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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 236 (Monday, December 9, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 97622-97623]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-28819]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

Proposed Information Collection Activity; Request for 
Certification of Adult Victims of Human Trafficking

AGENCY: Office on Trafficking in Persons, Administration for Children 
and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office on 
Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) is requesting a 3-year extension of the 
form: Request for Certification of Adult Victims of Human Trafficking 
(RFC) form (Office of Management and Budget (OMB) #: 0970-0454, 
expiration April 30, 2025).

DATES: Comments due February 7, 2025. In compliance with the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ACF is soliciting 
public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection 
described above.

ADDRESSES: You can obtain copies of the proposed collection of 
information and submit comments by emailing [email protected]. 
All requests should be identified by the title of the information 
collection.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Description: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 
provides letters of certification to victims of severe forms of 
trafficking in persons under the authority of the Trafficking Victims 
Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA), as amended 22 U.S.C. 7105(b)(1)(C) and 
(E). HHS delegated this authority to OTIP. Certification is required 
for foreign national adult victims of human trafficking in the U.S. to 
apply for federally funded benefits and services.
    OTIP developed the RFC form for potential victims and their 
advocates, including case managers, attorneys, law enforcement 
officers, service providers, and other representatives to provide the 
required information for certification to HHS in accordance with the 
TVPA of 2000, as amended.
    Since the RFC form originally received clearance, OTIP modernized 
its request process and launched Shepherd, an online case management 
system, to process requests for certification and assistance. The PDF 
version of the form should only be used in exceptional circumstances 
when the online case management system is inaccessible. If a requester 
encounters issues submitting a request through Shepherd, they may 
submit the RFC form to OTIP as a password protected PDF to 
[email protected].
    The form asks the requester for their identifying information, 
identifying information for the individual who experienced trafficking 
victimization in the event the form is submitted by a case manager, and 
information describing the victim's case management service needs.
    Respondents: Potential victims of a severe form of trafficking in 
persons and their advocates, including case managers, attorneys, law 
enforcement officers, service providers, and other representatives.

Annual Burden Estimates

    The fluctuation in certification letters issued by HHS primarily 
reflects changing patterns in law enforcement investigations and the 
number of T visas and Continued Presence status issued by the 
Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In April 2024, DHS U.S. 
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a (89 FR 34864) 
updating regulations that govern the requirements and procedures for 
foreign nationals who have experienced human trafficking seeking a T 
visa and eligible family members seeking derivative T-2 nonimmigrant 
status (T visa derivative). The Final Rule established a process for 
USCIS to conduct bona fide determinations (BFDs). Principal applicants 
who have submitted a complete bona fide T visa application will receive 
a BFD and are eligible for case management services and for benefits 
and services to the same extent as refugees through HHS Certification 
while their application is pending. OTIP anticipates that the USCIS 
Final Rule will significantly increase the number of requests for 
certification received. Since the Final Rule went into effect, OTIP has 
received approximately 100 RFCs per week, whereas historically, OTIP 
received approximately 8 to 12 RFCs per week. Burden estimates for this 
collection have been revised, accordingly.

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                                                                                      Total number of   Average burden
                             Instrument                              Total number of   responses per      hours per       Total burden    Annual burden
                                                                       respondents       respondent        response          hours            hours
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Request for Certification of Adult Victims of Human Trafficking....          15,600                1                1           15,600            5,200
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    Comments: 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.

[[Page 97623]]

    Authority: 22 U.S.C. 7105.

Mary C. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-28819 Filed 12-6-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-47-P
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