Under the Violent Crime and Control Act of 1994, the U.S. Department of Justice COPS Office requires programmatic progress reports from active COPS grantees in order to monitor each program, project or activity funded by the COPS Office.
Although the number of respondents increased annually from 7400 to 7600 annually, the new COPS Merged Progress Report now takes each agency less time to complete due to one form containing all the reporting information required for the agency's hiring, non-hiring, and problem solving questions. For FY 13, only one document will be sent to grantees instead of three separate ones, depending on the grants awarded to the entity. The annual burden hours decreased to 3,167 hours instead of the previously approved 3,833 hours.
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:
(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;
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.