80 FR 34161 - Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 114 (June 15, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 114 (Monday, June 15, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34161-34163]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14465]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

Proposed Projects

    Title: U.S. Repatriation Program Forms.
    OMB No.: 0970--NEW (two of the forms have prior OMB No: [SSA-3955 & 
SSA-2061]).
    Description: The United States (U.S.) Repatriation Program was 
established by Title XI, Section 1113 of the Social Security Act 
(Assistance for U.S. Citizens Returned from Foreign Countries) to 
provide temporary assistance to U.S. citizens and their dependents who 
have been identified by the Department of State (DOS) as having 
returned, or been brought from a foreign country to the U.S. because of 
destitution, illness, war, threat of war, or a similar crisis, and are 
without available resources immediately accessible to meet their needs. 
The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was 
provided with the authority to administer this Program. On or about 
1994, this authority was delegated by the HHS Secretary to the 
Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and later re-delegated 
by ACF to the Office of Refugee Resettlement. The Repatriation Program 
works with States, Federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations 
to provide eligible individuals with temporary assistance for up to 90-
days. This assistance is in the form of a loan and must be repaid to 
the Federal Government.
    The Program was later expanded in response to legislation enacted 
by Congress to address the particular needs of persons with mental 
illness (24 U.S.C. Sections 321 through 329). Further refinements 
occurred in response to Executive Order (E.O.) 11490 (as amended) where 
HHS was given the responsibility to ``develop plans and procedures for 
assistance at ports of entry to U.S. personnel evacuated from overseas 
areas, their onward movement to final destination, and follow-up 
assistance after arrival at final destination.'' In addition, under 
E.O. 12656 (53 CFR 47491), ``Assignment of emergency preparedness 
responsibilities,'' HHS was given the lead responsibility to develop 
plans and procedures in order to provide assistance to U.S. citizens 
and others evacuated from overseas areas.
    In order to effectively and efficiently manage these legislative 
authorities, the Program has been divided into two major activities, 
Emergencies and Non-Emergencies Repatriation Activities. Operationally, 
these two Program activities involve different kinds of preparation, 
resources, and implementation. However, the core Program statute, 
regulations, policies and administrative procedures for these two 
Programs are essentially the same. The ongoing routine arrivals of 
individual repatriates and the repatriation of individuals with mental 
illness constitute the Program Non-emergency activities. Emergency 
Activities are characterized by contingency events such as civil 
unrest, war, threat of war or similar crisis, among other incidents. 
Depending on the type of event, number of evacuees and resources 
available, ACF will provide assistance utilizing two scalable 
mechanisms, emergency repatriations or group repatriations. Emergency 
repatriations assume the evacuation of 500 or more individuals, while 
group repatriations assume the evacuation of 50-500 individuals.
    The Program provides services through agreements with the States, 
U.S. Territories, Federal agencies, and Non-governmental agencies. The 
list of Repatriation Form is as follows:

[[Page 34162]]

    1. The HHS Repatriation Program: Emergency and Group Processing 
Form: Under 45 CFR 211 and 212, HHS is to make findings setting forth 
the pertinent facts and conclusions according to established standards 
to determine whether an individual is an eligible person. This form 
allows authorized staff to gather necessary information to determine 
eligibility and needed services. This form is to be utilized during 
emergency repatriation activities. Individuals interested in receiving 
Repatriation assistance will complete appropriate portions of this 
form. State personnel assisting with initial intake activities will use 
this form as a guide to perform a preliminary eligibility assessment. 
An authorized federal staff from the ACF will make final eligibility 
determinations.
    2. The HHS Repatriation Program: Privacy and Repayment Agreement 
Form: Under 45 CFR 211 and 212, individuals who receive Program 
assistance are required to repay the federal government for the cost 
associated to the services received. This form authorizes HHS to 
release personal identifiable information to partners for the purpose 
of providing services to eligible repatriates. In addition, through 
this form, eligible repatriates agree to accept services under the 
terms and conditions of the Program. Specifically, eligible repatriates 
commit to repay the federal government for all temporary services 
received through the Program. This form is to be completed by eligible 
repatriates or authorized legal custodians. Excemption applies to 
unaccompanied minors and individuals eligible under 45 CFR 211, if no 
legal custodian is identified.
    3. The HHS Repatriation Program: Refusal of Temporary Assistance 
Form: For individuals who are eligible to receive repatriation 
assistance but opt to relinquish services, this form is utilized to 
confirm and record repatriate's decision to refuse receiving Program 
assistance. This form is to be completed by eligible repatriates or 
authorized legal custodian. Excemption applies to unaccompanied minors 
and individuals eligible under 45 CFR 211, if no legal custodian is 
identified.
    4. The HHS Repatriation Program: Emergency Repatriation Financial 
Form: Under Section 1113 of the Social Security Act, HHS is authorized 
to provide temporary assistance directly or through utilization of the 
services and facilities of appropriate public or private agencies and 
organizations, in accordance with agreements providing for payment, as 
may be determined by HHS. This form is to be utilized and completed by 
agencies that have entered into an agreement with ACF/ORR to request 
reimbursement of reasonable and allowable costs, both administrative 
and actual temporary services, associated to the support provided 
during emergency activities.
    5. The HHS Repatriation Program: Non-emergency Monthly Financial 
Statement Form: Under Section 1113 of the Social Security Act, HHS is 
authorized to provide temporary assistance directly or through 
arrangements, in accordance with agreements providing for payment, as 
may be determined by HHS. This form is to be utilized and completed by 
the States and other authorized ACF/ORR agencies to request 
reimbursement of reasonable and allowable costs, both administrative 
and actual temporary services, associated to the direct provision of 
temporary assistance to eligible repatriates.
    6. The HHS Repatriation Program: Repatriation Loan Waiver and 
Feferral Request Form: In accordance with 45 CFR 211 & 212 individuals 
who have received Repatriation assistance may be eligible to receive a 
waiver or deferral of their repatriation loan. This form is to be 
completed by eligible repatriates, authorized legal custodian, or 
authorized agency/individual. Excemption applies to unaccompanied 
minors and individuals eligible under 45 CFR 211, if no legal custodian 
is identified.
    7. The HHS Repatriation Program: Temporary Assistance Extension 
Request Form: Under 45 CFR 211 & 212 temporary assistance may be 
furnished beyond the 90 days eligibility period if the repatriate meets 
the qualifications established under Program regulations. This form is 
to be completed by the eligible repatriate, authorized legal custodian, 
or the authorized agency/individual. This form should be submitted to 
ORR or its designated grantee generally 14-day prior to the expiration 
of the 90 days eligibility period.
    8. The HHS Repatriation Program: State Request for Federal Support 
Form: During emergency repatriation activities, States activated by ORR 
are to use this form to request support and/or assistance from HHS, 
including but not limited to required pre-approval of expenditures, 
augmentation of State personnel, funding, reimbursement, among other 
things.

                                             Annual Burden Estimates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           Average burden
         Instrument                 Number of        Number of responses      hours per      Total burden hours
                                   respondents         per respondent         response
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HHS Repatriation          500 or more.........  1...................              0.30  150 or more.
 Program: Emergency and
 Group Processing Form.
The HHS Repatriation          1,000 or more.......  1...................              0.05  50 or more.
 Program: Privacy and
 Repayment Agreement Form.
The HHS Repatriation          20 or more..........  1...................              0.05  1 or more.
 Program: Refusal of
 Temporary Assistance Form.
The HHS Repatriation          15 or more..........  1...................              0.30  4.5 or more.
 Program: Emergency
 Repatriation Financial Form.
The HHS Repatriation          52 or more..........  1...................              0.30  15.6 or more.
 Program: Non-emergency
 Monthly Financial Statement
 Form.
The HHS Repatriation          100 or more.........  1...................              1     100 or more.
 Program: Repatriation Loan
 Waiver and Feferral Request
 Form.
The HHS Repatriation          20 or more..........  1...................              0.20  4 or more.
 Program: State Request for
 Federal Support.
The HHS Repatriation          50 or more..........  1 or more...........              0.20  10 or more.
 Program: Temporary
 Assistance Extension
 Request Form.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 335.1.
    In compliance with the requirements of Section 506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and

[[Page 34163]]

Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the 
information collection described above. Copies of the proposed 
collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded 
by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of 
Planning, Research and Evaluation, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW., 
Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. Email 
address: [email protected]. All requests should be identified 
by the title of the information collection.
    The Department specifically requests comments 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) 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. 
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted 
within 60 days of this publication.

Robert Sargis,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-14465 Filed 6-12-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P