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)

Page Range		48821-48822
FR Document		2017-22720

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 202 (Friday, 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

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 202 / Friday, October 20, 2017 / Notices 48821

professional meetings or publication in in ACF demonstrations; recipients of members; and other relevant
professional journals. ACF Grants and individuals served by populations, such as individuals at risk
Respondents: Participants in ACF ACF Grantees; comparison group of needing ACF services.
programs being evaluated; participants

ANNUAL BURDEN ESTIMATES
Number of Average
Total number Total burden
Instrument responses per burden hours
of respondents hours
respondent per response

Survey development field tests, respondent debriefing questionnaires, cog-
nitive interviews, split sample experiments, focus groups ........................... 3,825 1 1 3,825

In compliance with the requirements DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND On December 14, 2016, a new set of
of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the HUMAN SERVICES requirements (45 CFR 1355.41–44) for
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the AFCARS reporting was published as a
Administration for Children and Administration for Children and final rule and will go into effect on
Families is soliciting public comment Families October 1, 2019. At that time, the
on the specific aspects of the requirements covered by this notice (45
Submission for OMB Review; CFR 1355.40) will be replaced by the
information collection described above.
Comment Request new regulatory requirements. The
Copies of the proposed collection of
information can be obtained and Title: Adoption and Foster Care requirements for the updated AFCARS
comments may be forwarded by writing Analysis and Reporting System requirements found in federal
to the Administration for Children and (AFCARS). regulations at 45 CFR 1355.41–44 are
Families, Office of Planning, Research, OMB No.: 0970–0422. covered by a different OMB control
Description: Under the Paperwork number (0970–0457) and are not
and Evaluation, 330 C Street SW.,
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. addressed by this Notice.
Washington, DC 20201, Attn: OPRE
3501–3520), federal agencies must SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In
Reports Clearance Officer. Email
obtain approval from the Office of addition to this Notice, Section
address: OPREinfocollection@
Management and Budget (OMB) for each 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C.
acf.hhs.gov. All requests should be
collection of information they conduct 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires Federal agencies
identified by the title of the information
or sponsor. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the to provide a 60-day notice in the
collection. Federal Register concerning each
PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires
The Department specifically requests federal agencies to publish a 30-day proposed collection of information,
comments on (a) whether the proposed notice in the Federal Register including each proposed extension or
collection of information is necessary concerning each proposed collection of update of an existing collection of
for the proper performance of the information, including each proposed information, before submitting the
functions of the agency, including extension or reinstatement of an existing collection to OMB for approval. In
whether the information shall have collection of information, before compliance with this requirement, ACF
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the submitting the collection to OMB for published a notice in the Federal
agency’s estimate of the burden of the approval. To comply with this Register on June 30, 2017 and invited
proposed collection of information; (c) requirement, the Administration for comment on: (1) Whether the proposed
the quality, utility, and clarity of the Children and Families (ACF) is collection of information is necessary
information to be collected; and (d) publishing this notice that summarizes for the proper performance of ACF’s
ways to minimize the burden of the the following proposed collection of functions, including whether the
collection of information on information for public comment: information will have practical utility;
respondents, including through the use Title of Collection: Adoption and (2) the accuracy of ACF’s estimate of the
Foster Care Analysis and Reporting burden of the proposed collection of
of automated collection techniques or
System (AFCARS). information, including the validity of
other forms of information technology.
OMB Control Number: 0970–0422, the methodology and assumptions used;
Consideration will be given to (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility,
expiration date February 28, 2018.
comments and suggestions submitted Type of Review: An extension of an and clarity of the information to be
within 60 days of this publication. existing information collection. collected; and (4) ways to minimize the
Mary Jones, Respondents/Affected Public: Title burden of the collection of information
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
IV–E State, Local, and Tribal Child on respondents, including through the
Welfare Agencies. use of automated collection techniques
[FR Doc. 2017–22718 Filed 10–19–17; 8:45 am]
There have been no revisions to the when appropriate, and other forms of
BILLING CODE 4184–79–P existing AFCARS data collection found information technology for the existing
under federal regulations at 45 CFR AFCARS reporting that is required by
1355.40. The requirements for AFCARS
srobinson on DSKBC5CHB2PROD with NOTICES

States and Tribes.
being addressed by this notice are ACF received 71 comment letters to
scheduled to end on September 30, the first notice. No substantive
2019. ACF is requesting that OMB comments were received regarding the
approve a three-year renewal to cover existing AFCARS data collection in 45
the period when States and IV–E Tribes CFR 1355.40 under OMB Number 0970–
must continue submitting the existing 0457. Instead, commenters provided
requirements. feedback on the new AFCARS data

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Document Created: 2017-10-20 00:06:02
Document Modified: 2017-10-20 00:06:02

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
FR Citation		82 FR 48821

82 FR 48821 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESAdministration for Children and Families

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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families