80 FR 77651 - 30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Housing Choice Voucher Program

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 240 (December 15, 2015)

HUD has submitted the proposed information collection requirement described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. The purpose of this notice is to allow for an additional 30 days of public comment.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 240 (Tuesday, December 15, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77651-77652]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31506]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5831-N-61]


30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Housing Choice 
Voucher Program

AGENCY: Office of the Chief Information Officer, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: HUD has submitted the proposed information collection 
requirement described below to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for review, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for an additional 30 days of public 
comment.

DATES: Comments Due Date: January 14, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB 
Control Number and should be sent to: HUD Desk Officer, Office of 
Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 
20503; fax: 202-395-5806. Email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colette Pollard, Reports Management 
Officer, QMAC, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th 
Street SW., Washington, DC 20410; email Colette Pollard at

[[Page 77652]]

[email protected] or telephone 202-402-3400. This is not a toll-
free number. Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this 
number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at 
(800) 877-8339.
    Copies of available documents submitted to OMB may be obtained from 
Ms. Pollard.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice informs the public that HUD is 
seeking approval from OMB for the information collection described in 
Section A.
    The Federal Register notice that solicited public comment on the 
information collection for a period of 60 days was published on 
September 21, 2015 at 80 FR 57012.

A. Overview of Information Collection

    Title of Information Collection: Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) 
Program.
    OMB Approval Number: 2577-0169.
    Type of Request: Revision of currently approved collection with 
changes that include portability paperwork, inclusion of the 
information or briefing packet, and testing a new inspection protocol 
for HCV units.
    Form Numbers: HUD-52515, HUD-52667, HUD-52580, HUD-52580-A, HUD-
52517, HUD-52646, HUD-52665, HUD-52641, HUD-52641-A, HUD 52642, HUD 
52649, HUD 52531A and B, HUD 52530A, HUD 52530B, HUD 52530C, HUD 
52578B. Please note that form HUD-52665 (Family Portability 
Information) has been revised to Incorporate changes in the HCV 
Program; Streamlining the Portability Process, Final Rule published in 
the Federal Register on August 20, 2015. No burden hours were added.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: 
Public Housing Agencies (PHA) will prepare an application for funding 
which specifies the number of units requested, as well as the PHA's 
objectives and plans for administering the HCV program. The application 
is reviewed by HUD Headquarters and HUD Field Offices and ranked 
according to the PHA's administrative capability, the need for housing 
assistance, and other factors specified in a notice of funding 
availability. The PHAs must establish a utility allowance schedule for 
all utilities and other services. Units must be inspected using HUD-
prescribed forms to determine if the units meet the housing quality 
standards (HQS) of the HCV program. In addition, HUD will be testing an 
alternative protocol for conducting housing inspections at up to 250 
PHAs, using HUD-provided software. The alternative protocol is intended 
to standardize inspections between PHAs and create a more objective 
list of unit deficiencies for inspectors to use. The amount of time it 
takes PHAs to perform the inspection using the existing set of 
standards and protocols and to perform the inspection under alternative 
inspection protocol is equivalent; therefore there is no increase in 
burden hours.
    After the family is issued a HCV to search for a unit pursuant to 
attending a briefing and receiving an information packet, the family 
must complete and submit to the PHA a Request for Tenancy Approval when 
it finds a unit which is suitable for its needs. Initial PHAs will use 
a standardized form to submit portability information to the receiving 
PHA who will also use the form for monthly portability billing. PHAs 
and owners will enter into housing assistance payments (HAP) contract 
each providing information on rents, payments, certifications, 
notifications, and owner agreement in a form acceptable to the PHA. A 
tenancy addendum is included in the HAP contract as well as 
incorporated in the lease between the owner and the family. Families 
that participate in the Homeownership option will execute a statement 
regarding their responsibilities and execute contracts of sale 
including an additional contract of sale for new construction units. 
PHAs participating in the project-based voucher (PBV) program will 
enter into Agreements with developing owners, HAP contracts with the 
existing and New Construction/Rehabilitation owners, Statement of 
Family Responsibility with the family and a lease addendum will be 
provided for execution between the family and the owner.
    Respondents (i.e. affected public): State and Local Governments, 
businesses or other non-profits.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,224 PHAs.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 3,304,737.
    Frequency of Response: Varies by form.
    Average Hours per Response: .48 hours.
    Total Estimated Burdens Hours: 1,589,124 .

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                                      Number of                            Responses per    Burden hour    Annual burden    Hourly cost
      Information collection         respondents   Frequency of response       annum       per response        hours       per response     Annual cost
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                                            2,224  Varies...............       3,304,737             .48       1,589,124             $20     $31,782,480
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    Total........................           2,224  Varies...............       3,304,737             .48       1,589,124             $20     $31,782,480
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B. Solicitation of Public Comment

    This notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and 
affected parties concerning the collection of information described in 
Section A on the following:
    (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information;
    (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (4) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond; including through the use of appropriate 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.
    HUD encourages interested parties to submit comment in response to 
these questions.

    Authority: Section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
44 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

    Dated: December 9, 2015.
Colette Pollard,
Department Reports Management Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-31506 Filed 12-14-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4210-67-P