83 FR 40224 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Quarterly Survey of Public Pensions

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 157 (August 14, 2018)

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 157 (Tuesday, August 14, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40224-40225]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17449]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Quarterly 
Survey of Public Pensions

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 40225]]

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on 
or before October 15, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via the internet 
at [email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Phillip Vidal, Chief, Pension Statistics Branch, 
International Trade Management Division, U.S. Census Bureau, 
Headquarters: 5K069, Washington, DC 20233; telephone: 301.763.1749; 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau plans to request clearance for the form necessary 
to conduct the Quarterly Survey of Public Pensions. The quarterly 
survey was initiated by the Census Bureau in 1968 at the request of 
both the Council of Economic Advisers and the Federal Reserve Board.
    The Quarterly Survey of Public Pensions currently provides national 
summary data on the revenues, expenditures, and composition of assets 
of the largest pension systems of state and local governments. The 
Census Bureau plans to cease collection of revenue and expenditure data 
on a quarterly basis and focus the collection on asset holdings of the 
largest pension systems. Revenue and Expenditure data will continue to 
be provided on an annual basis through the related Annual Survey of 
Public Pensions.
    These data are used by the Federal Reserve Board to track the 
public sector portion of the Flow of Funds Accounts. Economists and 
public policy analysts use these data to assess general economic 
conditions and state and local government financial activities.
    Data are collected from a panel of defined benefit plans of the 100 
largest state and local government pension systems as determined by 
their total cash and security holdings reported in the 2012 Census of 
Governments. The defined benefit plans of these 100 largest pension 
systems comprise 87.2 percent of financial activity among such 
entities, based on the 2012 Census of Governments.

II. Method of Collection

    Survey data are collected through the Census Bureau's web 
collection system that enables public entities to respond to the 
questionnaire via the internet. The questionnaire is available online 
for respondents to print when they choose to mail or fax. Most 
respondents choose to report their data online. In addition to 
reporting current quarter data, respondents may provide initial data 
for the previous seven quarters or submit revisions to their data 
submitted in the previous seven quarters.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0143.
    Form Number(s): F-10.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: State and locally-administered public pension 
plans.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Time per Response: 45 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 300.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0. (This is not the cost of 
respondents' time, but the indirect costs respondents may incur for 
such things as purchases of specialized software or hardware needed to 
report, or expenditures for accounting or records maintenance services 
required specifically by the collection.)
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. 161 and 182.

IV. Request for Comments

    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 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(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 respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department Lead PRA Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-17449 Filed 8-13-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P