supportingstatement - PAs

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

Justification statement for Protection and Advocacy (P&A)

Voting Access Annual Report

0970-XXXX

A. Justification

1. Circumstances that make the collection of information necessary

Public Law 107-252, Help America Vote Act of 2002, section 291 (42 USC 15461) address the use of funds received under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), P.L. 107-252, Title II, Subtitle D, Section 291, Payments for Protection and Advocacy Systems used to provide education, training and assistance to individuals with disabilities that will promote their participation in the electoral process. Protection and advocacy systems (P&As) are required to annually submit a narrative report describing the work performed with the funds authorized under 42 U.S.C. 15461 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002.

A copy of section 261 (42 USC 15461) is attached and noted as page 20.

2. Use of information

An annual report is required by Federal Statute (the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002, Public Law 107-252, Section 291, Payments for Protection and Advocacy Systems, 42.U.S.C. 15461). Each state Protection and Advocacy System that receives funding is required to prepare and submit an annual report at the end of every fiscal year. The report addresses the activities conducted with the funds provided during the year. The information collected from the annual report will be aggregated into an annual profile of how HAVA funds have been spent. The report will also provide an overview of the P&A goals and accomplishments and permit the Administration on Developmental Disabilities to track progress to monitor grant activities.

3. Use of information technology

The Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) has no funding under the Developmental Disabilities (DD) Act to support an electronic reporting system for the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Voting Access Annual Report.

4. Efforts to identify duplication

There have not been any formal efforts to identify duplication because there are no similar programs collecting information regarding the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) program.

5. Information collection involving small businesses

The information collected does not involve, nor result in assignment of burden to any small business. It is collected from 55 designated Protection and Advocacy Systems (P&As).

6. Consequence to Federal program or policy activities if collection is conducted less frequently

No accountability of how HAVA funds are being used

7. Special circumstances

There are no special circumstances governing the collection of data.

8. Outside consultation regarding availability of data

The report format has been suggested to the Protection and Advocacy Systems (P&As) since fiscal year 2003. The format is based on the Protection and Advocacy Agency’s plan to address the areas outlined in the Program Instruction which describes how the activities were carried out for each area. The areas include full participation in the electoral process; education, training and assistance; advocacy and education around HAVA implementation efforts; training and education of election officials, poll workers and election volunteers regarding the rights of voters with disabilities and best practices; assistance in filing complaints; assistance to State and other governmental entities regarding the physical accessibility of polling places; and obtaining training and technical assistance on voting issues.

A 60 day comment period was provided. The solicitation of comments for the proposed information was published in the Federal register, volume 72, number 8, page 1537-1538 (January 12, 2007). No comments received.

A 30 day comment period was provided. The solicitation of comments for the proposed information collection was published in the Federal Register, volume 72, number 76,pages 19935-19936. No comments received.

9. Provision of Payments of gifts to respondents

No payments or gifts to respondents are planned.

10. Assurance of Confidentiality

This information collection does not require an assurance of confidentiality.

11. Questions of a sensitive nature

Not applicable

12. Estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information

The following is the hour of burden estimate for this information

Collection:

________________________________________________________________

No. of No. of Responses Average Burden Total

States per state hours per state Hours

55 1 16 880

The current approximation of annual burden is 8 hours for two (2) working days which equals 16 hours. The total estimated burden hours for the P&As are 880 (55x16).

The annualized cost of the hour burden, expressed in dollars is:

________________________________________________________________

Average Average Burden Average Annual Total Annual

Cost/hour hours/state cost/state Cost

$35 16 $560 $30,800

13. Estimate of the annual cost burden to respondents resulting from the collection of information

There is no annual burden to respondents resulting from reporting of the

collection of information for the P&As.

14. Estimates of annualized cost to the Federal Government

This computation is based on an estimated $35 per hour for the efforts of a Program Specialist. The estimated hourly rate includes fringe benefits.

Program specialists will devote an annualized estimate of 200 hours every year to organize and review the annual reports and to generate analysis of the information.

Total Estimated Federal Costs is $7,000

15. Reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 13 or 14 of the OMB Form 83-I

Not applicable

16. Plans for tabulation and publication

Not applicable

17. Reasons for not displaying expiration date

The results of this information collection are not planned to be published for statistical use.

18. Explanation for each exception to the certification statement identified in Item 19, "Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions," on Form OMB 83-I

Not applicable

B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods

Not applicable

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