FR 2021-01668

The document in question pertains to a notice from the Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women regarding a new collection of information that is pending approval. This collection involves a Semi-Annual Progress Report for the Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program. The information is intended to gather data from grantees under this program to assess their activities related to addressing violent crimes against Indian women. This notice invites the public to submit comments on the information collection initiative until February 25, 2021.

General Overview

The document outlines the federal government's intentions to enhance its understanding and monitoring of the performance and progress of Indian tribal government grantees. These grantees are working under the Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program, an initiative designed to improve tribal responses to violence against Indian women. This program aims to improve victim safety and foster education and prevention strategies. The Office on Violence Against Women has calculated that with 85 expected respondents, the collection will culminate in a total annual burden of 170 hours, assuming each report takes about one hour to complete twice a year.

Significant Issues or Concerns

Several issues within the document merit attention:

• Lack of Clarity on Comment Processing: The document encourages public feedback but fails to specify the manner in which these comments will be processed or considered. This omission could lead to transparency concerns among stakeholders and the public.

• Use of Technical Terms: The document references terms such as "PRA" and "OMB," which may not be clear to all audience members. The lack of explanations for these acronyms could pose a barrier to understanding for those unfamiliar with governmental terminology.

• Justification for Data Collection: The document does not provide a detailed justification for the necessity of this data collection. Without a clear rationale, stakeholders may question the actual utility and objectives of the proposed information collection.

• Estimated Burden Validation: While the document gives an estimated burden of one hour per form completion, it lacks an explanation on how this estimate was derived. Stakeholders might question the methodology, wondering if the estimate adequately reflects the time and effort required for completion.

Impact on the Public and Stakeholders

The proposed information collection could impact the public and stakeholders in various ways:

• Broad Public Impact: Generally, the public benefits from federal programs designed to enhance safety and address violence in communities, particularly vulnerable groups such as Indian women. However, the lack of clarity and justification in the document might cause skepticism about the program's effectiveness.

• Impact on Specific Stakeholders: For Indian tribal governments and their representatives, this proposal signifies an increased administrative responsibility. While the burden is minimal on the surface—estimated at a mere hour per report twice a year—the actual time and effort might be more for those unfamiliar with the reporting process or without the resources to complete it efficiently.

The document, therefore, reflects the government's ongoing efforts to monitor and improve programs addressing violence against Indian women. However, it simultaneously surfaces concerns about transparency, understanding, and the tangible impact on targeted communities and audiences. There's an opportunity for the Department of Justice to address these issues, thereby ensuring better communication and advocacy for the communities it serves.