Agency information collection activities: Submission for OMB review; comment request,

[Federal Register: April 28, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 81)]

[Notices]

[Page 22867-22868]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr28ap99-55]

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary

Emergency Clearance: Public Information Collection Requirements Submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the following request for emergency review. We are requesting an emergency review because the collection of this information is needed prior to the expiration of the normal time limits under OMB's regulations at 5 CFR Part 1320 and is essential to the mission of the Department. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 authorized the Department of Labor (DoL) to implement a new grant program to fund state and local efforts to get the hardest-to-serve welfare recipients into employment. The statute directs the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, to develop a plan to evaluate how Welfare-to-Work (WtW) grants to states and tribes have been used. An interim evaluation report is due to Congress by January 1, 1999, and a final report is due by January 1, 2001.

Implementation of the WtW programs among grantees has proven slower than

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expected. This has delayed early exploratory site visits under the evaluation, which in turn has delayed development of the protocols for in-depth site visits which draw on information gathered from exploratory visits. Following normal clearance procedures would affect later phases of contract work and cause delays in the delivery of future reports.

DHHS is requesting that OMB grant 180 day emergency approval by May 14, 1999.

Title and Description of Information Collection: Site Visit Protocols for the Multi-site Evaluation of the Welfare-to-Work Grants Program--NEW--As required by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, DHHS is conducting an evaluation of the effectiveness of welfare-to-work initiatives undertaken through competitive and formula grants awarded by the US Department of Labor (DoL). DHHS' Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, in conjunction with DoL and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), has designed an evaluation that will involve several rounds of data collection from grantees, affiliated agencies and grant program participants. The information collection instruments in this request for OMB approval consist of discussion protocols and focus group guides for site visits to WtW grantees that are part of the core evaluation's process and implementation analysis, and protocols for the tribal component of the evaluation. Respondents: State, Local, or Tribal Governments, Not-for- profit Institutions; Burden Information for the Discussion Protocols-- Number of Respondents: 300; Number of Responses per Respondent: one; Average Burden per Response: one hour; Total Burden for Discussion Protocols: 300 hours--Burden Information for Focus Groups--Number of Respondents: 360; Number of Responses per Respondent: one; Average Burden per Response: 1.5 hours; Total Burden for Focus Groups: 540 hours. Burden Information for the Tribal Evaluation Instruments--Number of Respondents: 220; Number of Responses per Respondent: one; Average Burden per Response: .86 hour; Total Burden for Tribal Evaluation Instruments: 190 hours. Total Burden: 1,030 hours.

To request more information or a copy of the proposed data collection, please contact Alana Landey on 202-401-6636.

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; (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 respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collections should be immediately sent directly to the OMB Desk Officer designated at the following address: OMB Human Resources and Housing Branch, Attention: Allison Eydt, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503. Comments may be faxed to Ms. Eydt at 202- 395-5167.

Please send a copy of your comments to Cynthia Agens Bauer, OS Reports Clearance Officer, Room 503H, Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC, 20201.

Dated: April 21, 1999. Dennis P. Williams, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Budget.

[FR Doc. 99-10568Filed4-27-99; 8:45 am]

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