Agency Information Collection Activities: Assessment of the Collection, Analysis, Validation, and Reporting of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training (E&T) Data
| Published date | 29 November 2019 |
| Citation | 84 FR 65777 |
| Record Number | 2019-25639 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | Food And Nutrition Service |
Federal Register, Volume 84 Issue 230 (Friday, November 29, 2019)
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 230 (Friday, November 29, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65777-65779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25639]
[[Page 65777]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Assessment of the
Collection, Analysis, Validation, and Reporting of Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training (E&T) Data
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 information collection. This collection is a new
collection for the assessment of the collection, analysis, validation,
and reporting of SNAP E&T data collected by States.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before January 28, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: Leigh Gantner, Food and Nutrition
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room,
Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted 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.
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 Leigh
Gantner by email at [email protected] or by phone at (703) 305-
2822.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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.
Title: Assessment of the Collection, Analysis, Validation, and
Reporting of SNAP Employment and Training Data project.
Form Number: None.
OMB Number: 0584-NEW.
Expiration Date: Not yet determined.
Type of Request: New collection.
Abstract: Abstract: Section 17 [7 U.S.C. 2026] (a)(1) of the Food
and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended, provides general legislative
authority for the planned data collection. It authorizes the Secretary
of Agriculture to enter into contracts with private institutions to
undertake research that will help to improve the administration and
effectiveness of SNAP in delivering nutrition-related benefits.
Under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), States
are required to operate an Employment and Training (E&T) program to
help participants gain skills, education, training, and experience that
lead to employment and greater economic self-sufficiency. The U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) uses
several methods to collect information on State SNAP E&T programs:
annual State SNAP E&T plans, quarterly FNS-583 SNAP E&T Program
Activity Report data forms (OMB 0584-0594, currently undergoing
review), and annual outcome reporting measures. FNS has found that
reported data are often inconsistent, incomplete, and inaccurate. This
makes it challenging for FNS to analyze these data to determine the
outcomes of SNAP E&T participants and to assist States in improving
their programs.
FNS will: (1) Identify and describe the current State and Federal
systems that collect, validate, and analyze E&T data; (2) assess the
current and future E&T data needs of Federal, Regional, and State
staff; and (3) recommend a plan to improve how Federal, Regional, and
State staff collect and use data for E&T program improvement and
reporting. The assessment will include two main data collection
activities: (1) 10 in-person meetings with a range of staff from
Federal agencies \1\ to better understand the systems for collecting
and analyzing SNAP E&T data, assess the current and future data needs
of SNAP E&T stakeholders, and identify options to improve the
collection and analysis of data; and (2) site visits in seven States to
observe their SNAP E&T business, data collection, and analysis
processes, and to assess the current and future data needs from the
perspective of a range of State and local staff, including local
organizations that provide E&T activities.
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\1\ Discussions with Federal agencies do not require OMB
clearance and are therefore not included in the burden estimates in
this notice.
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The data collection effort will culminate in a comprehensive final
report of recommendations for FNS to meet its current and future data
needs for the SNAP E&T program. The report will describe the current
Federal, Regional, and State data systems and processes; the current
and future data needs and goals of SNAP E&T; and the gaps between the
current systems and data needs. In addition, the report will recommend
methods to address these gaps through changes to data systems and
information technology (IT) solutions, improved business processes, and
expanded technical assistance.
Affected Public: FNS will reach out to eight State agencies, and
anticipates that seven of these State agenices will agree to
participate in the study. Approximately, 284 respondents within these
seven States will be contacted to participate in the data collection.
Of these 284 respondents, FNS anticipates 251 will agree to
participate. Members of the public affected by the data collection
include State, Local and Tribal governments and the private sector
(Business-for-profit and not-for-profit). Respondent groups identified
include the following:
Directors and managers from State, Local, and Tribal
government agencies supporting the SNAP E&T programs (35; 32
respondents and 3 non-respondents).
Policy staff from State, Local, and Tribal government
agencies supporting the SNAP E&T programs (28; 26 respondents and 2
non-respondents).
Frontline staff from State, Local, and Tribal government
agencies providing direct services to SNAP E&T participants (56; 50
respondents and 6 non-respondents).
Data and IT staff from State, Local, and Tribal government
agencies supporting the E&T programs (28; 26 respondents and 2 non-
respondents).
Directors and managers from private sector for-profit
businesses providing SNAP E&T services (21; 18 repondents and 3 non-
respondents).
Frontline staff from private sector for-profit businesses
providing SNAP E&T services (21; 18 repondents and 3 non-respondents).
Data and IT staff from private sector for-profit
businesses providing SNAP E&T services (11; 9 respondents and 2 non-
respondents).
Directors and managers from private sector not-for-profit
agencies providing SNAP E&T services (35; 30 respodnets and 5 non-
respondents).
[[Page 65778]]
Frontline staff from private sector not-for-profit
businesses providing SNAP E&T services (35; 30 respondents and 5 non-
respondents).
Data and IT staff from private sector not-for-profit
businesses providing SNAP E&T services (14; 12 respondents and 2 non-
respondents).
Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of
respondents is 284. This includes the following:
35 State, Local, or Tribal agency directors and managers will
be asked to participate in an interview (21 of which will also be asked
to participate in a mapping discussion)
28 State, Local, or Tribal agency policy staff will be asked
to participate in an interview (21 of which will also be asked to
participate in a mapping discussion)
56 State, Local, or Tribal agency direct services staff will
be asked to participate in an interview (56 of which will also be asked
to participate in a mapping discussion)
28 State, Local, or Tribal agency data and IT staff will be
asked to participate in an interview (21 of which will also be asked to
participate in a mapping discussion, and 7 will also provide extant
data)
21 private sector for-profit business directors and managers
will be asked to participate in a mapping discussion (7 of which will
also be asked to participate in an interview)
21 private sector for-profit business direct services staff
will be asked to participate in a mapping discussion (7 of which will
also be asked to participate in an interview)
11 private sector for-profit business data and IT staff will
be asked to participate in a mapping discussion (11 of which will also
be asked to participate in an interview)
35 private sector not-for-profit agency directors and managers
will be asked to participate in a mapping discussion (14 of which will
also be asked participate in an interview)
35 private sector not-for-profit agency direct services staff
will be asked to participate in a mapping discussion (14 of which will
also be asked to participate in an interview)
14 private sector not-for-profit agency data and IT staff will
be asked to participate in a mapping discussion (14 of which will also
be asked to participate in an interview)
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent Some respondents will
be asked to participate in one in-person interview only (28
respondents), others will be asked to particiate in a group mapping
discussion only (70 respondents), and the remainder will be asked to
participate in an interview and group mapping discussion (186
respondents).
Estimated Total Annual Responses: 1074.
Estimated Time per Response: The estimated time of response varies
from 1 to 1.5 hours (60 to 90 minutes) depending on respondent group,
as shown in the table that follows, with an average estimated time of
1.17 hours (70.2 minutes) for all respondents. Those declining
participation are anticipated to spend 0.167 hours (10 minutes) reading
the email invitation to participate and declining participation.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 915.88 hours
(54,953minutes). See the following table for estimated total annual
burden for each type of respondent.
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Responsive Non-responsive
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Sample Estimated Number of Estimated Estimated Number of Estimated
Respondent type Instrument size Estimated frequency Total burden total Estimated frequency Total burden total
number of of annual hours per burden number of of annual hours per burden
respondents response responses response hours respondents response responses response hours
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State agency staff.................. Recruitment email..... 8 7 1 7 0.167 1.17 1 1 1 0.167 0.167
State, local, or Tribal agency Interview discussion 35 32 1 32 1.5 48.00 3 1 3 0.167 0.501
directors and managers. guide.
Mapping group 21 20 1 20 1.5 30.00 1 1 1 0.167 0.167
discussion.
State, local, or Tribal agency Interview discussion 28 26 1 26 1.5 39.00 2 1 2 0.167 0.334
policy staff. guide.
Mapping group 21 20 1 20 1.5 30.00 1 1 1 0.167 0.000
discussion.
State, local or Tribal agency direct Interview discussion 56 50 1 50 1.5 75.00 6 1 6 0.167 1.002
services staff. guide.
Mapping group 56 50 1 50 1.5 75.00 6 1 6 0.167 1.002
discussion.
State, local, or Tribal agency data Interview discussion 28 26 1 26 1 26.00 2 1 2 0.167 0.334
and IT staff. guide.
Mapping group 21 20 1 20 1.5 30.00 1 1 1 0.167 0.167
discussion.
Extant data collection 7 7 1 7 1 7.00 0 0 0 0 0.000
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Sub-Totals for SLT.............. ...................... ....... 134 ......... 258 ........... 361.17 13 ......... 23 ......... 3.674
Recruitment email for private sector Recruitment email..... 21 18 1 18 0.167 3.01 3 1 3 0.167 0.501
for-profit business.
Private sector for-profit business Interview discussion 7 6 1 6 1 6.00 1 1 1 0.167 0.167
directors and managers. guide.
Mapping group 21 18 1 18 1 18.00 3 1 3 0.167 0.501
discussion.
Private sector for-profit business Interview discussion 7 5 1 5 1 5.00 2 1 2 0.167 0.334
direct services staff. guide.
Mapping group 21 18 1 18 1 18.00 3 1 3 0.167 0.501
discussion.
Private sector for-profit business Interview discussion 11 9 1 9 1 9.00 2 1 2 0.167 0.334
data and IT staff. guide.
Mapping group 11 9 1 9 1 9.00 2 1 2 0.167 0.334
discussion.
[[Page 65779]]
Recruitment email for not-for-profit Recruitment email..... 35 30 1 30 0.167 5.01 5 1 5 0.167 0.835
business.
Private sector not-for-profit agency Interview discussion 14 12 1 12 1 12.00 2 1 2 0.167 0.334
directors and managers. guide.
Mapping group 35 30 1 30 1 30.00 5 1 5 0.167 0.835
discussion.
Private sector not-for-profit agency Interview discussion 14 12 1 12 1 12.00 2 1 2 0.167 0.334
direct services staff. guide.
Mapping group 35 30 1 30 1 30.00 5 1 5 0.167 0.835
discussion.
Private sector not-for-profit agency Interview discussion 14 12 1 12 1 12.00 2 1 2 0.167 0.334
data and IT staff. guide.
Mapping group 14 12 1 12 1 12.00 2 1 2 0.167 0.334
discussion.
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Sub-Totals for Business-for-not- ...................... ....... 117 ......... 221 ........... 181.02 20 ......... 39 ......... 6.513
for-Profit.
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Grand Total Burden for both ...................... 284 251 ......... 951 ........... 902.19 33 ......... 123 ......... 13.694
SLT and Business.
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Dated: November 4, 2019.
Pamilyn Miller,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-25639 Filed 11-27-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
