Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; State Performance Report
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The government is asking people to share their thoughts on how they collect certain information to see if it’s needed or if it causes too much work for everyone. They want to make sure they do this the best way and help older people without wasting time or money.
Summary AI
The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is inviting the public to comment on a proposed collection of information called the State Performance Report. This action is part of the requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act, which mandates federal agencies to announce such proposals in the Federal Register and allow a 60-day comment period. The purpose of the data collection is to meet the requirements of the Older Americans Act and other performance-related activities. ACL is seeking feedback on various aspects of this information collection, including its necessity, accuracy, and ways to minimize respondent burden.
Abstract
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 (the 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 notice solicits comments on the new information collection requirements relating to the State Performance Report.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
Summary
The document at hand is a notice from the Administration for Community Living (ACL), which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The ACL is asking the public to provide comments on a proposed collection of information known as the State Performance Report (SPR). This proposal is part of the usual steps under the Paperwork Reduction Act. This law requires each federal agency to publish a notice that invites public comments on information collections, particularly when such collections are new or extensions of existing ones. The primary purpose of gathering the information is to fulfill requirements under the Older Americans Act (OAA) and related performance activities.
Significant Issues and Concerns
One issue the document raises is its use of complex language, which might be difficult for the general public to understand. Terms and references to statutory requirements could be simplified for better comprehension. The document also introduces a "new SPR," seeking a new control number while retaining the previously approved version’s number for the final reporting year. This might cause confusion and redundancy, needing clarification on why a new number is necessary. Additionally, this presents a risk of unnecessary spending if the collection is either not needed or if the burden on respondents is underestimated. The notice calls for feedback on these burden estimates, but they need to be realistically assessed to ensure efficiency.
Impact on the Public
For the general public, especially those who might be involved with or affected by programs under the Older Americans Act, this document serves as a vital call to action. It opens up a channel to voice opinions on how government data collections should be conducted. Individuals or organizations that work closely with programs funded by the OAA can provide feedback that could shape how such programs measure success and report outcomes.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Specific stakeholders, such as state agencies on aging, might feel a direct impact. These agencies will likely handle the bulk of the workload that comes with reporting under the new SPR. They may face increased administrative duties or need to adjust current processes to comply with new data collection requirements. On a positive note, if the revision helps streamline data collection by reducing the number of data elements, as the document suggests, it could make reporting easier and less time-consuming for these agencies.
In summary, while the document seeks to ensure compliance with federal requirements and improve the quality of data collected, it also presents certain logistical and clarity challenges that need to be addressed. Public and stakeholder engagement through comments is critical in shaping how these information collections will be implemented effectively and efficiently.
Issues
• The document contains complex language that could be simplified for better understanding, particularly the sections explaining the statutory requirements and the purpose of the data collection.
• There is potential for wasteful spending if the proposed collection of information is not necessary or if the burden estimates are inaccurate. Further evaluation may be needed to determine the efficiency of the data collection process.
• The document mentions a 'new SPR' that is a revision of a previously approved collection, yet seeks a new OMB Control Number which may lead to redundancy or confusion. Clarification on why a new control number is necessary might be needed.
• The publication refers to various sections and codes (e.g., OAA Section 202(a)(16), GPRA Modernization Act) without much context, which might require additional effort from the reader to fully understand the references. Providing summaries or explanations could help mitigate this issue.