80 FR 49198 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Food Program and Reporting System (FPRS)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 158 (August 17, 2015)

Page Range		49198-49199
FR Document		2015-20208

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on a proposed information collection, which is a revision of a currently approved form. The purpose of the Food Programs Reporting System (FPRS) is to facilitate data gathering for the reporting of data for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Nutrition Programs. FPRS consolidated certain programmatic and financial data reporting requirements in an electronic reporting system and is the primary collection point for FNS program performance statistics and financial data from State agencies, Indian Tribal Organizations and U.S. Territories participating in the nutrition assistance programs.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 158 (Monday, August 17, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 158 (Monday, August 17, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49198-49199]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20208]


========================================================================
Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

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 
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
appearing in this section.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 158 / Monday, August 17, 2015 / 
Notices

[[Page 49198]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Food Program and Reporting System (FPRS)

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment 
on a proposed information collection, which is a revision of a 
currently approved form.
    The purpose of the Food Programs Reporting System (FPRS) is to 
facilitate data gathering for the reporting of data for the 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special 
Nutrition Programs. FPRS consolidated certain programmatic and 
financial data reporting requirements in an electronic reporting system 
and is the primary collection point for FNS program performance 
statistics and financial data from State agencies, Indian Tribal 
Organizations and U.S. Territories participating in the nutrition 
assistance programs.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 16, 
2015.

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 has practical utility; 
(b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden hours, 
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 
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments may be sent to Jane Duffield, Chief, State Administration 
Branch, Program Accountability and Administration Division, 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 
818, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to 
the attention of Jane Duffield at 703-605-0795, Room 824, or 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 written comments will be open for public inspection at the 
office of FNS during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 
Monday through Friday) at 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 808, Alexandria, 
Virginia 22302.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. All 
comments will also be a matter of public record.

CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:  Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Usha Kalro at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Food Programs Reporting System.
    OMB Number: 0584-0594.
    Form Number and Name: Worksheet FNS-759 Education and 
Administrative Reporting System.
    Expiration Date: 08/31/2016.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The purpose of the Education and Administrative Reporting 
System (EARS) maintained in FPRS is to collect uniform and standard 
information on nutrition education activities funded through the 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program--Education (SNAP-Ed) program. 
The data collected through EARS informs management decisions, supports 
policy initiatives, and provides documentation for legislative, budget, 
and other requests that support planning within the agency. FNS intends 
to update the EARS form so that it reflects changes, specifically those 
that are a direct result of provisions in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids 
Act (HHFKA) of 2010. In addition, FNS continues to explore other ways 
to improve upon or incorporate metrics that will enhance the evaluation 
of SNAP-Ed programs. FNS developed EARS for SNAP's nutrition education 
component, SNAP-Ed, which is provided for in Section 11 of the Food and 
Nutrition Act (FNA) 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020 (f)(3)(B)(ii)). In 2003, the 
Agency convened a workgroup of diverse stakeholders to assist with this 
task, including people from the Federal, State, and local levels, as 
well as academia.
    The EARS form (FNS-759) was approved by OMB in Fiscal Year (FY) 
2007. FNS implemented the first phase of EARS in FY 2008, which 
required SNAP State agencies to report on financial items only. Full 
implementation of EARS reporting requirements was completed in FY 2010. 
EARS provides uniform data and information about the nutrition 
education activities of all participating States across the country, 
including the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Guam. Data 
gathered through the EARS form includes demographic characteristics of 
participants receiving nutrition education benefits, information about 
education topics and strategies, and use of resources. The EARS form is 
designed as an annual report that SNAP State agencies submit using FNS' 
web-based Food Program Reporting System, OMB Control No: 0584-0594, 
Expiration Date 6/30/2017. State agencies submit data between October 
15 and December 30 of each year for the prior FY's nutrition education 
activities.
    In 2010, Congress passed the HHFKA. Section 241 of the HHFKA 
replaced the existing nutrition education program under Section 11(f) 
of the Food and Nutrition Act (``FNS'' or the ``Act'') (7 U.S.C. 2011 
et seq.) with the nutrition education and obesity prevention grant 
program under Section 28. FNS continues to refer to the redesigned 
program as SNAP-Ed. Changes to the program mandated by the HHFKA 
require revisions to the currently approved EARS form/worksheet. Some 
of the major changes to SNAP-Ed are:

[[Page 49199]]

    (1) A focus on the critical problem of obesity--The program now has 
a wider range of evidence-based intervention strategies. Specifically, 
SNAP-Ed includes any combination of educational strategies, accompanied 
by environmental supports, designed to facilitate the voluntary 
adoption of healthy food and physical activity choices, as well as 
other nutrition-related behaviors. It is conducive to the well-being of 
SNAP participants and other qualifying low-income individuals and may 
involve programs at complementary organizational and institutional 
levels in addition to community and public health approaches.
    (2) A target population which more closely aligns SNAP-Ed 
participants with those in other FNS, Federal, and State-administered 
benefit programs. In the past, SNAP-Ed participants included those 
receiving SNAP or those eligible to receive SNAP. Following the 
implementation of the HHFKA, the target population is extended to 
individuals who are eligible to receive SNAP or other means-tested 
Federal assistance programs or those residing in a community with a 
significant low-income population. These means-tested programs include 
Medicaid and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, among others.
    (3) Requirement for evidence-based interventions--Evidence-based 
approaches have been defined by the FNS Administrator in consultation 
with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 
FNS has provided States with more flexibility by permitting States to 
use funds for nutrition education and obesity prevention interventions 
that are developed by integrating the best available research evidence, 
practice-based evidence or emerging evidence. In accordance with the 
SNAP-Ed Guidance, these may include the implementation and measurement 
of policy, systems and environmental changes (PSEs). Expanding the 
types of environmental and policy approaches that can be used in SNAP-
Ed allows State programs to build upon nutrition education and health 
promotion efforts in a way that better supports a more comprehensive 
focus on obesity prevention.
    (4) A new funding mechanism--As opposed to matching State funds for 
SNAP-Ed programs, FNS allocates 100 percent Federal grant funding to 
States, which may coordinate SNAP-Ed activities through partnerships 
with public and private entities in order to better leverage their 
financial resources. The formula proscribed by the HHFKA builds 
progressively to a 50/50 weighting of SNAP-Ed expenditures to SNAP 
participation based on the funding from the previous 12-month period 
ending January 31. For Fiscal Year 2015, 80 percent of the funding was 
based on expenditures and 10 percent of the funding was based on the 
State's SNAP participation rate. The 50/50 weighting applies to Fiscal 
Year 2018 and beyond.
    The revised form is available for review with this docket on 
www.Regulations.gov, in Supporting Documents. The proposed 
modifications to the current EARS form/worksheet include the following, 
where the items pertain to the proposed draft unless stated otherwise:
     Collect data on the number and percentage of SNAP-Ed 
eligibles and those reached through Direct Education, Social Marketing 
and PSE change interventions in a State (Item 1a-e).
     Collect data on the estimated percentage of SNAP-Ed funds 
expended to reach SNAP-Ed eligibles through the above intervention 
types (Item 1f).
     Added a statement about the Community Eligibility 
Provision as a special circumstance for determining SNAP status (Items 
2a and 2b).
     Collect data on whether SNAP-Ed participation counts for 
each age group are actual or estimated values (Items 2a and 2b).
     Collect data on additional settings where education is 
provided to SNAP-Ed participants (Item 5).
     Collect data on whether Direct Education programs are part 
of a Social Marketing initiative (Item 6a).
     Collect data on whether Direct Education supports PSEs 
(Item 6b).
     Collect data on whether direct education programs are part 
of a social marketing and/or PSE interventions (Item 6a and 6b).
     Removed question 8 on Indirect Education (on the current 
form) and added the column on ``Source(s) of Data'' to the table 
``Description of All Social Marketing Campaigns'' (Item 7).
     Collect data on PSEs (Item 8).
     Collect data focused on classifying partnerships and their 
role in SNAP-Ed programs (Item 9).
     Removed the last question on funding (Item 9 in the 
current form) since funds are now 100 percent federal allocations to 
States according to a specified formula and do not require a State 
match.
    The form has been rearranged to better accommodate the instructions 
and improve the flow of questions. This revision also reflects an 
increase in burden estimates. FNS estimates that 53 State agencies will 
respond once a year for a total of 53 annual responses. The current 
burden it takes each State agency to respond is 54 burden hours. In the 
revised data collection instrument, it will take approximately 60 
burden hours for each State agency to respond which reflects an 
increase of six burden hours per State from the last submission. The 
current burden for this collection is 2,808. FNS calculates the revised 
total burden for this collection is 3,180 annual burden hours which 
reflects an increase of 300 burden hours due to program changes and 
adjustments. There are no recordkeeping requirements imposed by this 
information collection. As this is a revision to the EARS form within 
the FPRS system, the total FPRS burden is summarized below.
    Affected Public: SNAP State agencies and Business. Respondent Type: 
Businesses are identified as non-profit organizations serving as 
implementing partners, such as extension universities, and local 
program operators.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,267.
    Number of Responses per Respondent: 7.28191.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 23,790.
    Hours per Response: 3.65157629.
    Total Annual Burden Hours (Reporting Only): 86,871.

    Dated: August 2, 2015.
Audrey Rowe,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-20208 Filed 8-14-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-30-P

49198

Notices Federal Register
Vol. 80, No. 158

Monday, August 17, 2015

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER are to respond, including through the intends to update the EARS form so that
contains documents other than rules or use of appropriate automated, it reflects changes, specifically those
proposed rules that are applicable to the electronic, mechanical or other that are a direct result of provisions in
public. Notices of hearings and investigations, technological collection techniques or the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act
committee meetings, agency decisions and other forms of information technology. (HHFKA) of 2010. In addition, FNS
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
petitions and applications and agency
Comments may be sent to Jane continues to explore other ways to
statements of organization and functions are Duffield, Chief, State Administration improve upon or incorporate metrics
examples of documents appearing in this Branch, Program Accountability and that will enhance the evaluation of
section. Administration Division, Supplemental SNAP-Ed programs. FNS developed
Nutrition Assistance Program, U.S. EARS for SNAP’s nutrition education
Department of Agriculture, Food and component, SNAP-Ed, which is
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Center provided for in Section 11 of the Food
Drive, Room 818, Alexandria, VA and Nutrition Act (FNA) 2008 (7 U.S.C.
Food and Nutrition Service 22302. Comments may also be 2020 (f)(3)(B)(ii)). In 2003, the Agency
submitted via fax to the attention of Jane convened a workgroup of diverse
Agency Information Collection Duffield at 703–605–0795, Room 824, or
Activities: Proposed Collection; stakeholders to assist with this task,
via email to SNAP-Ed@fns.usda.gov. including people from the Federal,
Comment Request—Food Program Comments will also be accepted through
and Reporting System (FPRS) State, and local levels, as well as
the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to academia.
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service http://www.regulations.gov and follow
The EARS form (FNS–759) was
(FNS), USDA. the online instructions for submitting
approved by OMB in Fiscal Year (FY)
ACTION: Notice. comments electronically.
All written comments will be open for 2007. FNS implemented the first phase
SUMMARY: In accordance with the public inspection at the office of FNS of EARS in FY 2008, which required
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. SNAP State agencies to report on
notice invites the general public and to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) at financial items only. Full
other public agencies to comment on a 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 808, implementation of EARS reporting
proposed information collection, which Alexandria, Virginia 22302. requirements was completed in FY
is a revision of a currently approved All responses to this notice will be 2010. EARS provides uniform data and
form. summarized and included in the request information about the nutrition
The purpose of the Food Programs for the Office of Management and education activities of all participating
Reporting System (FPRS) is to facilitate Budget (OMB) approval. All comments States across the country, including the
data gathering for the reporting of data will also be a matter of public record. District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands
for the Supplemental Nutrition CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
and Guam. Data gathered through the
Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Requests for additional information EARS form includes demographic
Special Nutrition Programs. FPRS should be directed to Usha Kalro at characteristics of participants receiving
consolidated certain programmatic and SNAP-Ed@fns.usda.gov. nutrition education benefits,
financial data reporting requirements in information about education topics and
an electronic reporting system and is the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
strategies, and use of resources. The
primary collection point for FNS Title: Food Programs Reporting
EARS form is designed as an annual
program performance statistics and System.
OMB Number: 0584–0594. report that SNAP State agencies submit
financial data from State agencies, using FNS’ web-based Food Program
Form Number and Name: Worksheet
Indian Tribal Organizations and U.S. Reporting System, OMB Control No:
FNS–759 Education and Administrative
Territories participating in the nutrition 0584–0594, Expiration Date 6/30/2017.
Reporting System.
assistance programs. State agencies submit data between
Expiration Date: 08/31/2016.
DATES: Written comments must be Type of Request: Revision of a October 15 and December 30 of each
submitted on or before October 16, currently approved information year for the prior FY’s nutrition
2015. collection. education activities.
ADDRESSES: Comments are invited on: Abstract: The purpose of the In 2010, Congress passed the HHFKA.
(a) Whether the proposed collection of Education and Administrative Reporting Section 241 of the HHFKA replaced the
information is necessary for the proper System (EARS) maintained in FPRS is to existing nutrition education program
performance of the functions of the collect uniform and standard under Section 11(f) of the Food and
agency, including whether the information on nutrition education Nutrition Act (‘‘FNS’’ or the ‘‘Act’’) (7
information has practical utility; (b) the activities funded through the U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) with the nutrition
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance education and obesity prevention grant
burden hours, including the validity of Program—Education (SNAP-Ed) program under Section 28. FNS
the methodology and assumptions that program. The data collected through continues to refer to the redesigned
were used; (c) ways to enhance the EARS informs management decisions, program as SNAP-Ed. Changes to the
quality, utility, and clarity of the supports policy initiatives, and provides program mandated by the HHFKA
information to be collected; and (d) documentation for legislative, budget, require revisions to the currently
ways to minimize the burden of the and other requests that support approved EARS form/worksheet. Some
collection of information on those who planning within the agency. FNS of the major changes to SNAP-Ed are:

VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:57 Aug 14, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\17AUN1.SGM 17AUN1

Document Created: 2015-12-15 11:06:53
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 11:06:53

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice.
Dates		Written comments must be submitted on or before October 16, 2015.
FR Citation		80 FR 49198

80 FR 49198 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request-Food Program and Reporting System (FPRS)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREFood and Nutrition Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 158 (August 17, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service