collection
For activities related to initiating collection on an overissuance,
the estimated annual burden for State agency reporting is increased by
30,616 hours (122,339 - 91,723 = 30,616).
IPV Determinations
The State agencies' annual reporting burden for activities related
to IPV hearing and disqualification notices decreased by -2,367 hours
(15,381 - 13,014 = -2,367), and activities associated with accessing
and updating eDRS decreased by -1,122 hours (7,275 - 6,153 = -1,122).
SA Recordkeeping Burden
Estimated Number of Recordkeepers: 53
Estimated Total Records per Recordkeeper: 18,938.606
Estimated Total Annual Records: 1,003,746
Estimated Average # of Hours per Response: 0.03333
Estimated Total Recordkeeping Hours: 33,454.854
Initiation of Overissuance Collection
For activities related to initiating collection on an overissuance,
we are increasing the estimated annual burden for State agency
recordkeeping by 7,652 hours (30,583 - 22,931 = 7,652).
IPV Determinations
States' annual recordkeeping burden for the IPV related activities
decreased by -523 burden hours (3,395 - 2,872 = -523). There are no
State agency recordkeeping requirements for eDRS.
I/H Reporting Burden
Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,030,013
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.0
Total Number of Annual Responses: 1,030,013
Estimated Time per Response: 0.03191
Estimated Total Annual Reporting Burden: 32,872.537
Initiation of Overissuance Collection
For activities related to initiating collection on an overissuance,
we are increasing the household reporting burden by 7,652 hours (30,583
- 22,931 = 7,652).
IPV Hearing Notices and Disqualifications
The household annual reporting burden for the activities related to
IPV disqualifications has also decreased by -420 hours (2,710 - 2,290 =
-420). There is no household reporting burden for eDRS.
Grand Total Burden Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden: 207,833.705
[[Page 15938]]
State Agency--Reporting Burden
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Estimated avg.
CFR Section of Estimated Responses per Total annual number of Estimated Previously Due to program Due to an Total
Title regulations number respondent responses hours per total hours approved change adjustment difference
respondents (Col. DxE) response (Col. FxG)
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Demand Letter for Overissuance 273.18(a)(2) 53 17,312.57 917,566.00 0.13333 122,339.075 91,722.931 0.000 30,616.144 30,616.144
Notice for Hearing or 273.16(e)(3) 53 825.34 43,743.00 0.13333 5,832.254 6,892.361 0.000 -1,060.107 -1,060.107
Prosecution..................
Action Taken on Hearing or 273.16(e)(9) 53 800.70 42,437.00 0.16667 7,072.975 8,362.665 0.000 -1,289.690 -1,289.690
Court Decision: For IPV
Findings.....................
Action Taken on Hearing or 273.16(e)(9) 53 24.64 1,306.00 0.08333 108.829 126.328 0.000 -17.499 -17.499
Court Decision: For No IPV
Findings.....................
Electronic Disqualified 273.16(i)(2)(i) 53 800.70 42,437.00 0.08333 3,536.275 4,181.483 0.000 -645.208 -645.208
Recipient System Breakout:
For eDRS Reporting...........
Electronic Disqualified 273.16(i)(2)(i) 53 96.08 5,092.00 0.16667 848.684 1,003.520 0.000 -154.836 -154.836
Recipient System Breakout: )
For Editing and Resubmission.
Electronic Disqualified 273.16(i)(4) 53 800.70 42,437.00 0.04167 1,768.222 2,090.717 0.000 -322.495 -322.495
Recipient System Breakout:
For Penalty Checks using
Mainframe....................
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Total State Agency ............... 53 20,660.730 1,095,018.000 0.12923 141,506.314 114,380.005 0.000 27,126.309 27,126.309
Reporting Burden.........
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Recordkeeping
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Title Estimated Records per Annual records Estimated avg. Estimated Previously Due to program Due to an Total
number recordkeeper number of total annual approved change adjustment difference
recordkeepers hours per records
records
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Recordkeeping Breakout: For 272.1(f) 53 17,312.57 917,566.00 0.03333 30,582.475 22,930.504 0.000 7,651.971 7,651.971
initiating Collection Action.
Recordkeeping Breakout: For 272.1(f) 53 1,626.04 86,180.00 0.03333 2,872.379 3,395.699 0.000 -523.320 -523.320
IPVs.........................
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Total State Agency ............... 53 18,938.606 1,003,746.000 0.03333 33,454.854 26,326.203 0.000 7,128.651 7,128.651
Recordkeeping Burden.....
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Estimated avg.
CFR section of Estimated Responses per Total annual number of Estimated Previously Due to program Due to an Total
regulations number respondent responses hours per total hours approved change adjustment difference
respondents response
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TOTAL STATE AGENCY ............... 53 39,599.321 2,098,764.000 0.08336 174,961.168 140,706.208 0.000 34,254.960 34,254.960
BURDEN...............
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Title Estimated Responses per Total annual Estimated avg. Estimated Previously Due to program Due to an Total
number respondent responses number of total hours approved change adjustment difference
respondents (Col. DxE) hours per (Col. FxG)
response
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HOUSEHOLD
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Reporting Burden
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Demand Letter for Overissuance 273.18(a)(2) 917,566.00 1.00 917,566.00 0.03333 30,582.475 22,930.504 0.000 7,651.971 7,651.971
Notice for Hearing or 273.16(e)(3) 43,743.00 1.00 43,743.00 0.016667 729.065 861.532 0.000 -132.467 -132.467
Prosecution..................
Administrative 273.16(f)(2) 18,112.00 1.00 18,112.00 0.03333 603.673 711.062 0.000 -107.389 -107.389
Disqualification Hearing
Waiver.......................
Disqualification Consent 273.16(f)(2) 6,849.00 1.00 6,849.00 0.03333 228.277 275.706 0.000 -47.429 -47.429
Agreement....................
Action Taken on Hearing or 273.16(e)(9) 42,437.00 1.00 42,437.00 0.016667 707.281 836.297 0.000 -129.016 -129.016
Court Decision: For IPV
Findings.....................
Action Taken on Hearing or 273.16(e)(9) 1,306.00 1.00 1,306.00 0.016667 21.767 25.266 0.000 -3.499 -3.499
Court Decision: For No IPV
Findings.....................
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[[Page 15939]]
Total Household Reporting ............... 1,030,013 1.00000 1,030,013.000 0.03191 32,872.537 25,640.367 0.000 7,232.170 7,232.170
Burden...................
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SUMMARY OF BURDEN
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State Agency Level........ ............... 53 .............. 2,098,764.000 .............. 174,961.168 140,706.208 0.000 34,254.960 34,254.960
Household................. ............... 1,030,013 .............. 1,030,013.000 .............. 32,872.537 25,640.367 0.000 7,232.170 7,232.170
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TOTAL BURDEN THIS ............... 1,030,066 3.03745 3,128,777.000 0.06643 207,833.705 166,346.575 0.000 41,487.130 41,487.130
COLLECTION...........
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[[Page 15940]]
Dated: March 14, 2014.
Audrey Rowe,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-06282 Filed 3-21-14; 8:45 am]
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