30848 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 103 / Thursday, May 29, 2014 / Notices 

EXHIBIT 1—ESTIMATED BURDEN HOURS OVER 3 YEARS

Type of information collection Number of 

respondents 

Number of 

responses 

per 

respondent 

Hours per 

response 

Total 

burden 

hours 

Mail/email * ....................................................................................................... 15,000 1 15/60 3,750 

Telephone ........................................................................................................ 600 1 40/60 400 

Web-based ....................................................................................................... 15,000 1 10/60 2,500 

Focus Groups .................................................................................................. 1,500 1 2.0 3,000

In-person .......................................................................................................... 600 1 50/60 500 

Total .......................................................................................................... 32,700 na na 10,150 

* May include telephone non-response follow-up in which case the burden will not change. 

EXHIBIT 2—ESTIMATED COST BURDEN OVER 3 YEARS

Type of information collection Number of 

respondents 

Total 

burden 

hours 

Average 

hourly 

wage rate * 

Total 

cost burden 

Mail/email ......................................................................................................... 15,000 3,750 $33.51 $25,663 

Telephone ........................................................................................................ 600 400 33.51 3,404 

Web-based ....................................................................................................... 15,000 2,500 33.51 83,775 

Focus Groups .................................................................................................. 1,500 3,000 33.51 100,530 

In-person .......................................................................................................... 600 500 33.51 16,755 

Total .......................................................................................................... 32,700 10,150 na 340,127 

* Based upon the average wages for 29–000 (Healthcare Practitioner ‘‘National Compensation Survey: Occupational Wages in the United 

States, May 2009,’’ U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Request for Comments 

In accordance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act, comments on AHRQ’s 

information collection are requested 

with regard to any of the following: (a) 

Whether the proposed collection of 

information is necessary for the proper 

performance of AHRQ healthcare 

research and healthcare information 

dissemination functions, including 

whether the information will have 

practical utility; (b) the accuracy of 

AHRQ’s estimate of burden (including 

hours and costs) of the proposed 

collection(s) of information; (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 upon the 

respondents, including the use of 

automated collection techniques or 

other forms of information technology. 

Comments submitted in response to 

this notice will be summarized and 

included in the Agency’s subsequent 

request for OMB approval of the 

proposed information collection. All 

comments will become a matter of 

public record. 

Dated: May 21, 2014. 

Richard Kronick, 

Director. 

[FR Doc. 2014–12360 Filed 5–28–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4160–90–M 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Agency for Healthcare Research and 

Quality 

Agency Information Collection; 

Activities: Proposed Collection; 

Comment Request 

AGENCY: Agency for Healthcare Research 

and Quality, HHS. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: This notice announces the 

intention of the Agency for Healthcare 

Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request 

that the Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) approve the proposed 

information collection project: ‘‘Generic 

Clearance for Questionnaire and Data 

Collection Testing, Evaluation, and 

Research for the Agency for Healthcare 

Research and Quality.’’ In accordance 

with the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 

U.S.C. 3501–3520, AHRQ invites the 

public to comment on this proposed 

information collection. 

DATES: Comments on this notice must be 

received by July 28, 2014. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments should 

be submitted to: Doris Lefkowitz, 

Reports Clearance Officer, AHRQ, by 

email at doris.lefkowitz@AHRQ.hhs.gov. 

Copies of the proposed collection 

plans, data collection instruments, and 

specific details on the estimated burden 

can be obtained from the AI–IRQ 

Reports Clearance Officer. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Doris Lefkowitz, AHRQ Reports 

Clearance Officer, (301) 427–1477, or by 

email at doris.lefkowitz@AHRQ.hhs.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Proposed Project 

Generic Clearance for Questionnaire 

and Data Collection Testing, Evaluation, 

and Research for the Agency for 

Healthcare Research and Quality 

The Agency for Healthcare Research 

and Quality (AHRQ) requests that the 

Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) reinstate generic pre-testing 

clearance 0935–0124 for three years to 

facilitate AHRQ’s efforts to (1) employ 

evaluation-type methods and techniques 

to improve AHRQ’s current data 

collection and estimation procedures, 

(2) develop new collections and 

procedures, including toolkits, and (3) 

revise existing collections and 

procedures. AHRQ uses techniques to 

simplify data collection and estimation 

procedures, reduce respondent burden, 

and improve efficiencies to meet the 

needs of individuals and small business 

respondents who may have reduced 

budgets and staff. AHRQ believes that 

developing, testing, and evaluating data 

collection and estimation procedures 

using survey methods and other 

techniques in anticipation of agencysponsored studies can improve its 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 103 / Thursday, May 29, 2014 / Notices 30849 

information collection efforts and the 

products it develops and allow AHRQ to 

be more responsive to fast-changing 

developments in the healthcare research 

field. 

This clearance request is limited to 

research on data collection, toolkit 

development, and estimation 

procedures and reports and does not 

extend to the collection of data for 

public release or policy formation. The 

current clearance was granted on May 

27th, 2011 and expires on May 31st, 

2014. 

This generic clearance will allow 

AHRQ to draft and test toolkits, survey 

instruments and other data collection 

and estimation procedures more quickly 

and with greater lead time, thereby 

managing project time more efficiently 

and improving the quality of the data 

AHRQ collects. In some instances, the 

ability to test and evaluate toolkits, data 

collection and estimation procedures in 

anticipation of work or early in a project 

may result in the decision not to 

proceed with additional activities, 

thereby saving both public and private 

resources and effectively eliminating 

respondent burden. 

Many of the tools AHRQ develops are 

made available to the private sector to 

assist in improving health care quality. 

The health and health care environment 

changes rapidly and requires a quick 

response from AHRQ to provide refined 

tools. This generic clearance will 

facilitate AHRQ’s response to this 

changing environment. 

These preliminary research activities 

will not be used by AHRQ to regulate 

or sanction its customers. They will be 

entirely voluntary and the 

confidentiality of respondents and their 

responses will be preserved. Proposed 

information collections submitted under 

this generic clearance will be reviewed 

and acted upon by OMB within 14 days 

of submission to OMB. 

Method of Collection 

The information collected through 

preliminary research activities will be 

used by AHRQ to employ techniques to 

(1) improve AHRQ’s current data 

collection and estimation procedures, 

(2) develop new collections and 

procedures, including toolkits, and (3) 

revise existing collections and 

procedures in anticipation or in 

response to changes in the health or 

health care field. The end result will be 

improvement in AHRQ’s data 

collections and procedures and the 

quality of data collected, a reduction or 

minimization of respondent burden, 

increased agency efficiency, and 

improved responsiveness to the public. 

Estimated Annual Respondent Burden 

Exhibit 1 shows the estimated burden 

hours, over the full 3 years of this 

clearance, for the respondents’ time to 

participate in the research activities that 

may be conducted under this generic 

clearance. Mail surveys will be 

conducted with about 6,000 persons 

(2,000 per year for 3 years) and are 

estimated to average 20 minutes. Mail 

surveys may also be sent to respondents 

via email, and may include a telephone 

non-response follow-up. Telephone 

non-response follow-up for mailed 

surveys is not counted as a telephone 

survey in Exhibit 1. Not more than 600 

persons, over 3 years, will participate in 

telephone surveys that will take about 

40 minutes. Web-based surveys will be 

conducted with no more than 3,000 

persons and will require no more than 

10 minutes to complete. About 1,500 

persons will participate in focus groups 

which may last up to two hours, while 

in-person interviews will be conducted 

with 600 persons and will take about 50 

minutes. Automated data collection will 

be conducted for about 1,500 persons 

and could take up to 1 hour. Cognitive 

testing will be conducted with about 

600 persons and is estimated to take 11⁄2

hours to complete. The total burden 

over 3 years is estimated to be 8,900 

hours (about 2,967 hours per year). 

Exhibit 2 shows the estimated cost 

burden over 3 years, based on the 

respondents’ time to participate in these 

research activities. The total cost burden 

is estimated to be $298,239. 

EXHIBIT 1—ESTIMATED BURDEN HOURS OVER 3 YEARS

Type of information collection Number of 

respondents 

Number of 

responses 

per 

respondent 

Hours per 

response 

Total 

burden 

hours 

Mail/email * ....................................................................................................... 6,000 1 20/60 2,000 

Telephone ........................................................................................................ 600 1 40/60 400 

Web-based ....................................................................................................... 3,000 1 10/60 500 

Focus Groups .................................................................................................. 1,500 1 2.0 3,000

In-person .......................................................................................................... 600 1 1.0 600 

Automated ** .................................................................................................... 1,500 1 1.0 1,500 

Cognitive Testing *** ........................................................................................ 600 1 1.5 900 

Totals ........................................................................................................ 13,800 na na 8,900 

* May include telephone non-response follow-up in which case the burden will not change 

** May include testing of database software, CAPI software or other automated technologies. 

*** May include cognitive interviews for questionnaire or toolkit development, or ‘‘think aloud’’ testing of prototype Web sites. 

EXHIBIT 2—ESTIMATED COST BURDEN OVER 3 YEARS

Type of information collection Number of 

respondents 

Total 

burden hours 

Average 

hourly 

wage rate * 

Total 

cost burden 

Mail/email ......................................................................................................... 6,000 2,000 33.51 67,020 

Telephone ........................................................................................................ 600 400 33.51 13,404 

Web-based ....................................................................................................... 3,000 500 33.51 16,755 

Focus Groups .................................................................................................. 1,500 3,000 33.51 100,530 

In-person .......................................................................................................... 600 600 33.51 20,106 

Automated ........................................................................................................ 1,500 1,500 33.51 50,265 

Cognitive Testing ............................................................................................. 600 900 33.51 30,159 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
30850 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 103 / Thursday, May 29, 2014 / Notices 

EXHIBIT 2—ESTIMATED COST BURDEN OVER 3 YEARS—Continued 

Type of information collection Number of 

respondents 

Total 

burden hours 

Average 

hourly 

wage rate * 

Total 

cost burden 

Totals ........................................................................................................ 13,800 8,900 na 298,239 

* Based upon the average wages for 29–000 (Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Occupations), ‘‘National Compensation Survey: Occupational Wages in the United States, May 2009,’’ U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Request for Comments 

In accordance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act, comments on AHRQ’s 

information collection are requested 

with regard to any of the following: (a) 

whether the proposed collection of 

information is necessary for the proper 

performance of AHRQ healthcare 

research and healthcare information 

dissemination functions, including 

whether the information will have 

practical utility; (b) the accuracy of 

AHRQ’s estimate of burden (including 

hours and costs) of the proposed 

collection(s) of information; (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 upon the 

respondents, including the use of 

automated collection techniques or 

other forms of information technology. 

Comments submitted in response to 

this notice will be summarized and 

included in the Agency’s subsequent 

request for OMB approval of the 

proposed information collection. All 

comments will become a matter of 

public record. 

Dated: May 21, 2014. 

Richard Kronick, 

Director. 

[FR Doc. 2014–12359 Filed 5–28–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4160–90–M 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Administration for Children and 

Families 

Proposed Information Collection 

Activity; Comment Request 

Title: Adoption and Foster Care 

Analysis Reporting System for Title IV– 

B and Title IV–E (AFCARS). 

OMB No.: 0970–0422. 

Description: The Adoption and Foster 

Care Analysis and Reporting System 

(AFCARS) is mandated by 42 U.S.C. 

679. The regulation at 45 CFR 1355 sets 

forth the requirements of section 479 of 

the Social Security Act for the collection 

of uniform, reliable information on 

children who are under the 

responsibility of the State or Tribal title 

IV–B/IV–E agency for placement, care, 

and adoption. Effective October 1, 2009, 

section 479B(b) of the Act authorizes 

direct Federal funding of Indian Tribes, 

Tribal organizations, and Tribal 

consortia that choose to operate a foster 

care, adoption assistance and, at Tribal 

option, a kinship guardianship 

assistance program under title IV–E of 

the Act. The Federal regulations at 45 

CFR 1355.40 were amended as part of 

an Interim Final Rule published January 

6, 2012 to apply the same regulatory 

requirements for data collection and 

reporting to a Tribal title IV–E agency as 

are applied to a State title IV–E agency. 

The data collected will inform State/ 

Tribal/Federal policy decisions, 

program management, and responses to 

Congressional and Departmental 

inquiries. Specifically, the data are used 

for short/long-term budget projections, 

trend analysis, child and family service 

reviews, and to target areas for 

improved technical assistance. The data 

will provide information about foster 

care placements, adoptive parents, 

length of time in care, delays in 

termination of parental rights and 

placement for adoption. 

Respondents: Title IV–E State and 

Tribal Child Welfare Agencies. 

ANNUAL BURDEN ESTIMATES

Instrument Number of 

respondents 

Number of 

responses 

per 

respondent 

Average 

burden hours 

per 

response 

Total burden 

hours 

AFCARS .......................................................................................................... 72 2 1,786 257,184 

Estimated Total Annual Burden 

Hours: 257,184. 

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, 370 L’Enfant 

Promenade SW., Washington, DC 20447, 

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. 

Robert Sargis, 

Reports Clearance Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2014–12405 Filed 5–28–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4184–01–P 


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