82 FR 48821 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 202 (October 20, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 202 (Friday, October 20, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48821-48822]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22720]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Title: Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System 
(AFCARS).
    OMB No.: 0970-0422.
    Description: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 
U.S.C. 3501-3520), federal agencies must obtain approval from the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of 
information they conduct or sponsor. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA 
(44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires federal agencies to publish a 30-day 
notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of 
information, including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an 
existing collection of information, before submitting the collection to 
OMB for approval. To comply with this requirement, the Administration 
for Children and Families (ACF) is publishing this notice that 
summarizes the following proposed collection of information for public 
comment:
    Title of Collection: Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and 
Reporting System (AFCARS).
    OMB Control Number: 0970-0422, expiration date February 28, 2018.
    Type of Review: An extension of an existing information collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Title IV-E State, Local, and Tribal 
Child Welfare Agencies.
    There have been no revisions to the existing AFCARS data collection 
found under federal regulations at 45 CFR 1355.40. The requirements for 
AFCARS being addressed by this notice are scheduled to end on September 
30, 2019. ACF is requesting that OMB approve a three-year renewal to 
cover the period when States and IV-E Tribes must continue submitting 
the existing requirements.
    On December 14, 2016, a new set of requirements (45 CFR 1355.41-44) 
for AFCARS reporting was published as a final rule and will go into 
effect on October 1, 2019. At that time, the requirements covered by 
this notice (45 CFR 1355.40) will be replaced by the new regulatory 
requirements. The requirements for the updated AFCARS requirements 
found in federal regulations at 45 CFR 1355.41-44 are covered by a 
different OMB control number (0970-0457) and are not addressed by this 
Notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In addition to this Notice, Section 
3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires Federal 
agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning 
each proposed collection of information, including each proposed 
extension or update of an existing collection of information, before 
submitting the collection to OMB for approval. In compliance with this 
requirement, ACF published a notice in the Federal Register on June 30, 
2017 and invited comment on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of ACF's functions, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the 
accuracy of ACF's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (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 respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques when appropriate, and other forms of 
information technology for the existing AFCARS reporting that is 
required by States and Tribes.
    ACF received 71 comment letters to the first notice. No substantive 
comments were received regarding the existing AFCARS data collection in 
45 CFR 1355.40 under OMB Number 0970-0457. Instead, commenters provided 
feedback on the new AFCARS data

[[Page 48822]]

collection under 45 CFR 1355.41-.47 to be implemented October 1, 2019. 
Commenters addressed support for the collection of information under 
the Indian Child Welfare Act and other areas covered by the new 
requirements. ACF received no comment on the specific burden hours for 
the existing AFCARS requirements undergoing renewal.
    AFCARS is mandated by 42 U.S.C. 679. The regulation at 45 CFR 
1355.40 and the appendices to 45 CFR 1355 set forth the requirements of 
section 479 of the Social Security Act for the collection of uniform, 
reliable information on children who are under the responsibility of 
the State or Tribal title IV-B/IV-E agency for placement, care, and 
adoption. The AFCARS requirements under 45 CFR 1355.40 have been in 
effect since October 1, 1993 for States. In 2009, section 479B(b) of 
the Act was enacted authorizing direct Federal funding of Indian 
Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Tribal consortia that choose to 
operate a foster care, adoption assistance and, at Tribal option, a 
kinship guardianship assistance program under title IV-E of the Act. 
The data collected informs State/Tribal/Federal policy decisions, 
program management, and responses to Congressional and Departmental 
inquiries.
    Respondents: Title IV-E State and Tribal Child Welfare Agencies.

                                       Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Number of    Average burden
                   Instrument                        Number of     responses per     hours per     Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent       response          hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFCARS..........................................              59               2           2,188         258,215
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours.........  ..............  ..............  ..............         258,215
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additional Information: Copies of the regulation containing the 
data elements may be obtained by writing to the Administration for 
Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, 330 
C Street SW., Washington, DC 20201. Attention Reports Clearance 
Officer. All requests should be identified by the title of the 
information collection. Email address: [email protected].
    OMB Comment: OMB is required to make a decision concerning the 
collection of information between 30 and 60 days after publication of 
this document in the Federal Register. Therefore, a comment is best 
assured of having its full effect if OMB receives it within 30 days of 
publication. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent directly to the following: Office 
of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project, Email: 
[email protected], Attn: Desk Officer for the Administration 
for Children and Families.

Mary Jones,
ACF/OPRE Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-22720 Filed 10-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4184-25-P