80 FR 72041 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Request-Erroneous Payments in Child Care Centers Study (EPICCS)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 222 (November 18, 2015)

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 is a new collection for the Erroneous Payments in Child Care Centers Study (EPICCS).

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 222 (Wednesday, November 18, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72041-72043]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-29391]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comments Request--Erroneous Payments in Child Care Centers Study 
(EPICCS)

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 is a new collection for 
the Erroneous Payments in Child Care Centers Study (EPICCS).

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before January 19, 2016.

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 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.
    Written comments may be sent to: Chan Chanhatasilpa, Food and 
Nutrition Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1000, Alexandria, 
VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to the attention of 
Chan Chanhatasilpa at 703-305-2576 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 the Food and Nutrition Service during regular business hours 
(8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday) at 3101 Park Center 
Drive, Room 1100, Alexandria, Virginia 22302.
    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 
should be directed to Chan Chanhatasilpa at 703-305-2115.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Erroneous Payments in Child Care Centers Study (EPICCS).
    Form Number: Not applicable.
    OMB Number: 0584--NEW.
    Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Abstract: The Improper Payments Information Act of 2002, Public Law 
107-300, requires the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to 
identify and reduce erroneous payments in various programs, including 
the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The passage of the 
Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act (IPERA) in 2010, Public 
Law 111-204 amended and enhanced requirements for not only addressing 
improper payments but also prompting efforts at recovery by requiring 
annual risk assessments and measurement of improper payments. To comply 
with IPERA 2010, USDA needs a reliable

[[Page 72042]]

measure to estimate erroneous payments for CACFP. The program's 
benefits are provided in various programs that serve both children and 
adults in both child care centers and private homes. EPICCS will gather 
information specific to participating child care centers, both 
sponsored and independent, and including Head Start centers. EPICCS is 
planned to leverage the procedures and methodologies used to conduct 
the Access, Participation, Eligibility and Certification (APEC) Study 
series to develop reliable estimation models to estimate erroneous 
payment.
    Affected Public: Respondent groups identified include: (1) State CN 
agencies, (2) CACFP sponsoring organizations, (3) child care centers, 
and (4) parents/guardians of enrolled children.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of 
respondents for data collection is 6,325. This includes: 25 
administrators at State CN agencies, 450 directors at sponsoring 
organizations, 450 child care center directors, and 5,400 parents or 
guardians of enrolled children at CACFP participating child care 
centers. The number of sponsors, centers, and parents/guardians 
recruited will be slightly higher to account for non-respondents. The 
sample will include 150 independent child care centers who act as their 
own sponsor for the CACFP. As such, they are included in counts of both 
sponsors and child care centers.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: Administrators at 
State CN agencies will be expected to provide responses on three 
occasions. The sponsoring organizations may be contacted up to seven 
times while the child care centers can be contacted up to eleven times. 
Parents or guardians of sampled households will be contacted on four 
occasions. The burden for non-respondents is outlined in the table that 
follows, and includes the time to complete the review of introductory 
materials and respond to the recruitment call.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: The total number of responses 
expected across all respondent categories is 32,272. This includes a 
total of 16,480 responses for recruitment and review of study 
information and/or requests, and a total of 15,792 responses for actual 
data collection (i.e. responses survey/interview questions or compiling 
data for the study).
    Estimated Time per Respondent: The estimated time will vary 
depending on the respondent category. The table that follows outlines 
the estimated total annual burden for each type of respondent.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: The total estimated 
response time is 12,844 hours.

[[Page 72043]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN18NO15.000


     Dated: November 10, 2015.
Audrey Rowe,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-29391 Filed 11-17-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-30-P