83 FR 64103 - Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Survey of State Government Research and Development

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 239 (December 13, 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 comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 239 (Thursday, December 13, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64103-64104]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26964]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

 Census Bureau


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Survey of State 
Government Research and Development

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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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 comment on proposed and/or continuing 
information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written or on-line comments must be 
submitted on or before February 11, 2019.

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 Michael Flaherty, U.S. Census Bureau, HQ-6H051, 
4600 Silver Hill Rd., Suitland, MD 20746, (301) 763-7699 (or via the 
internet at [email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The United States Census Bureau plans to continue to conduct the 
Survey of State Government Research and Development (SGRD) to measure 
research and development performed and funded by state government 
agencies in the United States. The Census Bureau conducts the survey on 
behalf of the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics 
(NCSES) within the National Science Foundation.
    The National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended, includes a 
statutory charge to ``provide a central clearinghouse for the 
collection, interpretation, and analysis of data on scientific and 
engineering resources and to provide a source of information for policy 
formulation by other agencies in the Federal Government.'' This mandate 
was further codified in the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 
2010 Sec.  505, which requires NCSES to ``collect, acquire, analyze, 
report, and disseminate . . . statistical data on (A) research and 
development trends . . .'' Under the aegis of these legislative 
mandates, NCSES has sponsored surveys of research and development (R&D) 
since 1951, including the SGRD since 2006. The Census Bureau's 
authorization to undertake this work is found at 13 U.S.C. Section 8(b) 
which provides that the Census Bureau ``may make special statistical 
compilations and surveys for departments, agencies, and establishments 
of the Federal government, the government of the District of Columbia, 
the government of any possession or area (including political 
subdivisions thereof) . . . State or local agencies, or other public 
and private persons and agencies.''
    The SGRD is the only comprehensive source of state government 
research and development expenditure data collected on a nationwide 
scale using uniform definitions, concepts, and procedures. The 
collection covers the expenditures of all agencies in the fifty state 
governments, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico that perform or 
fund R&D. The NCSES coordinates with the Census Bureau for the data 
collection. The NCSES uses this collection to satisfy, in part, its 
need to collect research and development expenditures data.
    Fiscal data provided by respondents aid data users in measuring the 
effectiveness of resource allocation. The products of this data 
collection make it possible for data users to obtain information on 
such things as expenditures according to source of funding (e.g., 
federal funds or state funds), by performer of the work (e.g., 
intramural and extramural to state agencies), by function (e.g., 
agriculture, energy, health, transportation, etc.), by type of work 
(e.g., basic research, applied research, or experimental development) 
for intramural performance of R&D, and by R&D plant (e.g., construction 
projects). Final results produced by NCSES contain state and national 
estimates useful to a variety of data users interested in research and 
development performance including: The National Science Board; the 
Office of Management and Budget; the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy and other science policy makers; institutional researchers; and 
private organizations.
    There are no substantive changes to content for the SGRD so total 
respondent burden will not change.
    The survey announcements and forms used in the research and 
development survey are:
    Survey Announcement. An introductory letter from the Directors of

[[Page 64104]]

the NCSES and the Census Bureau is mailed to the Governor's Office to 
announce the survey collection and to solicit assignment of a State 
Coordinator. The State Coordinator's Announcement is sent 
electronically at the beginning of each survey period to solicit 
assistance in identifying state agencies which may perform or fund R&D 
activities.
    Form SRD-1. This form contains item descriptions and definitions of 
the research and development items collected by the Census Bureau on 
behalf of the NCSES. It is used primarily as a worksheet and 
instruction guide by the state agencies providing research and 
development expenditure data in their respective states. All states 
supply their data by electronic means.

II. Method of Collection

    The Census Bureau mails the 50 State governors, the mayor of DC, 
and the governor of Puerto Rico a letter requesting that they appoint a 
state coordinator for the survey. They are asked to respond within 30 
days. The Census Bureau then emails the state coordinators a 
spreadsheet asking them to identify state agencies that may be active 
R&D performers. State coordinators are asked to respond within 30 days. 
The Census Bureau subsequently emails each state agency identified by 
the respective state coordinators a pdf version of the survey form, 
which contains embedded data checks and auto-summing functionality. 
Agencies are asked to complete and email back this pdf version of the 
form. Alternatively, agencies can download the pdf form from the Census 
Bureau's Help Site or contact the Census Bureau to request an 
spreadsheet version of the form with similar data checks and auto-
summing. Agencies are also able to report over the telephone by calling 
the Census Bureau. Agencies are asked to respond within 60 days.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0933.
    Form Number: SRD-1.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: State government agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 51 governors, 1 mayor, 52 state 
coordinators, and approximately 500 state government agencies.
    Estimated Time per Response: 5 minutes for each governor, 1 hour 
for each state coordinator, and 2 hours for each state agency surveyed.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,056.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to the 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: National Science Foundation Act of 1950 as amended 
and the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, Title 42 U.S.C. 
1861-76; Title 13, U.S.C. Section 8(b).

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,
Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, 
Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2018-26964 Filed 12-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-07-P