| Page Range | 29475-29477 | |
| FR Document | 2017-13574 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 124 (Thursday, June 29, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 29475-29477] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-13574] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Food and Nutrition Service Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request--Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Repayment Demand and Program Disqualification AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, 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 proposed information collections. This collection is a revision of currently approved information collection requirements associated with initiating collection actions against households who have received an overissuance in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before August 28, 2017 to be assured consideration. 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: Jane Duffield, Chief, State Administration Branch, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 822, Alexandria, VA 22302. Comments may also be submitted via email to [email protected], or 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 Park Center Drive, Room 822, 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 Ralph Badette at 703-457-7717. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Repayment Demand and Program Disqualification. OMB Number: 0584-0492. Form Number: None. Expiration Date: August 31, 2017. Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection. Abstract: Section 13(b) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended (7 U.S.C. 2022(b)), and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) regulations at 7 CFR 273.18 require State agencies to initiate collection action against households that have been overissued benefits. To initiate collection action, State agencies must provide an affected household with written notification informing the household of the claim and demanding repayment. This process is automated in most State agencies. Note that for overissuance claims, this information collection only covers the activities associated with initiating collection. The burden associated with reporting collections and other claims management information on the FNS-209 form is covered under currently approved under the Food Program Reporting System OMB number 0584-0594, expiration date 6/30/2019. The burden associated with referring delinquent claims and receiving collections through the Treasury Offset Program is covered under currently approved OMB number 0584-0446, expiration date 9/30/2019. SNAP regulations at 7 CFR 273.16(e)(3) require State agencies to investigate any case of suspected fraud and, where applicable, make an intentional Program violation (IPV) determination either administratively or judicially. Notifications and activities involved in the IPV process include:The State agency providing written notification informing an individual [[Page 29476]] suspected of committing an IPV of an impending administrative disqualification hearing or court action; An individual opting to accept the disqualification and waiving the right to an administrative disqualification hearing or court action by signing either a waiver to an administrative disqualification hearing or a disqualification consent agreement in cases of deferred adjudication and returning it to the State agency; and Once a determination is made regarding an IPV, the State agency sending notification to the affected individual of the action taken on the administrative disqualification hearing or court decision. SNAP regulations at 7 CFR 273.16 require State agencies to use disqualified recipient data to ascertain the correct penalty for IPVs, based on prior disqualifications. State agencies determine this by accessing and reviewing records located in the Electronic Disqualified Recipient System (eDRS). eDRS is an automated system developed by FNS that contains records of disqualifications in every State. State agencies are also responsible for updating the system, as required at 7 CFR 237.16, which includes reporting disqualifications in eDRS as they occur and updating eDRS when records are no longer accurate, relevant, or complete. Summary of Estimated Burden The burden consists of two major components: The initiation of overissuance collection and actions associated with IPV determinations. The estimated total annual burden for this collection is 203, 079.82 hours (139,052.851 SA reporting hours + 32,372.096 SA recordkeeping hours + 31,654.835 household reporting hours). The net aggregate change to this collection is a decrease of 4,753.18 total burden hours from the currently approved burden of 207,833 hours. The estimated total annual responses for this collection is 3,046,653.32 responses (1,083,671.320 SA reporting total annual response + 971,260.00 SA recordkeeping total annual records + 991,722.00 household reporting total annual responses). The burden hours associated with overissuance collection initiation have increased due to an increase in the amount of claims established in fiscal year (FY) 2015. The burden hours associated with IPV activity have decreased slightly as a result of a decreased number of SNAP households that States initiated IPV activity against in FY2015. Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal government (SA); Individual/Households (I/H). Respondent Type: SNAP participants. SA Reporting Burden Estimated Number of Respondents: 53. Estimate Total Number of Responses per Respondent: 38,772.289. Estimated Total Annual Responses: 2, 054,931.32. Estimated Time per Response: 0.08342. Estimated Total Annual Reporting Burden: 203, 079.82. Initiation of Overissuance Collection CFR 273.18 (a)(2) For activities related to initiating collection on an overissuance, the estimated annual burden for State agency reporting is decreased by 4,406.557 hours (117,932.518-122,339.075 = 4,406.557). IPV Determinations CFR 273.16(i)(2)(i) The State agencies' annual reporting burden for activities related to IPV hearing and disqualification notices decreased by 679.513 hours (7,752.488-7,072.975 = 679.513), and activities associated with accessing and updating eDRS increased by 1251.95 hours (4,788.225- 3,536.275 = 1251.95). SA Recordkeeping Burden Estimated Number of Recordkeepers: 53. Estimated Total Records per Recordkeeper: 16,688.98. Estimated Total Annual Records: 971,260. Estimated Average # of Hours per Response: 0.03333. Estimated Total Recordkeeping Hours: 32,372.096. Initiation of Overissuance Collection CFR 272.1(f) For activities related to initiating collection on an overissuance, we are increasing the estimated annual burden for State agency recordkeeping by 6,550.414 hours (29,480.918-22,930.504 = 6,550.414). IPV Determinations CFR 272.1(f) States' annual recordkeeping burden for the IPV related activities decreased by -504.52 burden hours (2,891.178-3,395.699 = -504.52). I/H Reporting Burden Estimated Number of Respondents: 917,566. Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.0. Total Number of Annual Responses: 991,722. Estimated Time per Response: 0.03192. Estimated Total Annual Reporting Burden: 31,654.835. Initiation of Overissuance Collection CFR 273.18(a)(2). For activities related to initiating collection on an overissuance, we are increasing the household reporting burden by 7,652 hours (29,480.918-22,930.504 = 6,550.414). IPV Hearing Notices and Disqualifications CFR 273.16(e)(9) The household annual reporting burden for the activities related to IPV disqualifications has also decreased by -420 hours (707.281-836.297 = -129.016). Grand Total Burden Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden: 203, 079.782 and the total annual responses 3,046,653.320. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Estimated Estimated Total annual avg. number Estimated Due to Title CFR section of number Responses per responses of hours total hours Previously program Due to an Total regulations respondents respondent (Col. D x E) per (Col. F x approved change adjustment difference response G) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ STATE AGENCY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Reporting Burden ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Demand Letter for Overissuance......... 273.18(a)(2)............ 53 17,312.57 884,516.000 0.13333 117,932.518 122,339.075 0.000 -4,406.557 -4,406.557 Notice for Hearing or Prosecution...... 273.16(e)(3)............ 53 825.34 40,230.000 0.13333 5,363.866 5,832.540 0.000 -468.674 -468.674 Action Taken on Hearing or Court 273.16(e)(9)............ 53 800.70 46,514.000 0.16667 7,752.488 7,072.975 0.000 679.513 679.513 Decision: For IPV Findings. Action Taken on Hearing or Court 273.16(e)(9)............ 53 24.64 1,541.000 0.08333 128.412 108.829 0.000 19.583 19.583 Decision: For No IPV Findings. Electronic Disqualified Recipient 273.16(i)(2)(i)......... 53 800.70 57,461.000 0.08333 4,788.225 3,536.275 0.000 1,251.950 1,251.950 System Breakout: For eDRS Reporting. [[Page 29477]] Electronic Disqualified Recipient 272.1(f)(3)............. 53 96.08 6,895.320 0.16667 1,149.243 848.684 0.000 300.559 300.559 System Breakout: For Editing and Resubmission. Electronic Disqualified Recipient 273.16(i)(4)............ 53 800.70 46,514.000 0.04167 1,938.099 1,768.222 0.000 169.877 169.877 System Breakout: For Penalty Checks using Mainframe. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total State Agency Reporting Burden ........................ 53 20,660.730 1,083,671.320 0.12832 139,052.851 19,167,239.00 0.000 -2,453.749 -2,453.749 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Estimated Estimated avg. Estimated Due to Title number Records per Annual records number of total Previously program Due to an Total recordkeepers recordkeeper hours per annual approved change adjustment difference records records ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recordkeeping ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Recordkeeping Breakout: For initiating 272.1(f)............... 53 16,688.98 884,516.000 0.03333 29,480.918 22,930.504 0.000 6,550.414 6,550.414 Collection Action. Recordkeeping Breakout: For IPVs...... 272.1(f)............... 53 1,626.04 86,744.000 0.03333 2,891.178 3,395.699 0.000 -504.521 -504.521 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total State Agency Recordkeeping ....................... 53 18,315.021 971,260.000 0.03333 32,372.096 26,326.203 0.000 6,045.893 6,045.893 Burden. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Estimated Estimated avg. number Due to CFR section of number Responses per Total annual of hours Estimated Previously program Due to an Total regulations respondents respondent responses per total hours approved change adjustment difference pesponse ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total state agency burden.............. ........................ 53 38,772.289 2,054,931.32 0.08342 171,424.947 19,193,565.20 0.000 3,592.144 3,592.144 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Estimated Estimated Total annual avg. number Estimated Due to Title number Responses per responses of hours total hours Previously program Due to an Total respondents respondent (Col. D x E) per (Col. F x approved change adjustment difference response G) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ HOUSEHOLD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Reporting Burden ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Demand Letter for Overissuance........ 273.18(a)(2)............. 917,566.00 1.00 884,516.000 0.03333 29,480.918 22,930.504 0.000 6,550.414 6,550.414 Notice for Hearing or Prosecution..... 273.16(e)(3)............. 43,743.00 1.00 40,230.000 0.016667 670.513 861.532 0.000 -191.019 -191.019 Administrative Disqualification 273.16(i)(2)............. 18,112.00 1.00 20,320.000 0.03333 677.266 711.062 0.000 -33.796 -33.796 Hearing Waiver. Disqualification Consent Agreement.... 273.16(i)(2)............. 6,849.00 1.00 2,913.000 0.03333 97.090 275.706 0.000 -178.616 -178.616 Action Taken on Hearing or Court 273.16(e)(9)............. 42,437.00 1.00 42,437.000 0.016667 707.281 836.297 0.000 -129.016 -129.016 Decision: For IPV Findings. Action Taken on Hearing or Court 273.16(e)(9)............. 1,306.00 1.00 1,306.000 0.016667 21.767 25.266 0.000 -3.499 -3.499 Decision: For No IPV Findings. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total Household Reporting Burden.. ......................... 917,566 1.08082 991,722.000 0.03192 31,654.835 25,640.367 0.000 6,014.468 6,014.468 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SUMMARY OF BURDEN ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ State Agency Level.................... ......................... 53 ............... 2,054,931.320 ........... 171,424.947 19,193,565.20 0.000 3,592.144 3,592.144 Household............................. ......................... 917,566 ............... 991,722.000 ........... 31,654.835 25,640.367 0.000 6,014.468 6,014.468 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total Burden This Collection...... ......................... 917,619 3.32017 3,046,653.320 0.06666 203,079.782 19,219,205.57 0.000 9,606.612 9,606.612 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dated: June 15, 2017. Jessica Shahin, Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service. [FR Doc. 2017-13574 Filed 6-28-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
| 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 August 28, 2017 to be assured consideration. | |
| Contact | Requests for additional information or copies of this information collection should be directed to Ralph Badette at 703-457-7717. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 29475 |