Information Collection: Recordkeeping for E&T Program Activity Report

Summary

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection for the revision of a currently approved collection for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training (E&T) Program Activity Report (form FNS–583) and state requests for additional funding. The Employment and Training Opportunities in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program final rule modified the regulations to introduce priorities for reallocation of 100 percent funds and to specify that state agencies requesting additional funds should submit the requests for the upcoming fiscal year with the E&T State Plans. Requests and recordkeeping for these activities are currently approved under OMB No. 0584–0339, expiration date 03/31/2024. The burden estimate is 49.51 hours. The burden estimate is not impacted by these changes. FNS is not seeking comment on the reporting burden for the FNS–583 because that is under FNS' web-based Food Program Reporting System, OMB Control No: 0584–0594, expiration date 7/31/2023 (currently under review).

Request for Comments

Written comments must be received on or before Oct. 6, 2023.

Comments may be sent to:

• Marcie Foster, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314
• Via email to marcie.foster@usda.gov
• Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to http://www.regulations.gov, and follow the online instructions for submitting comments electronically.

Abstract

7 CFR 273.7(c)(9) requires state agencies to maintain quarterly E&T Program Activity Reports containing monthly figures for participation in the program. FNS uses Form FNS–583 to provide the format for this data. State agencies report this data using the online Food Program Reporting System (FPRS, OMB Control No: 0584–0594; Expiration date: 07/31/2023). State agencies must maintain records in order to support data reported in FPRS. The information collected on the FNS–583 report includes:

• On the first quarter report, the number of work registrants receiving SNAP as of October 1 of the new fiscal year;
• On each quarterly report, by month, the number of new work registrants; the number of able–bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) applicants and recipients participating in qualifying components; the number of all other applicants and recipients (including ABAWDs involved in non-qualifying activities) participating in components; and the number of ABAWDs exempt under the state agency's 15 percent exemption allowance;
• On the fourth quarter report, the total number of individuals, sorted by ABAWD and non-ABAWD participants, who participated in each component; the number of individuals who participated in the E&T Program during the fiscal year; the number of SNAP participants and applicants required by the state agency to participate in E&T and of those the number who began participation in an E&T program and the number who began participation in an E&T component; and number of mandatory E&T participants who were determined ineligible for failure to comply with E&T requirements. Additionally, state agencies have the option to report the number of individuals provided with case management services.

7 CFR 273.7(d)(1)(iii) provides that if a state agency will not expend all of the funds allocated to it for a fiscal year, FNS will reallocate unexpended funds to other state agencies requesting additional funds during the fiscal year or the subsequent fiscal year as FNS considers appropriate and equitable in accordance with a priority for funding requests process stipulated in 7 CFR 237.7(d)(1)(iii)(A)–(D).

7 CFR 273.7(d)(1)(iii)(E) specifies that state agencies should submit their request for additional funds with the E&T State Plans for the upcoming Federal Fiscal Year (FFY). The requests should indicate the priority category funds are requested; the amount requested; provide a detailed plan for the use of additional funds; and indicate how the use of the additional funds will support E&T programs and activities that have a demonstrable impact on the ability of participants to find and retain employment that leads to increased household income and reduced reliance on public assistance. Typically, FNS receives eighteen such requests per year. The time it takes to prepare these requests is included in the burden. After receiving the state requests, FNS will reallocate unexpended funds as provided above. The following is the estimated burden for E&T reporting including the burden for state agencies to request additional funds.