Race & Ethnicity Collection System (RECS) Qualitative Research

Forms and Documents

Document	Type	Status	Availability
RECS Focus Groups Supporting Statement.doc	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2007-10-11	Available

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
182318	Race & Ethnicity Collection System Focus Groups Guide	Other-Focus Group Guide	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0960-0765	ICR Reference No: 200710-0960-001
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: SSA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Race & Ethnicity Collection System (RECS) Qualitative Research
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 12/20/2007
	Date Received in OIRA: 10/17/2007
Terms of Clearance: This ICR is approved consistent with revised discussion guide and form. In the future, SSA may want to consider revising the PRA blurb to prevent the public from thinking that OMB requires the collection the race and ethnicity data. To clarify, OMB does not require the collection of race and ethnicity data but, rather, provides standards for the consistent collection of this information throughout the Federal Government, should agencies choose to collect this information.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	12/31/2010	36 Months From Approved
Responses	96	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	144	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: Currently, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has no reliable, statistically valid means of capturing race/ethnicity data in our core business process. To redress this deficiency, SSA has created a list of race/ethnicity questions (written in compliance with 1997 OMB standards). Before implementing the questions, we would like to assess the public's reaction to them. To that end, we are conducting several focus groups where we will present our drafts of the race/ethnicity questions and discuss them. This ICR is ONLY for the focus groups. The respondents are members of the public who agree to participate in focus groups.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 43 USC 1310 Name of Law: null
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	72 FR 43674	08/06/2007
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	72 FR 57629	10/10/2007
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Race & Ethnicity Collection System Focus Groups Guide

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	96	0	0	96	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	144	0	0	144	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Changing Regulations

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This new collection causes a one-time burden increase because SSA will be conducing focus groups (see abstract for explanation).

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $85,000

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 10/17/2007

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