Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

Proposed Projects: Title: Refugee Resettlement Program Estimates: CMA, ORR-1, OMB No. 0970-0030.

Description: The Office of Refugee Settlement (ORR) reimburses, to the extent of available appropriations, certain non-Federal costs for the provision of cash and medical assistance to refugees, along with allowable expenses in the administration of the Refugee Resettlement Program. ORR needs sound state estimates of likely expenditures for refugee cash, medical, and administrative (CMA) expenditures so that it can anticipate Federal costs in upcoming quarters. If Federal costs are anticipated to exceed budget allocations, ORR must take steps to reduce Federal expenses, such as limiting the number of months of eligibility for Refugee Cash Assistance and Refugee Medical Assistance.

To meet the need for reliable state estimates of anticipated expenses, ORR has developed a single-page form in which states estimate the average number of recipients for each category of assistance, the average unit cost over the next 12 months and the expense for the overall administration of the program. This form, the ORR-1 (formerly Form FSA-601) must be submitted prior to the beginning of each Federal fiscal year. Without this information, ORR would be out of compliance with the intent of its legislation and otherwise unable to estimate program costs adequately.

In addition, the ORR-1 serves as the states's application for reimbursement of its CMA expenses. Submission of this form is thus required by section 412(a)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act which provides that “no grant or contract may be awarded under this section unless an appropriate proposal and application * * * are submitted to, and approved by, the appropriate administering official.”

Respondents: State governments.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 24.

In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described above. Copies of the proposed collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Information Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. All requests should be identified by the title of the information collection. E-mail address: grjohnson@acf.hhs.gov.

The Department specifically requests comments 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 of the proposed collection of information; (c) 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. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted within 60 days of this publication.