[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 213 (Tuesday, November 4, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 59642]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29129]
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Notices
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
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Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 213 / Tuesday, November 4, 1997 /
Notices
[[Page 59642]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Consumer Service
Food Stamp Program: Agency Information Collection Activities:
Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Waivers Under Section 6(o) of the
Food Stamp Act
AGENCY: Food and Consumer Service, 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 proposed information collections. Section 6(o) of the Food Stamp Act
of 1977, as amended by Section 824 of the Personal Responsibility and
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, establishes a time limit
for the receipt of food stamp benefits for certain able-bodied adults
who are not working. The provision authorizes the Secretary of
Agriculture, upon a State agency's request, to waive the provision for
any group of individuals if the Secretary determines ``that the area in
which the individuals reside has an unemployment rate of over 10
percent, or does not have a sufficient number of jobs to provide
employment for the individuals.'' As required in the statute, in order
to receive a waiver the State agency must submit sufficient supporting
information so that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
can make the required determination as to the area's unemployment rate
or sufficiency of available jobs. This collection of information is
therefore necessary in order to obtain waivers of the food stamp time
limit.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before January 5, 1998.
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 used; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who
respond, including through the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to Margaret
Batko, Assistant Branch Chief, Certification Policy Branch, Program
Development Division, Food and Consumer Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may
also be faxed to the attention of Ms. Batko at (703) 305-2486. The
internet address is: [email protected]. All written comments
will be open for public inspection at the office of the Food and
Consumer Service during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday) at 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 720, Alexandria,
VA 22302.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval. All comments will be a matter of public
record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information
should be directed to Ms. Batko at (703) 305-2516.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Waiver Guidance for Food Stamp Time Limits.
OMB Number: 0584-0479.
Form Number: Not a form.
Expiration Date: 6/30/97.
Type of Request: Reinstatement with change of a previously approved
information collection for which approval has expired.
Abstract: Section 824 of the Personal Responsibility and Work
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104-193, 110 Stat. 2323
(7 U.S.C. 2015) (PRWORA) establishes a time limit for the receipt of
food stamp benefits for certain able-bodied adults who are not working.
The provision authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture, upon a State
agency's request, to waive the provision for any group of individuals
if the Secretary determines ``that the area in which the individuals
reside has an unemployment rate of over 10 percent; or (ii) does not
have a sufficient number of jobs to provide employment for the
individuals.'' As required in the statute, in order to receive a waiver
the State agency must submit sufficient supporting information so that
USDA can make the required determination as to the area's unemployment
rate or sufficiency of available jobs. This collection of information
is therefore necessary in order to obtain waivers of the food stamp
time limit. Since the provision was implemented (the effective date of
the legislation was August 22, 1996), the Food and Consumer Service
(FCS) has received requests for waivers from 44 State agencies. A total
of 102 separate waiver requests have been received by FCS through
September 19, 1997. Each request submitted by a State agency to exempt
individuals residing in specified areas is considered by FCS to be a
separate request, since the requested exemptions may be based on
different criteria, are submitted at different times, and require
separate analysis. A significant number of State agencies have
submitted multiple requests. Since these waivers must be renewed on an
annual basis and new ones may be submitted to reflect changing labor
market conditions, FCS anticipates receipt of approximately the same
number of waiver requests every year.
Affected Public: State and Local governments.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 44.
Estimated Number of Responses: 100.
Estimated Time per Response: 20 hours.
Estimated Total Burden: 2000 hours.
Dated: October 23, 1997.
Yvette Jackson,
Acting Administrator, Food and Consumer Service.
[FR Doc. 97-29129 Filed 11-3-97; 8:45 am]
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