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 Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living
 AGENCY: Administration for Community Living, HHS.
 ACTION: Notice.
 SUMMARY: The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed collection of information listed above. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish a notice in the 
                        **Federal Register**
                         concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This information collection (IC) extension solicits comments on the information collection requirements relating to the Performance Data for State Grants for Assistive Technology Program Annual Progress Report (OMB Control Number 0985-0042).
 DATES: Comments on the collection of information must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. (EST) or postmarked by February 26, 2024.
 ADDRESSES: Submit electronic comments on the collection of information to: Rob Groenendaal (
                        *Robert.Groenendaal@acl.hhs.gov*). Submit written comments on the collection of information to Administration for Community Living, 330 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20201, Attention: Rob Groenendaal.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Groenendaal, Administration for Community Living, 
                        *Robert.Groenendaal@acl.hhs.gov,*
                         (202) 795-7356.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506) Federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. “Collection of information” includes agency requests or requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party. The PRA requires Federal agencies provide a 60-day notice in the 
                    **Federal Register**
                     concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with this requirement, ACL is publishing a notice of the proposed collection of information set forth in this document. With respect to the following collection of information, ACL invites comments on our burden estimates or any other aspect of this collection of information, including: (1) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of ACL's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of ACL's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used to determine burden estimates; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including using automated collection techniques when appropriate, and other forms of information technology. The Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (AT Act) (29 U.S.C. 3003) authorizes grants to public agencies in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (states and outlying areas). With these funds, states and outlying areas operate “Statewide AT Programs” that conduct activities to increase access to and acquisition of assistive technology (AT) for individuals with disabilities and older Americans. As a condition of receiving a grant to support their Statewide AT Programs, the states and outlying areas must provide to ACL an application and annual progress reports on their activities. *Applications:*
                     The application required of states and outlying areas is a three-year State Plan for Assistive Technology (State Plan for AT or State Plan) (OMB No. 0985-0048). The content of the State Plan for AT is based on the requirements in 29 U.S.C. 3003(d). *Annual Reports:*
                     In addition to submitting a State Plan, every three years, states and outlying areas are required to submit annual progress reports on their activities. The data required in that progress report is specified at 29 U.S.C. 3003(f).
                    ( print page 89700) National aggregation of data related to measurable goals is necessary for the Government Performance and Results Act (31 U.S.C. 1115) as well as an Annual Report to Congress. Therefore, this data collection instrument provides a way for all 56 grantees—50 U.S. states, DC, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to collect and report data on their performance in a consistent manner, including a uniform survey to be given to consumers. This uniform survey is included as part of the data collection package. The AT Act (29 U.S.C. 3006(d)) requires that ACL submit to Congress an annual report on the activities conducted under the Act and an analysis of the progress of the states and outlying areas in meeting their measurable goals. This report must include a compilation and summary of the data collected under Section 3003(f). In order to make this possible, states and outlying areas must provide their data uniformly. This data collection instrument was developed to ensure that all 56 states and outlying areas report data in a consistent manner in alignment with the requirements of Section 3003(f). As stated above, ACL will use the information collected via this instrument to: (1) Complete the annual report to Congress required by the AT Act; (2) Comply with reporting requirements under the Government Performance and Results Act; and (3) Assess the progress of states and outlying areas regarding measurable goals. Data collected from the grantees will provide a national description of activities funded under the AT Act to increase the access to and acquisition of AT devices and services through statewide AT programs for individuals with disabilities and older adults. Data collected from grantees will also provide information for usage by Congress, the Department, and the public. In addition, ACL will use this data to inform program management, monitoring, and technical assistance efforts. States will be able to use the data for internal management and program improvement. The proposed data collection tools may be found on the ACL website for review at: 
                    *https://www.acl.gov/​about-acl/​public-input.* *Estimated Program Burden:*
                     ACL estimates the burden of this collection of information as follows. This information collection has three pieces: *(A) A web-based system that collects data from states and outlying areas.*
                     The 56 grantees report to ACL using the web-based data collection system. A workgroup of grantees estimated that the average amount of time required to complete all responses to the data collection instrument is 80 hours annually. The estimated response burden includes time to review the instructions, gather existing data, and complete and review the data entries. These estimates are based on the experience of staff who implement these programs at the state level. In addition, ACL projects that clean-up and clarification of data elements will require no change in data burden estimates. *(B) A performance measurement survey that states and outlying areas collect from individuals.*
                     The 56 grantees ask consumers to complete surveys that provide information on their performance related to the state's measurable goals. Historical data from states indicates that the average state will ask for this information from 3,242 consumers at one minute per consumer to complete the question survey, for a total of 54 hours annually. *(C) A customer satisfaction survey that states and outlying areas collect from individuals.*
                     The 56 grantees also ask consumers to complete customer satisfaction surveys. Historical data from states indicated that the average state asks for this information from 3,242 consumers at one minute per consumer, for a total of 54 annual burden hours. Respondent/data collection activity
Number of
                             respondents
Responses per
                             respondent
Hours per
                             response
Annual
                             burden hoursWork-Based System
56
1
80
4,480Performance Management
56
1
54
3,024Customer Satisfaction
56
1
54
3,024Program Support
56
1
208
11,648Record Keeping Burden
56
1
8
448Total


404
22,624
 Dated: December 21, 2023. Alison Barkoff, Principal Deputy Administrator for the Administration for Community Living, performing the delegable duties of the Administrator and the Assistant Secretary for Aging.


[FR Doc. 2023-28626 Filed 12-27-23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4154-01-P