[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 182 (Friday, September 19, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 49205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24886]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of the Census


Survey of Program Dynamics--1998

ACTION: Proposed collection; Comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before November 18, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Michael McMahon, Bureau of the Census, FOB 3, Room 3387, 
Washington, DC 20233-8400, (301) 457-3819.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Survey of Program Dynamics (SPD) is a household-based survey 
designed as a data collection vehicle that can provide the basis for an 
overall evaluation of how well welfare reforms are achieving the aims 
of the Administration and the Congress, and meeting the needs of the 
American people.
    The SPD will be a large, longitudinal, nationally-representative 
study that measures participation in welfare programs, including both 
programs that are being reformed and those that remain unchanged. The 
SPD will also measure other important social, economic, demographic, 
and family changes that will allow analysis of the effectiveness of the 
welfare reforms.
    With the August 22, 1996 signing of the Personal Responsibility and 
Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Pub L. 104-193), the 
Census Bureau is required to conduct the SPD, using as the sample the 
households from the 1992 and 1993 Survey of Income and Program 
Participation (SIPP). The information obtained will be used to evaluate 
the impact of this law on a sample of previous welfare recipients and 
future recipients of assistance under new state programs funded under 
this law as well as assess the impact on other low-income families. 
Issues of particular attention include welfare dependency, the length 
of welfare spells, the causes of repeat welfare spells, educational 
enrollment and work training, health care utilization, out-of-wedlock 
births, and the status of children.
    The first interview for the SPD was a bridge survey conducted in 
the spring of 1997. The bridge survey will provide a link to baseline 
data for the period prior to the implementation of the welfare reform 
activities.

II. Method of Data Collection

    The SPD is a longitudinal study of welfare-related activities, with 
the sample respondents originally selected from 1992 and 1993 SIPP 
panels. Interviews were conducted in a bridge survey in 1997. Data 
collection will be conducted from 1998 to 2001. Data will be collected 
using a Computer-Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) automated 
questionnaire instrument, from a nationally representative sample of 
the noninstitutionalized resident population living in the U.S. for all 
persons, families, and households. Persons who are at least 15 years of 
age at the time of the interview will be eligible to be in the survey. 
A separate interview will be obtained for each adolescent member, ages 
12 to 17, of our sample households. The adolescent interview will be 
administered by audio-cassette, while the adolescent records the 
answers in a paper answer booklet.
    A small sample of households will be selected for reinterview. The 
reinterview process assures that all households were properly 
contacted, and that the data are valid.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0607-0838.
    Form Number: CAPI Automated Instrument.
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Estimated Number of Household Respondents: 42,000.
    Estimated Number of Adolescent Respondents: 7,800.
    Estimated Number of Reinterview Respondents: 1,500.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 30 minutes per respondent (60 minutes 
per household), 30 minutes per adolescent aged 12-17 years, 10 minutes 
per reinterview.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 25,150.
    Estimated Total Annual Costs: No costs to the respondents other 
than their time.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

    Legal Authority: Title 13 United States Code, Section 182 and 
Public Law 104-193, Section 414 (signed 8/22/96) Title 42 United 
States Code, Section 614).

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited 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 burden (including 
hours and cost) of the proposed collection 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 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 of OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: September 15, 1997.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
FR Doc. 97-24886 Filed 9-18-97; 8:45 a.m.)
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P