83_FR_11501 83 FR 11450 - Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System

83 FR 11450 - Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 51 (March 15, 2018)

Page Range11450-11452
FR Document2018-05038

The Children's Bureau proposes to delay the compliance and effective dates in the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) 2016 final rule for title IV-E agencies to comply with agency rules for an additional two fiscal years. We propose to delay the compliance and effective dates at the same time we seek public comment through an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM), published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, on suggestions to streamline the AFCARS data elements and remove any undue burden related to reporting AFCARS.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 51 (Thursday, March 15, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 51 (Thursday, March 15, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11450-11452]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05038]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

45 CFR Part 1355

RIN 0970-AC47


Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System

AGENCY: Children's Bureau (CB); Administration on Children, Youth and 
Families (ACYF); Administration for Children and Families (ACF); 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; delay of compliance and 
effective dates.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Children's Bureau proposes to delay the compliance and 
effective dates in the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting 
System (AFCARS) 2016 final rule for title IV-E agencies to comply with 
agency rules for an additional two fiscal years. We propose to delay 
the compliance and effective dates at the same time we seek public 
comment through an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM), 
published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, on 
suggestions to streamline the AFCARS data elements and remove any undue 
burden related to reporting AFCARS.

DATES: In order to be considered, we must receive written comments on 
this NPRM on or before April 16, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by [docket number and/or 
RIN number], by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Email: CBComments@acf.hhs.gov. Include [docket number and/
or RIN number] in subject line of the message.

[[Page 11451]]

     Mail: Written comments may be submitted to Kathleen 
McHugh, United States Department of Health and Human Services, 
Administration for Children and Families, Director, Policy Division, 
330 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20024. Please be aware that mail sent 
in response to this NPRM may take an additional 3 to 4 days to process 
due to security screening of mail.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket number or Regulatory Information Number (RIN) for this 
rulemaking. All comments received will be posted without change to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen McHugh, Division of Policy, 
Children's Bureau at (202) 401-5789.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the AFCARS final rule issued on December 
14, 2016 (81 FR 90524), ACF provided an implementation timeframe of two 
fiscal years for title IV-E agencies to comply with 45 CFR 1355.41 
through 1355.47 (81 FR 90529). On February 24, 2017, the President 
issued Executive Order 13777 on Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda. 
In response to the President's direction that federal agencies 
establish a Regulatory Reform Task Force to review existing regulations 
and make recommendations regarding their repeal, replacement, or 
modification, the HHS Task Force identified the AFCARS regulation as 
one where there may be areas for reducing reporting burden.
    Therefore, we are engaging in two regulatory actions to adhere to 
our obligations under the EO. Through this NPRM, ACF proposes to revise 
Sec.  1355.40 to provide an additional two fiscal years to comply with 
Sec. Sec.  1355.41 through 1355.47. ACF also proposes to delay the 
effective dates of instructions 3 and 5 in the rule published December 
14, 2016 (81 FR 90524), from October 1, 2019, to October 1, 2021. If 
this rule is finalized, the implementation timeframe would be delayed 
for title IV-E agencies to make revisions to their systems to comply 
with Sec. Sec.  1355.41 through 1355.47. This NPRM is open for a 30-day 
comment period. Per Executive Order 12866, the typical comment period 
is 60 days. However, the reasons for the shorter comment period for 
this NPRM is that any delay in issuing a final rulemaking might lead to 
title IV-E agencies diverting resources to unnecessary changes to their 
systems to comply with the December 2016 AFCARS final rule. 
Furthermore, this rule does not establish additional regulatory 
obligations or impose any additional burden on regulated entities. ACF 
believes that a 30-day comment period on this non-substantive 
rulemaking is a sufficient amount of time for the public to comment and 
ACF does not believe that a 30-day comment period will hamper public 
comment. ACF is publishing an ANPRM elsewhere in this issue of the 
Federal Register to seek suggestions on streamlining the data elements 
and potentially reducing burden to title IV-E agencies to report AFCARS 
data.

Section-by-Section Discussion

Section 1355.40 Foster Care and Adoption Data Collection

    We propose to revise the compliance date in the regulation to 
provide an additional two fiscal years to comply with Sec. Sec.  
1355.41 through 1355.47. State and tribal title IV-E agencies must 
continue to report AFCARS data in the same manner they do currently, 
per Sec.  1355.40 and appendices A through E of part 1355 until 
September 30, 2021. We propose that as of October 1, 2021, state and 
tribal title IV-E agencies must comply with Sec. Sec.  1355.41 through 
1355.47.
    In assessing the AFCARS regulation in response to E.O. 13777, we 
identified the following issues:
     In the December 2016 final rule, there are 272 individual 
data points, of which 153 data points are new items added to AFCARS. Of 
the 153 data points, 65 are new items related to the Indian Child 
Welfare Act (ICWA).
     State commenters expressed concerns with data points that 
could not be easily reported to AFCARS because they are qualitative 
data points of which nuances about the circumstances of the child 
cannot be reported to AFCARS a quantitative data system, they are of a 
sensitive nature, or could not be aggregated easily at the national 
level for national statistics. These points included child, adoptive 
parent, guardian, and foster parent sexual orientation, health 
assessments, educational information, adoption and guardianship subsidy 
amounts, and information on legal guardians.
     The scope and complexity of data elements related to ICWA 
was also a concern. We note that most of the ICWA-related data elements 
in the December 2016 AFCARS final rule are not tied to statutory 
reporting requirements in title IV-E or IV-B. Rather, they were 
finalized to be consistent with the Department of Interior's (DOI) 
final rule on ICWA (published on June 14, 2016, 81 FR 38778) which is 
directed to state courts. Furthermore, the majority of the ICWA-related 
data elements related to activities undertaken by the court are not 
routinely collected in child welfare electronic databases. The court 
findings and other activity taking place before the court represent a 
shift away from a child welfare agency reporting on its own activity to 
reporting on the activity of an independent third party. This raises 
questions of efficiency, reliability and consistency, which section 
479(c)(1) and 479(c)(2) of the Social Security Act require for the 
AFCARS data collection.
     We also anticipate states having many questions about how 
to report the ICWA-related data elements. HHS has no expertise in ICWA 
compliance, statute, and regulations and is not the cognizant authority 
over it, yet the December 2016 final rule places HHS in the position of 
interpreting various ICWA requirements when providing technical 
assistance to state title IV-E agencies on how to report on those data 
elements. How states report the data ultimately impacts practice, 
potentially introducing inconsistency with DOJ and DOI's interpretation 
of ICWA.
     Costs for system changes, training to consistently collect 
and report ICWA-related data and time to gather/enter data (sometimes 
manually) into the case management system.
    The Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that added the ICWA 
compliance data elements to the AFCARS was only open for comment for 30 
days. This was an insufficient amount of time for states to fairly 
analyze unfamiliar data elements, accurately calculate burden 
associated with these elements, and move any comments through their 
chain of command for submission to HHS for consideration. The ANPRM, on 
the other hand, will be open for comment for 90 days. It asks title IV-
E agencies and the public to comment on the data elements of the 
December 2016 final rule.
    Therefore, in order to get additional feedback on these and other 
issues we are issuing a proposed rule to delay implementation of the 
December 2016 AFCARS final rule. As States must go to the expense to 
revise their data collection systems in response to the December 2016 
final rule, we do not want states to incur these costs unnecessarily as 
we further assess burden under the rule. This is an opportunity for 
commenters to provide HHS with specific feedback on the data elements 
and how HHS can revise AFCARS to balance updating requirements, the 
need for better data, and the burden on title IV-E agencies. Through 
the aforementioned ANPRM

[[Page 11452]]

commenters will have the opportunity to tie ICWA related data elements 
to HHS functions/provisions thus adequately justifying their inclusion 
in the AFCARS collection.

Regulatory Impact Analysis

Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and 13771

    Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess all 
costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). Executive 
Order 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and 
benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting 
flexibility. ACF consulted with the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) and determined that this rule does meet the criteria for a 
significant regulatory action under E.O. 12866. Thus, it was subject to 
OMB review. ACF determined that the costs to title IV-E agencies as a 
result of this rule will not be significant as defined in Executive 
Order 12866 (have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or 
more or adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the 
economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public 
health or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or 
communities). Because the rule is not economically significant as 
defined in E.O. 12866, no cost-benefit analysis needs to be included in 
this NPRM. This proposed rule, if finalized as proposed, would be 
considered an E.O. 13771 deregulatory action.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    The Secretary certifies, under 5 U.S.C. 605(b), as enacted by the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (Pub. L. 96-354), that this proposed rule 
will not result in a significant impact on a substantial number of 
small entities. This proposed rule does not affect small entities 
because it is applicable only to state and tribal title IV-E agencies.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (Pub. L. 104-4) requires agencies 
to prepare an assessment of anticipated costs and benefits before 
proposing any rule that may result in an annual expenditure by state, 
local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private 
sector, of $100 million or more (adjusted annually for inflation). That 
threshold level is currently approximately $146 million. This proposed 
rule does not impose any mandates on state, local, or tribal 
governments, or the private sector that will result in an annual 
expenditure of $146 million or more.

Congressional Review

    This regulation is not a major rule as defined in 5 U.S.C. 8.

Assessment of Federal Regulations and Policies on Families

    Section 654 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations 
Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-58) requires federal agencies to determine 
whether a policy or regulation may affect family well-being. If the 
agency's determination is affirmative, then the agency must prepare an 
impact assessment addressing seven criteria specified in the law. This 
proposed rule will not have an impact on family well-being as defined 
in the law.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 35, as amended) (PRA), 
all Departments are required to submit to OMB for review and approval 
any reporting or recordkeeping requirements inherent in a proposed or 
final rule. PRA rules require that ACF estimate the total burden 
created by this proposed rule regardless of what information is 
available. ACF provides burden and cost estimates using the best 
available information. Information collection for AFCARS is currently 
authorized under OMB number 0970-0422. This notice of proposed 
rulemaking does not make changes to the AFCARS requirements for title 
IV-E agencies; it delays the effective date and provides title IV-E 
agencies with additional time to comply with sections 1355.41 through 
1355.47. Thus, the annual burden hours for recordkeeping and reporting 
does not change from those currently authorized under OMB number 0970-
0422. Therefore, we are not seeking comments on any information 
collection requirements through this NPRM.

List of Subjects in 45 CFR Part 1355

    Adoption and foster care, Child welfare, Computer technology, Grant 
programs--social programs, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 93.658, 
Foster Care Maintenance; 93.659, Adoption Assistance; 93.645, Child 
Welfare Services--State Grants).

    Dated: February 27, 2018.
Steven Wagner,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.

    Approved: March 8, 2018.
Alex M. Azar II,
Secretary.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, we propose to amend 45 
CFR part 1355 as follows:

PART 1355--GENERAL

0
1. The authority citation for part 1355 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 620 et seq., 42 U.S.C. 670 et seq., 42 
U.S.C. 1302.

0
2. Amend Sec.  1355.40 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.   1355.40 Foster care and adoption data collection.

    (a) Scope. State and tribal title IV-E agencies must follow the 
requirements of this section and appendices A through E of this part 
until September 30, 2021. As of October 1, 2021, state and tribal title 
IV-E agencies must comply with Sec. Sec.  1355.41 through 1355.47.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2018-05038 Filed 3-13-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4184-25-P



                                                  11450                  Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 51 / Thursday, March 15, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                                  soliciting comments on the data                         SNPRM. We would like to receive more                  or are not needed for monitoring the
                                                  elements and their associated burden                    detailed comments on the specific                     title IV–B and IV–E programs. Please be
                                                  through this ANPRM.                                     limitations we should be aware of that                specific in identifying the data elements
                                                     Public comments to this ANPRM will                   states will encounter in reporting the                and provide a rationale for why this
                                                  allow us to assess whether and how we                   ICWA-related data elements in the final               information would not be reliable or is
                                                  can potentially reduce burden on title                  rule. Please be specific in identifying               not necessary.
                                                  IV–E agencies to report AFCARS data                     the data elements and provide a                         Dated: February 27, 2018.
                                                  while still adhering to the requirements                rationale for why this information is                 Steven Wagner,
                                                  of section 479 of the Act and collecting                overly burdensome. If possible, provide
                                                                                                                                                                Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and
                                                  useful data that will inform efforts to                 specific cost and burden estimates                    Families.
                                                  improve the child welfare system. We                    related to the following areas:
                                                                                                             a. The number of children in foster                  Approved: March 8, 2018.
                                                  encourage state and tribal title IV–E
                                                  agencies that did not previously                        care who are considered Indian children               Alex M. Azar II,
                                                  comment to do so now. Some state title                  as defined in ICWA.                                   Secretary.
                                                  IV–E agencies provided in their                            b. Recordkeeping hours spent                       [FR Doc. 2018–05042 Filed 3–13–18; 8:45 am]
                                                  previous comments specific information                  annually:                                             BILLING CODE 4184–25–P
                                                  on compliance cost and burden                              i. Searching data sources, gathering
                                                  estimates; however, we received too few                 information, and entering the
                                                  estimates to reference for calculating the              information into the electronic case                  DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
                                                  cost and burden associated with this                    management system,                                    HUMAN SERVICES
                                                  final rule. We encourage agencies to be                    ii. Developing or modifying
                                                                                                          procedures and systems to collect,                    Administration for Children and
                                                  as specific as possible when
                                                                                                          validate, and verify the information and              Families
                                                  commenting on this ANPRM. We will
                                                  take comments and estimates into                        adjusting existing ways to comply with
                                                                                                          AFCARS requirements, and                              45 CFR Part 1355
                                                  consideration in revising the regulation.
                                                     For a full picture of the AFCARS                        iii. Training and administrative tasks             RIN 0970–AC47
                                                  regulation, we invite commenters to                     associated with training personnel on
                                                  review the AFCARS regulation and                        the AFCARS requirements (e.g.,                        Adoption and Foster Care Analysis
                                                  accompanying information that CB                        reviewing instructions, developing the                and Reporting System
                                                  issued on our website, which can be                     training and manuals).
                                                                                                             c. Reporting hours spent annually                  AGENCY:  Children’s Bureau (CB);
                                                  found here: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/                                                                       Administration on Children, Youth and
                                                  laws-policies/whats-new.                                extracting the information for AFCARS
                                                                                                          reporting and transmitting the                        Families (ACYF); Administration for
                                                  II. Questions for Comment                               information to ACF.                                   Children and Families (ACF);
                                                                                                             3. Previously, we received comments                Department of Health and Human
                                                     1. Identify the data elements, non-
                                                                                                          that particular data elements did not                 Services (HHS).
                                                  ICWA-related, that are overly
                                                                                                          lend themselves to national statistics                ACTION: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking;
                                                  burdensome for state and tribal title IV–
                                                  E agencies and explain why. Please be                   and were best assessed with qualitative               delay of compliance and effective dates.
                                                  specific in identifying the data elements               methods such as case review. Please
                                                                                                          provide specific recommendations on                   SUMMARY:   The Children’s Bureau
                                                  and provide a rationale for why                                                                               proposes to delay the compliance and
                                                  collecting and reporting this                           which data elements in the regulation to
                                                                                                          retain that are important to                          effective dates in the Adoption and
                                                  information is overly burdensome. If                                                                          Foster Care Analysis and Reporting
                                                  possible, provide specific cost and                     understanding and assessing the foster
                                                                                                          care population at the national level.                System (AFCARS) 2016 final rule for
                                                  burden estimates related to the                                                                               title IV–E agencies to comply with
                                                  following areas:                                        Also, provide a rationale for your
                                                                                                          suggestion that may include its                       agency rules for an additional two fiscal
                                                     a. Recordkeeping hours spent                                                                               years. We propose to delay the
                                                  annually:                                               relevance to monitor compliance with
                                                                                                          the title IV–B and IV–E programs or                   compliance and effective dates at the
                                                     i. Searching data sources, gathering                                                                       same time we seek public comment
                                                  information, and entering the                           another strong justification for using the
                                                                                                          data at the national level.                           through an Advance Notice of Proposed
                                                  information into the electronic case                                                                          Rulemaking (ANPRM), published
                                                  management system,                                         4. Previously we received comments
                                                                                                          noting concerns with variability in some              elsewhere in this issue of the Federal
                                                     ii. Developing or modifying
                                                                                                          of the data elements across states and                Register, on suggestions to streamline
                                                  procedures and systems to collect,
                                                                                                          within jurisdictions. Please provide                  the AFCARS data elements and remove
                                                  validate, and verify the information and
                                                                                                          specific suggestions to simplify data                 any undue burden related to reporting
                                                  adjusting existing procedures to comply
                                                                                                          elements to facilitate the consistent                 AFCARS.
                                                  with AFCARS requirements, and
                                                     iii. Training and administrative tasks               collection and reporting of AFCARS                    DATES: In order to be considered, we
                                                  associated with training personnel on                   data. Also, provide a rationale for each              must receive written comments on this
                                                  the AFCARS requirements (e.g.,                          suggestion and how the simplification                 NPRM on or before April 16, 2018.
                                                  reviewing instructions, developing the                  would still yield pertinent data.                     ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
                                                  training and manuals).                                     5. Previously we received comments                 identified by [docket number and/or
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                                                     b. Reporting hours spent annually                    questioning the utility, reliability, and             RIN number], by one of the following
                                                  extracting the information for AFCARS                   purpose of certain data elements at the               methods:
                                                  reporting and transmitting the                          national level. Provide specific                         • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://
                                                  information to ACF.                                     recommendations on which data                         www.regulations.gov. Follow the
                                                     2. Previously, we received comments                  elements in the regulation to remove                  instructions for submitting comments.
                                                  regarding burden and the system                         because they would not yield reliable                    • Email: CBComments@acf.hhs.gov.
                                                  changes needed to report the ICWA-                      national information about children                   Include [docket number and/or RIN
                                                  related data elements of the 2016                       involved with the child welfare system                number] in subject line of the message.


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                                                                         Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 51 / Thursday, March 15, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                            11451

                                                     • Mail: Written comments may be                      additional burden on regulated entities.              related data elements related to
                                                  submitted to Kathleen McHugh, United                    ACF believes that a 30-day comment                    activities undertaken by the court are
                                                  States Department of Health and Human                   period on this non-substantive                        not routinely collected in child welfare
                                                  Services, Administration for Children                   rulemaking is a sufficient amount of                  electronic databases. The court findings
                                                  and Families, Director, Policy Division,                time for the public to comment and ACF                and other activity taking place before
                                                  330 C Street SW, Washington, DC                         does not believe that a 30-day comment                the court represent a shift away from a
                                                  20024. Please be aware that mail sent in                period will hamper public comment.                    child welfare agency reporting on its
                                                  response to this NPRM may take an                       ACF is publishing an ANPRM elsewhere                  own activity to reporting on the activity
                                                  additional 3 to 4 days to process due to                in this issue of the Federal Register to              of an independent third party. This
                                                  security screening of mail.                             seek suggestions on streamlining the                  raises questions of efficiency, reliability
                                                     Instructions: All submissions received               data elements and potentially reducing                and consistency, which section
                                                  must include the agency name and                        burden to title IV–E agencies to report               479(c)(1) and 479(c)(2) of the Social
                                                  docket number or Regulatory                             AFCARS data.                                          Security Act require for the AFCARS
                                                  Information Number (RIN) for this                                                                             data collection.
                                                                                                          Section-by-Section Discussion                           • We also anticipate states having
                                                  rulemaking. All comments received will
                                                  be posted without change to https://                    Section 1355.40 Foster Care and                       many questions about how to report the
                                                  www.regulations.gov, including any                      Adoption Data Collection                              ICWA-related data elements. HHS has
                                                  personal information provided.                                                                                no expertise in ICWA compliance,
                                                                                                            We propose to revise the compliance                 statute, and regulations and is not the
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        date in the regulation to provide an
                                                  Kathleen McHugh, Division of Policy,                                                                          cognizant authority over it, yet the
                                                                                                          additional two fiscal years to comply                 December 2016 final rule places HHS in
                                                  Children’s Bureau at (202) 401–5789.                    with §§ 1355.41 through 1355.47. State                the position of interpreting various
                                                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the                       and tribal title IV–E agencies must                   ICWA requirements when providing
                                                  AFCARS final rule issued on December                    continue to report AFCARS data in the                 technical assistance to state title IV–E
                                                  14, 2016 (81 FR 90524), ACF provided                    same manner they do currently, per                    agencies on how to report on those data
                                                  an implementation timeframe of two                      § 1355.40 and appendices A through E                  elements. How states report the data
                                                  fiscal years for title IV–E agencies to                 of part 1355 until September 30, 2021.                ultimately impacts practice, potentially
                                                  comply with 45 CFR 1355.41 through                      We propose that as of October 1, 2021,                introducing inconsistency with DOJ and
                                                  1355.47 (81 FR 90529). On February 24,                  state and tribal title IV–E agencies must             DOI’s interpretation of ICWA.
                                                  2017, the President issued Executive                    comply with §§ 1355.41 through                          • Costs for system changes, training
                                                  Order 13777 on Enforcing the                            1355.47.                                              to consistently collect and report ICWA-
                                                  Regulatory Reform Agenda. In response                     In assessing the AFCARS regulation                  related data and time to gather/enter
                                                  to the President’s direction that federal               in response to E.O. 13777, we identified              data (sometimes manually) into the case
                                                  agencies establish a Regulatory Reform                  the following issues:                                 management system.
                                                  Task Force to review existing                             • In the December 2016 final rule,                    The Supplemental Notice of Proposed
                                                  regulations and make recommendations                    there are 272 individual data points, of              Rulemaking that added the ICWA
                                                  regarding their repeal, replacement, or                 which 153 data points are new items                   compliance data elements to the
                                                  modification, the HHS Task Force                        added to AFCARS. Of the 153 data                      AFCARS was only open for comment
                                                  identified the AFCARS regulation as                     points, 65 are new items related to the               for 30 days. This was an insufficient
                                                  one where there may be areas for                        Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).                      amount of time for states to fairly
                                                  reducing reporting burden.                                • State commenters expressed                        analyze unfamiliar data elements,
                                                     Therefore, we are engaging in two                    concerns with data points that could not              accurately calculate burden associated
                                                  regulatory actions to adhere to our                     be easily reported to AFCARS because                  with these elements, and move any
                                                  obligations under the EO. Through this                  they are qualitative data points of which             comments through their chain of
                                                  NPRM, ACF proposes to revise                            nuances about the circumstances of the                command for submission to HHS for
                                                  § 1355.40 to provide an additional two                  child cannot be reported to AFCARS a                  consideration. The ANPRM, on the
                                                  fiscal years to comply with §§ 1355.41                  quantitative data system, they are of a               other hand, will be open for comment
                                                  through 1355.47. ACF also proposes to                   sensitive nature, or could not be                     for 90 days. It asks title IV–E agencies
                                                  delay the effective dates of instructions               aggregated easily at the national level               and the public to comment on the data
                                                  3 and 5 in the rule published December                  for national statistics. These points                 elements of the December 2016 final
                                                  14, 2016 (81 FR 90524), from October 1,                 included child, adoptive parent,                      rule.
                                                  2019, to October 1, 2021. If this rule is               guardian, and foster parent sexual                      Therefore, in order to get additional
                                                  finalized, the implementation timeframe                 orientation, health assessments,                      feedback on these and other issues we
                                                  would be delayed for title IV–E agencies                educational information, adoption and                 are issuing a proposed rule to delay
                                                  to make revisions to their systems to                   guardianship subsidy amounts, and                     implementation of the December 2016
                                                  comply with §§ 1355.41 through                          information on legal guardians.                       AFCARS final rule. As States must go to
                                                  1355.47. This NPRM is open for a 30-                      • The scope and complexity of data                  the expense to revise their data
                                                  day comment period. Per Executive                       elements related to ICWA was also a                   collection systems in response to the
                                                  Order 12866, the typical comment                        concern. We note that most of the                     December 2016 final rule, we do not
                                                  period is 60 days. However, the reasons                 ICWA-related data elements in the                     want states to incur these costs
                                                  for the shorter comment period for this                 December 2016 AFCARS final rule are                   unnecessarily as we further assess
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                  NPRM is that any delay in issuing a                     not tied to statutory reporting                       burden under the rule. This is an
                                                  final rulemaking might lead to title IV–                requirements in title IV–E or IV–B.                   opportunity for commenters to provide
                                                  E agencies diverting resources to                       Rather, they were finalized to be                     HHS with specific feedback on the data
                                                  unnecessary changes to their systems to                 consistent with the Department of                     elements and how HHS can revise
                                                  comply with the December 2016                           Interior’s (DOI) final rule on ICWA                   AFCARS to balance updating
                                                  AFCARS final rule. Furthermore, this                    (published on June 14, 2016, 81 FR                    requirements, the need for better data,
                                                  rule does not establish additional                      38778) which is directed to state courts.             and the burden on title IV–E agencies.
                                                  regulatory obligations or impose any                    Furthermore, the majority of the ICWA-                Through the aforementioned ANPRM


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                                                  11452                  Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 51 / Thursday, March 15, 2018 / Proposed Rules

                                                  commenters will have the opportunity                    threshold level is currently                            Dated: February 27, 2018.
                                                  to tie ICWA related data elements to                    approximately $146 million. This                      Steven Wagner,
                                                  HHS functions/provisions thus                           proposed rule does not impose any                     Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and
                                                  adequately justifying their inclusion in                mandates on state, local, or tribal                   Families.
                                                  the AFCARS collection.                                  governments, or the private sector that                 Approved: March 8, 2018.
                                                  Regulatory Impact Analysis                              will result in an annual expenditure of               Alex M. Azar II,
                                                                                                          $146 million or more.
                                                                                                                                                                Secretary.
                                                  Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and
                                                  13771                                                   Congressional Review                                    For the reasons set forth in the
                                                                                                                                                                preamble, we propose to amend 45 CFR
                                                     Executive Orders 12866 and 13563                       This regulation is not a major rule as
                                                                                                                                                                part 1355 as follows:
                                                  direct agencies to assess all costs and                 defined in 5 U.S.C. 8.
                                                  benefits of available regulatory                                                                              PART 1355—GENERAL
                                                  alternatives and, if regulation is                      Assessment of Federal Regulations and
                                                  necessary, to select regulatory                         Policies on Families                                  ■ 1. The authority citation for part 1355
                                                  approaches that maximize net benefits                     Section 654 of the Treasury and                     continues to read as follows:
                                                  (including potential economic,                          General Government Appropriations                       Authority: 42 U.S.C. 620 et seq., 42 U.S.C.
                                                  environmental, public health and safety                 Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106–58) requires                 670 et seq., 42 U.S.C. 1302.
                                                  effects, distributive impacts, and                      federal agencies to determine whether a               ■ 2. Amend § 1355.40 by revising
                                                  equity). Executive Order 13563                          policy or regulation may affect family                paragraph (a) to read as follows:
                                                  emphasizes the importance of
                                                                                                          well-being. If the agency’s
                                                  quantifying both costs and benefits, of                                                                       § 1355.40 Foster care and adoption data
                                                                                                          determination is affirmative, then the
                                                  reducing costs, of harmonizing rules,                                                                         collection.
                                                                                                          agency must prepare an impact
                                                  and of promoting flexibility. ACF                                                                               (a) Scope. State and tribal title IV–E
                                                                                                          assessment addressing seven criteria
                                                  consulted with the Office of                                                                                  agencies must follow the requirements
                                                                                                          specified in the law. This proposed rule
                                                  Management and Budget (OMB) and                                                                               of this section and appendices A
                                                  determined that this rule does meet the                 will not have an impact on family well-
                                                                                                                                                                through E of this part until September
                                                  criteria for a significant regulatory                   being as defined in the law.
                                                                                                                                                                30, 2021. As of October 1, 2021, state
                                                  action under E.O. 12866. Thus, it was                   Paperwork Reduction Act                               and tribal title IV–E agencies must
                                                  subject to OMB review. ACF determined                                                                         comply with §§ 1355.41 through
                                                  that the costs to title IV–E agencies as                   Under the Paperwork Reduction Act                  1355.47.
                                                  a result of this rule will not be                       (44 U.S.C. 35, as amended) (PRA), all                 *     *     *      *    *
                                                  significant as defined in Executive                     Departments are required to submit to                 [FR Doc. 2018–05038 Filed 3–13–18; 8:45 am]
                                                  Order 12866 (have an annual effect on                   OMB for review and approval any                       BILLING CODE 4184–25–P
                                                  the economy of $100 million or more or                  reporting or recordkeeping requirements
                                                  adversely affect in a material way the                  inherent in a proposed or final rule.
                                                  economy, a sector of the economy,                       PRA rules require that ACF estimate the               FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
                                                  productivity, competition, jobs, the                    total burden created by this proposed                 COMMISSION
                                                  environment, public health or safety, or                rule regardless of what information is
                                                  State, local, or tribal governments or                  available. ACF provides burden and cost               47 CFR Part 54
                                                  communities). Because the rule is not                   estimates using the best available
                                                  economically significant as defined in                                                                        [WC Docket Nos. 17–287, 11–42, and 09–
                                                                                                          information. Information collection for
                                                                                                                                                                197; Report No. 3087]
                                                  E.O. 12866, no cost-benefit analysis                    AFCARS is currently authorized under
                                                  needs to be included in this NPRM. This                 OMB number 0970–0422. This notice of                  Petitions for Reconsideration of Action
                                                  proposed rule, if finalized as proposed,                proposed rulemaking does not make                     in Rulemaking Proceeding
                                                  would be considered an E.O. 13771                       changes to the AFCARS requirements
                                                  deregulatory action.                                    for title IV–E agencies; it delays the                AGENCY:  Federal Communications
                                                                                                          effective date and provides title IV–E                Commission.
                                                  Regulatory Flexibility Analysis                                                                               ACTION: Petitions for Reconsideration;
                                                                                                          agencies with additional time to comply
                                                     The Secretary certifies, under 5 U.S.C.              with sections 1355.41 through 1355.47.                correction.
                                                  605(b), as enacted by the Regulatory                    Thus, the annual burden hours for
                                                  Flexibility Act (Pub. L. 96–354), that                                                                        SUMMARY:   The Federal Communications
                                                                                                          recordkeeping and reporting does not
                                                  this proposed rule will not result in a                                                                       Commission (Commission) published a
                                                                                                          change from those currently authorized                document in the Federal Register of
                                                  significant impact on a substantial                     under OMB number 0970–0422.
                                                  number of small entities. This proposed                                                                       March 2, 2018 (83 FR 8962), regarding
                                                                                                          Therefore, we are not seeking comments                Petitions for Reconsideration filed in the
                                                  rule does not affect small entities                     on any information collection
                                                  because it is applicable only to state and                                                                    Commission’s rulemaking proceeding.
                                                                                                          requirements through this NPRM.                       The document contained the incorrect
                                                  tribal title IV–E agencies.
                                                                                                          List of Subjects in 45 CFR Part 1355                  deadline for filing replies to an
                                                  Unfunded Mandates Reform Act                                                                                  opposition to the Petitions. This
                                                    The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act                        Adoption and foster care, Child                     document corrects the deadline for
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                  (Pub. L. 104–4) requires agencies to                    welfare, Computer technology, Grant                   replies to an opposition to the Petitions.
                                                  prepare an assessment of anticipated                    programs—social programs, Reporting                   DATES: Oppositions to the Petitions
                                                  costs and benefits before proposing any                 and recordkeeping requirements.                       must be filed on or before March 19,
                                                  rule that may result in an annual                       (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance               2018. Replies to an opposition must be
                                                  expenditure by state, local, and tribal                 Program Number 93.658, Foster Care                    filed on or before March 29, 2018.
                                                  governments, in the aggregate, or by the                Maintenance; 93.659, Adoption Assistance;             ADDRESSES: Federal Communications
                                                  private sector, of $100 million or more                 93.645, Child Welfare Services—State                  Commission, 445 12th Street SW,
                                                  (adjusted annually for inflation). That                 Grants).                                              Washington, DC 20554.


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Document Created: 2018-03-15 02:37:45
Document Modified: 2018-03-15 02:37:45
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionNotice of Proposed Rulemaking; delay of compliance and effective dates.
DatesIn order to be considered, we must receive written comments on this NPRM on or before April 16, 2018.
ContactKathleen McHugh, Division of Policy, Children's Bureau at (202) 401-5789.
FR Citation83 FR 11450 
RIN Number0970-AC76
CFR AssociatedAdoption and Foster Care; Child Welfare; Computer Technology; Grant Programs-Social Programs and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

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