Proposed Information Collection Activity; Form ACF-196T, Tribal TANF Financial Report (OMB #0970-0345)

AGENCY:

Office of Family Assistance; Administration for Children and Families; HHS.

ACTION:

Request for public comment.

SUMMARY:

Form ACF-196T is used by tribes to report expenditures for the Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) grant. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will use the financial data provided by tribes to estimate quarterly funding needs, calculate award amounts, and assess compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements. ACF is requesting an extension with no changes to the form and minor updates to the instructions.

DATES:

Comments due within 60 days of publication. 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.

ADDRESSES:

Copies of the proposed collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded by emailing infocollection@acf.hhs.gov. Alternatively, copies can also be obtained by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE), 330 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20201, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. All requests, emailed or written, should be identified by the title of the information collection.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Description: Tribes use Form ACF-196T to report expenditures for the Tribal TANF grant. Authority to collect and report this information is found in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Public Law 104-193. Tribal entities with approved tribal plans for implementation of the TANF program are required under Section 412(h) of the Social Security Act to report financial data. Form ACF-196T provides for the collection of data regarding federal expenditures. Failure to collect this data would seriously compromise ACF's ability to monitor expenditures. This information is also used to estimate outlays and may be used to prepare ACF budget submissions to Congress. Financial management of the program would be seriously compromised if the expenditure data were not collected. 45 CFR part 286 Subpart E requires the strictest controls on funding requirements, which necessitates review of documentation in support of tribal expenditures for reimbursement. Comments received from previous efforts to implement a similar Tribal TANF Report Form ACF-196T were used to guide ACF in the development of the product presented with this submittal.

Respondents: All approved Tribal TANF Agencies.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 432.

Comments: In compliance with the requirements of Section 506(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 Planning, Research and Evaluation, 330 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20201. Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. Email address: infocollection@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.

Authority: U.S.C. Section 402 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 602).