[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 13 (Thursday, January 21, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3274-3275]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-1345]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request--Evaluation of Asset Accumulation Initiatives
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the intention of the Food and Nutrition Service to
request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of data
collection for the study, Evaluation of Asset Accumulation Initiatives.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 22, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Send comments and requests for copies of this information
collection to: Alberta Frost, Director, Office of Analysis, Nutrition,
and Evaluation, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302.
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 will 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; 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.
All comments will be summarized and included in the request for
Office of Management and Budget approval of the information collection.
All comments will become a matter of public record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alberta Frost, (703) 305-2017.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Evaluation of Asset Accumulation Initiatives.
OMB Number: Not yet assigned.
Expiration Date: Not applicable.
Type of Request: New collection of information.
Abstract: Special-purpose savings accounts are an increasingly
common policy tool to encourage personal savings and asset accumulation
by low-income individuals. Such savings accounts, established in the
name of an individual or family and earmarked for expenditures to
promote economic self-sufficiency, are excluded from consideration as
countable assets for the purposes of determining eligibility for public
benefits. One category of special-purpose accounts, known as Individual
Development Accounts (IDAs), are established jointly between the
participant and a sponsoring organization that matches the
participant's deposits as an additional saving incentive.
A growing number of state and local special-purpose savings
programs exist in the United States for low-income savers, with new
programs developing rapidly. This growth has been spurred in large part
by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act
of 1996, Pub. L. 104-193 (PRWORA). Section 103(a)(1) of that
legislation, 42 U.S.C. 604(g), allows states to establish IDA programs
using Transitional Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) funds. Other
national legislation has been introduced to support special-purpose
savings accounts, including the Assets for Independence Act of 1998
(Pub. L. 105-285).
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is conducting a study,
Evaluation of Asset Accumulation Initiatives. The purpose of this
project is to assess the degree to which state and local programs have
been implemented to encourage low-income families (especially food
stamp households) to save through special-purpose accounts.
Originally, this study was to involve a series of state
demonstrations, as
[[Page 3275]]
specified in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (Pub. L.
103-66), that were designed to promote the economic self-sufficiency of
food stamp recipients through program changes to encourage asset
accumulation. These demonstrations were not undertaken, however, as no
state submitted an acceptable plan. Through the data collection
described here, FNS will address the agency's congressional mandate to
study asset accumulation policy.
Data collection will be conducted through the collection of program
documents and a single round of telephone interviews in each of 20
states where special-purpose savings initiatives have been implemented.
Interviews will be held with three types of respondents in each state:
individuals knowledgeable of the specific provisions of the policy,
individuals familiar with the administrative operations of the program,
and persons who can provide empirical data, if available, about
outcomes.
Estimate of Burden: The estimated public reporting burden
associated with the telephone interviews is as follows: individuals
knowledgeable with specific provisions of the policy (one hour),
individuals familiar with the administrative operations of the program
(two hours), and systems/evaluation staff (two hours). For each of the
latter two categories, the indicated time may include interviews with
multiple respondents.
Respondents: The respondents associated with the telephone
interviews are listed above.
Estimated Number of Respondents: Telephone interviews will be
conducted with a total of up to 100 respondents (up to five respondents
from each of 20 states).
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: Telephone interviews
will be conducted once with each respondent.
Estimated Total Burden on Respondents: The total burden on
respondents will be up to 200 hours.
Dated: December 28, 1998.
Samuel Chambers, Jr.,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 99-1345 Filed 1-20-99; 8:45 am]
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