[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 79 (Monday, April 25, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24054-24057]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09569]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities--Identifying Program
Components and Practices That Influence Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP) Application Processing Timeliness Rates
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 this proposed new information collection.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before June 24, 2016.
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: Rosemarie Downer, Food and Nutrition
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room
1014, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to
the attention of Rosemarie Downer at 703-305-2576 or via email to
[email protected]. Comments will also be accepted through
the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to http://www.regulations.gov, and
follow the online instructions for submitting comments electronically.
Comments will also be accepted 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
office of the Food and Nutrition Service during regular business hours
(8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday) at 3101
[[Page 24055]]
Park Center Drive, Room 1014, Alexandria, Virginia 22302.
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 Rosemarie
Downer at 703-305-2129.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Identifying Program Components and Practices that Influence
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Application Processing
Timeliness Rates.
Form Number: Not Applicable.
OMB Number: Not Yet Assigned.
Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.
Type of Request: New Collection.
Abstract: The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is responsible for
administering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at
the Federal level. An important aspect of SNAP administration is
ensuring that eligible households have timely access to SNAP benefits.
The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended (the Act), Sections
11(e)(3) and 11(e)(9) \1\ requires that initial SNAP applications be
processed and benefits provided within 30 days of the application date,
or within 7 days for expedited applications. FNS monitors compliance
with statutory requirements through the SNAP Quality Control System
(SNAP-QC). Results of these monitoring activities have indicated that a
majority of States do not meet the acceptable performance criterion of
a 95 percent application processing timeliness (APT) rate.
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\1\ http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/snap/Food-And-Nutrition-Act-2008.pdf.
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This study will examine policies, waivers, administrative
practices, workflow, and processes associated with the APT rates of all
50 States and the District of Columbia. The primary purpose of this
study is to determine best practices for facilitating high APT rates,
and to identify State policy and procedural practices that hinder and
facilitate high APT rates.
The study team will first review available State policy documents,
procedure manuals, and administrative data. If these resources are not
available from accessible sources, the study team will request these
resources from SNAP offices/agencies. Following this review, the study
team will collect quantitative and qualitative data via an online
survey from the 50 States and the District of Columbia. The total
annual burden for gathering documents, manuals, and administrative data
and completing the survey is an annual total of 478.28 burden hours
(468.49 for respondents and 9.8 hours for non-respondents) and 418
total annual responses (296 for respondents and 122 for non-
respondents).
Affected Public: 357 State, Local and Tribal Government.
Respondents from the 50 States and the District of Columbia. The
specific respondent types will include: (a) 51 State SNAP agency
representatives and (b) 306 managers, supervisors, or designated staff
from local SNAP offices.
Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of
respondents is 357. This number represents a State SNAP agency
representative from each State and the District of Columbia, and a
manager, supervisor, or designated staff from approximately 4 to 10
local SNAP offices within each State and the District of Columbia.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.170868 responses
per respondent time annually. All State and local respondents will be
asked to gather SNAP documents, manuals, and/or administrative data and
to participate in one survey. Survey respondents will be given the
option of completing the survey online or through a telephone
interview.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 418 total annual responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 1.144 hours per response.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 478.29 hours.
See the table below for estimated total annual burden for each type
of respondent:
BILLING CODE 3140-30-P
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN25AP16.012
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Dated: April 15, 2016.
Telora T. Dean,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-09569 Filed 4-22-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-C