Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested

ACTION:

60-Day Emergency Notice of Information Collection Under Review: Subgrant Award Report (STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program) and Subgrant Award Report Instructions.

The Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, has submitted the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with emergency review procedures of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. OMB approval has been requested by October 17, 2003. The proposed information collection is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. If granted, the emergency approval is only valid for 180 days. Comments should be directed to OMB, Office of Information and Regulation Affairs, Attention: Department of Justice Desk Officer, Washington, DC 20503. Comments are encouraged and will be accepted for 60 days until December 15, 2003.

During the first 60 days of this same review period, a regular review of this information collection is also being undertaken. All comments and suggestions, or questions regarding additional information, to include obtaining a copy of the proposed information collection instrument with instructions, should be directed to Cathy Poston, Attorney/Advisor, Office on Violence Against Women, Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice, 810 7th Street, NW, Washington DC 20531, or facsimile (202) 305-2589.

Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information are encouraged. Your comments should address one or more of the following four points:

(1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

Overview of this information:

(1) Type of information collection: Reinstatement with change of a previously approved collection for which approval has expired.

(2) The title of the form/collection: Subgrant Award Report (STOP Violence Against women Formula Grant Program) and Subgrant Award Report Instructions.

(3) The agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the department sponsoring the collection: Form Number: none. Office on Violence Against Women, Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice.

(4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as well as a brief abstract: Primary: the affected public includes the 56 STOP state and administrators (from 50 states, the District of Columbia and five territories and commonwealths (Guan, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Virgin Islands, Northern Marina Islands)) and their subgrantees. The STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant was authorized through the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) and reauthorized and amended by the Violence Against Women Act of 2000 (VAWA 2000). Its purpose is to promote a coordinated, multi-disciplinary approach to improving the criminal justice system's response to violence against women. The STOP Formula Grant Program envisions a partnership among law enforcement, prosecution, courts, and victim advocacy organizations to enhance victim safety and hold offenders accountable for their crimes of violence against women. The Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women administers the STOP Formula Grant Program funds which must be distributed by STOP state administrators according to a statutory formula (as amended by VAWA 2000).

(5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of time estimated for an average respondent to respond/reply: It is estimated that it will take the 56 respondents (STOP administrators) approximately one hour to complete an annual progress report. It is estimated that it will take approximately one hour for roughly 2500 subgrantees to complete the relevant portion of the annual progress report. The Annual Progress Report for the STOP Formula Grant Program is divided into sections that pertain to the different types of activities that grantees may engage in and the different types of grantees that receive funds, i.e. law enforcement agencies, prosecutors' offices, courts, victim services agencies, etc.

(6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated with the collection: The estimated total annual public burden associated with this application is 2,556 hours.

If additional information is required contact: Brenda E. Dyer, Department Deputy Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice, Justice Management Division, Policy and Planning Staff, Patrick Henry Building, Suite 1600, 601 D Street NW., Washington, DC 20530.