81 FR 24054 - Agency Information Collection Activities-Identifying Program Components and Practices That Influence Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Application Processing Timeliness Rates

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 79 (April 25, 2016)

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed new information collection.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 79 (Monday, April 25, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24054-24057]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09569]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities--Identifying Program 
Components and Practices That Influence Supplemental Nutrition 
Assistance Program (SNAP) Application Processing Timeliness Rates

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 new information collection.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before June 24, 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.
    Comments may be sent to: Rosemarie Downer, Food and Nutrition 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 
1014, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to 
the attention of Rosemarie Downer 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. 
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 p.m. Monday through Friday) at 3101

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Park Center Drive, Room 1014, 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 or 
copies of this information collection should be directed to Rosemarie 
Downer at 703-305-2129.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Identifying Program Components and Practices that Influence 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Application Processing 
Timeliness Rates.
    Form Number: Not Applicable.
    OMB Number: Not Yet Assigned.
    Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.
    Type of Request: New Collection.
    Abstract: The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is responsible for 
administering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at 
the Federal level. An important aspect of SNAP administration is 
ensuring that eligible households have timely access to SNAP benefits. 
The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended (the Act), Sections 
11(e)(3) and 11(e)(9) \1\ requires that initial SNAP applications be 
processed and benefits provided within 30 days of the application date, 
or within 7 days for expedited applications. FNS monitors compliance 
with statutory requirements through the SNAP Quality Control System 
(SNAP-QC). Results of these monitoring activities have indicated that a 
majority of States do not meet the acceptable performance criterion of 
a 95 percent application processing timeliness (APT) rate.
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    \1\ http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/snap/Food-And-Nutrition-Act-2008.pdf.
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    This study will examine policies, waivers, administrative 
practices, workflow, and processes associated with the APT rates of all 
50 States and the District of Columbia. The primary purpose of this 
study is to determine best practices for facilitating high APT rates, 
and to identify State policy and procedural practices that hinder and 
facilitate high APT rates.
    The study team will first review available State policy documents, 
procedure manuals, and administrative data. If these resources are not 
available from accessible sources, the study team will request these 
resources from SNAP offices/agencies. Following this review, the study 
team will collect quantitative and qualitative data via an online 
survey from the 50 States and the District of Columbia. The total 
annual burden for gathering documents, manuals, and administrative data 
and completing the survey is an annual total of 478.28 burden hours 
(468.49 for respondents and 9.8 hours for non-respondents) and 418 
total annual responses (296 for respondents and 122 for non-
respondents).
    Affected Public: 357 State, Local and Tribal Government. 
Respondents from the 50 States and the District of Columbia. The 
specific respondent types will include: (a) 51 State SNAP agency 
representatives and (b) 306 managers, supervisors, or designated staff 
from local SNAP offices.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of 
respondents is 357. This number represents a State SNAP agency 
representative from each State and the District of Columbia, and a 
manager, supervisor, or designated staff from approximately 4 to 10 
local SNAP offices within each State and the District of Columbia.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.170868 responses 
per respondent time annually. All State and local respondents will be 
asked to gather SNAP documents, manuals, and/or administrative data and 
to participate in one survey. Survey respondents will be given the 
option of completing the survey online or through a telephone 
interview.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 418 total annual responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1.144 hours per response.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 478.29 hours.
    See the table below for estimated total annual burden for each type 
of respondent:
BILLING CODE 3140-30-P

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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN25AP16.012



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    Dated: April 15, 2016.
Telora T. Dean,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-09569 Filed 4-22-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-C