Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

Proposed Projects:

Title: Computerized Support Enforcement Systems.

OMB No: 0980-0271.

Description: The information being collected is mandated by Section 454(16) of the Social Security Act (the Act) which provides for the establishment and operation by the state agency, in accordance with an initial and annually updated advance planning document (APD) approved under section 452(d) of the Act, of a statewide system meeting the requirements of Section 454A. In addition, 454A(e)(1) requires that states create a State Case Registry (SCR) within their statewide automated child support systems to include information on IV-D cases and non-IV-D orders established or modified in the state on or after October 1, 1998. Section 454A(e)(5) of the Act requires states to regularly update their cases in the SCR.

The data being collected for the APD are a combination of narratives, budgets and schedules which are used to provide funding approvals on an annual basis and to monitor and oversee system development. Child support has separate regulations under 45 CFR 307.15 related to submittal of APDs because the program had supplemental authority for enhanced funding for systems development, and has substantial penalties for non-compliance with the statutory deadline of October 1, 2000. This information collection reflects the fact that 49 states and territories are now certified under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) leaving only five states that are not yet PRWORA systems certified, including one state that has not submitted an implementation APD for compliance with PRWORA automation. States and territories that opted to keep their Annual Planning Documents for child support systems are covered under a separate information collection, OMB No. 0992-0005, for 45 CFR Part 95 Subpart F.

The data being collected for the State Case Registry is used to transmit mandatory data elements to the Federal Case Registry (FCR) where it is used for matching against other data bases for the purposes of location of individuals, assets, employment and other child support related activities.

Respondents: The respondents are 54 state and territorial child support agencies.

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 Administration, Office of Information Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. E-mail address: grjohnson@acf.hhs.gov. All requests should be identified by the title of the information collection.

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.