Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comment.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) is proposing to renew the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for a revised generic clearance titled, “Generic Information Collection Plan for Qualitative Consumer Education and Engagement Information Collections.”

DATES:

Written comments are encouraged and must be received on or before July 13, 2016 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments, identified by the title of the information collection, OMB Control Number (see below), and docket number (see above), by any of the following methods:

• Electronic: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• OMB: Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503 or fax to (202) 395-5806. Mailed or faxed comments to OMB should be to the attention of the OMB Desk Officer for the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.

Please note that comments submitted after the comment period will not be accepted. In general, all comments received will become public records, including any personal information provided. Sensitive personal information, such as account numbers or social security numbers, should not be included.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Documentation prepared in support of this information collection request is available at www.reginfo.gov (this link active on the day following publication of this notice). Select “Information Collection Review,” under “Currently under review, use the dropdown menu “Select Agency” and select “Consumer Financial Protection Bureau” (recent submissions to OMB will be at the top of the list). The same documentation is also available at www.regulations.gov. Requests for additional information should be directed to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, (Attention: PRA Office), 1700 G Street NW., Washington, DC 20552, (202) 435-9575, or email: CFPB_PRA@cfpb.gov. Please do not submit comments to this email box.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title of Collection: Generic Information Collection Plan for Qualitative Consumer Education, and Engagement Information Collections.

OMB Control Number: 3170-0036.

Type of Review: Extension with change of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Individuals or households, State, Local, or Tribal governments; Private Sector.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,000.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,000.

Abstract: Under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Public Law 111-203, Section 1013(d), the Bureau's Office of Financial Education is responsible for developing and implementing initiatives intended to educate and empower consumers to make better informed financial decisions. The Bureau seeks to obtain approval of a generic information collection plan to collect qualitative data on effective strategies and consumer experiences from both financial education practitioners and consumers through a variety of methods, including in-person meetings, interviews, focus groups, qualitative surveys, online discussion forums, social media polls, and other qualitative methods as necessary. The information collected through these processes will increase the Bureau's understanding of consumers' financial experiences, financial education and empowerment programs, and practices that can improve financial decision-making skills and outcomes for consumers. This information will also enable the Bureau to better communicate to consumers about the availability of Bureau tools and resources that consumers can use to make better informed financial decisions.

Request for Comments: The Bureau issued a 60-day Federal Register notice on May 16, 2016 (81 FR 30255). Comments were solicited and continue to be invited on: (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Bureau, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) The accuracy of the Bureau's estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the validity of the methods and the assumptions used; (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. All comments will become a matter of public record.