RDP 2015_2018_Supporting Statement_OMB_9_18_2015

Supporting Statement for

Office of Management and Budget Approval of

U.S. Census Bureau Redistricting Data Program

OMB Control No. 0607-XXXX

Part A – Justification

Question 1. Necessity of the Information Collection

The U.S. Census Bureau is requesting a new collection to cover the five phases of the Redistricting Data Program (RDP) that were originally part of the Geographic Partnership Programs (GPPs) generic clearance. The Census Bureau requests a three-year clearance and a project specific Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number for RDP. Geography Division (GEO) is creating a separate clearance for this critical program. A project specific clearance allows the Census Bureau to provide RDP specific materials, burden hours, and procedures. The need to only provide RDP materials ensures the program phases are uninterrupted by other program clearances unrelated to RDP. The RDP specific clearance provides flexibility in the timing, allowing the program to establish the schedule for RDP clearance needs and renewal.

The 2020 Census RDP is established in accordance with the provisions of Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 141(c). It provides the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico the opportunity to specify the small geographic areas for which they wish to receive Decennial Census population totals for the purpose of reapportionment and redistricting. The law also requires that by April 1 of the year following the Decennial Census, the Secretary of Commerce will furnish state officials or their designee(s) with population counts for standard census tabulation areas (e.g. counties, cities, census blocks, and Congressional districts) and if provided by the states, legislative districts and voting districts. The benefits to participation in RDP for the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico are that they will receive small area geographic tabulations that will assist with conducting their legislative and congressional redistricting.

The authority for conducting activities in this document comes from Title 13 U.S.C., Sections 16, 141, and 193.

The Census Bureau has broken the RDP into five phases and will provide participants resources to improve data quality prior to the 2020 Census.

Phase 1: Block Boundary Suggestion Project (BBSP)

The purpose of the BBSP is to afford states the opportunity to identify non-standard features often used as electoral boundaries (such as a power line or stream, rather than a street centerline, which might divide voters on different sides of a street into two districts) as census block boundaries. The BBSP option affords the state liaison the opportunity to provide suggestions for 2020 Census tabulation block boundaries, resulting in more meaningful block data for the state. Liaisons are able to work with local officials including county election officers and others to ensure local geography is represented in the 2020 Census tabulation block inventory. In addition, the liaison, on behalf of the state, will make suggestions for features not desirable as census tabulation blocks. By identifying undesirable features, the liaison may assist the Census Bureau in reducing the overall number of census tabulation blocks from the 2010 inventory. Beginning in late fall of 2015, states that choose to participate in Phase 1 will begin receiving guidelines and training for providing their suggestions for the 2020 Census tabulation blocks, as well as their suggestions for exclusion of line segments, for consideration in the final 2020 Census tabulation block inventory. For the first time, states will have the opportunity to review legal limits, such as county and incorporated place boundaries, as reported through the Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS). The Census Bureau conducts the BAS annually to update information about the legal boundaries and names of all governmental units. The alignment of the BAS with the BBSP will facilitate the cooperation between state and local government. A verification phase will occur in early 2017.

Phase 2: Voting District Project (VTDP)

The VTDP will provide the state liaison, on behalf of the state, to submit the voting districts (a generic term used to represent areas that administer elections such as precincts, election districts, wards, etc.) to the Census Bureau for representation in the 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 products (data and geographic products). Beginning in late 2017, states that choose to participate in VTDP will receive on a flow basis, geographic products that allow them the opportunity to update the Voting Districts (VTDs) for inclusion in the 2020 Census tabulation geography. State liaisons will continue to align their effort with updates from state and local government officials participating in the BAS. The VTD/BAS update and alignment will continue through spring of 2018. A verification phase will occur in early 2019 for states that participated in VTDP.

Phase 3: Delivery of the 2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data

By April 1, 2021, the Director of the Census Bureau, in accordance with Title 13, U.S.C., Sections 16, 141, and 193, will furnish the Governor and state legislative leaders, both the majority and minority, with 2020 Census population counts for standard census tabulation areas (e.g., state, Congressional district, state legislative district, AIA, county, city, town, census tract, census block group, and census block) regardless of a state’s participation in Phase 1 or 2. The Director of the Census Bureau will provide 2020 Census population counts for those states participating in Phase 2, for both the standard tabulation areas and for VTDs. For each state, this delivery will occur prior to general release and no later than April 1, 2021.

Phase 4: Collection of Post-Census Redistricting Data Plans

The Census Bureau requests from every state, the newly drawn Legislative and Congressional district plans and prepares appropriate data sets based on new districts. Between the 2010 Census and the 2020 Census, the effort began in 2011 using the 2010 Census as a baseline. Beginning in 2021, the Census Bureau will use the 2020 Census as a baseline. This effort will occur every two years in advance of the next Census in order to update these boundaries with new or changed plans. A verification phase will occur with each update.

Phase 5: Review of the 2020 Census RDP and Recommendations for the 2030 Census RDP

As the final phase of the 2020 Census RDP, the Census Bureau will work with the states to conduct a thorough review of the RDP. The intent of this review, and the final report that results, is to provide guidance to the Secretary and the Census Bureau Director in planning the 2030 Census RDP.

Question 2. Needs and Uses

All activities described above directly support the Census Bureau’s efforts to maintain the Master Address File/Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (MAF/TIGER) System, in partnership with state, local, and tribal governments nationwide. Because state, local, and tribal governments have current knowledge of, and data about, where housing growth and change are occurring in their jurisdictions, their input into the overall development of geographic data for the Census Bureau makes a vital contribution to MAF/TIGER. Similarly, those governments are in the best position to work with local geographic boundaries, and they benefit from accurate address and geographic data.

Information quality is an integral part of the pre-dissemination review of the information disseminated by the Census Bureau. Information quality is also integral to the information collections conducted by the Census Bureau, and we incorporate it into the clearance process required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

Question 3. Use of Information Technology

The Census Bureau continually researches and develops new technology in the fields of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Web services to lessen the burden. The Census Bureau provides the Geographic Update Partnership Software (GUPS) free of charge for all RDP participants to participate digitally. The GUPS is a specifically designed boundary and feature update tool that guides our RDP partners through each step of the update process, and the software will format and package their updates for easy submission to the Census Bureau for processing.

The Internet also plays a significant role in providing the public access to Census Bureau boundary data. The GUPS, along with their accompanying spatial data files, are available for download free from the Census Bureau’s RDP Internet site. The Census Bureau also provides the GUPS software and RDP materials to state participants on DVD. State RDP partners also provide their responses electronically. A state partner may report a “no change” response through e-mail. In addition, a partner must send in their boundary and data updates electronically through the Secure Web Incoming Module (SWIM).

Question 4. Efforts to Identify Duplication

The Census Bureau is the designated federal agency steward for the Governmental Units and Administrative and Statistical Boundaries Data Theme through OMB Circular A-16. There is no similar federal boundary data collection occurring on a consistent national basis.

Question 5. Minimizing Burden

To reduce the burden on respondents, the Census Bureau provides the program software and spatial files to participants. The Census Bureau provides the GUPS software for use by state participants during the RDP phases.

The Census Bureau also offers states participating in the Boundary Quality Assessment and Reconciliation Project (BQARP) and BAS the opportunity to report legal boundary updates along with their feature changes in order to reduce the burden on local governments and avoid the duplication of effort.

Question 6. Consequences of Less Frequent Collection

The RDP must continue as the Census Bureau moves towards the 2020 Census. All five phases are needed to meet the mandate for the Director of the Census to provide population totals to state officials by April 1, 2021.

Question 7: Special Circumstances

Data collection for RDP follows the guidelines of OMB.

Question 8: Consultations Outside the Agency

The Census Bureau discussed the purpose, methodology, and problems of the RDP with state and local officials, plus a network of frequent users of Census Bureau data during periodical national and local meetings including the annual National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL). Discrepancies in maps are periodically discussed with state and local officials during problem resolution. As stakeholders in the accuracy of boundary information and the resulting funding allocations, state respondents are cooperative and willing to provide RDP information. The following is a representative sample of the individuals we have consulted with during the RDP.

Ms. Gina Wright Executive Director Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment Coverdell Legislative Building Suite 407 18 Capitol Square, SW Atlanta, GA 30334 404-656-5063 [email protected]	Dr. Bill Blair, Ph.D. Director of Demographic Services Louisiana Legislature State Capitol Building Room 1708 900 N Third St. Baton Rouge, LA 70804 252-342-2591 [email protected]
Ms. Bonnie Shanholtzer Staff Director Reapportionment Office Alabama State House Room 811 11 S Union St. Montgomery, AL 36130 334-242-7941 [email protected]	Mr. James (Ted) Booth State Liaison Legislative PEER Committee Woolfolk Building Suite 301A 501 N West St. Jackson, MS 39201 601-359-1229 [email protected]
Dr. Robert J. Austin Special Projects Director Division of Legislative Services General Assembly Building 2nd Floor 201 N 9th St. Richmond, VA 23219 804-786-3591 x235 [email protected]	Mr. Eddie Hunsinger State Demographer Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development; Research & Analysis PO Box 115501 Juneau, AK 99811 907-465-6029 [email protected]

During conversations with these individuals, comments were favorable concerning the RDP.

The Federal Register Notice announcement publication date was on July 14, 2015 (80 FR pp. 40993-40995). The Census Bureau received and responded to one comment during the consideration period ending September 14, 2015. The comment received related to government spending but not related to the RDP submission.

Question 9. Paying Respondents

The Census Bureau does not pay respondents or provide them with gifts for responding to this survey.

Question 10. Assurance of Confidentiality

All information requested in this survey is public information of a non-sensitive nature and is available to any person requesting it from participating officials. The Census Bureau informs the respondent of the voluntary nature of this survey in the introductory letter. In addition, the Census Bureau provides the OMB approval number, expiration date, and reasons for data collection.

Question 11. Justification for Sensitive Questions

There are no questions of a sensitive nature in this survey.

Question 12. Estimate of Hour Burden

GEO based the estimated hour burden on the 2010 Census RDP collection. Burden hours vary for each Fiscal Year (FY), thus GEO is providing the maximum burden.

The maximum number of respondents for the RDP is 52. This includes all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Estimated Time per Response Phase 1:

BBSP Annotation Phase: 124 hours.

BBSP Verification Phase: 62 hours.

Estimated Time per Response Phase 2:

VTDP Delineation: 248 hours.

VTDP Verification: 124 hours.

Estimated Time per Response Phase 4:

115^th Congressional Districts (CDs) & State Legislative Districts (SLDs) Collection: 2 hours.

115^th CDs & SLDs Verification: 2 hours.

116^th CDs & SLDs Collection: 2 hours.

116^th CDs & SLDs Verification: 2 hours.

Estimated Burden Hours Phase 1:

BBSP Annotation Phase (FY 2016): 6,448 hours.

BBSP Verification Phase (FY 2017): 3,224 hours.

Phase 1 Total Burden Hours: 9,672 hours.

Estimated Burden Hours Phase 2:

VTD Delineation (FY 2018): 12,896 hours.

VTD Verification (FY 2019): 6,448 hours.

Phase 2 Total Burden Hours: 19,344 hours.

Estimated Burden Hours Phase 4:

115^th CDs & SLDs Collection (FY 2016): 104 hours.

115^th CDs & SLDs Verification (FY 2016): 104 hours.

116^th CDs & SLDs Collection (FY 2018): 104 hours.

116^th CDs & SLDs Verification (FY 2018): 104 hours.

Phase 4 Total Burden Hours: 416 hours.

FY 2016 Burden Hours: 6,656

FY 2017 Burden Hours: 3,224

FY 2018 Burden Hours: 13,104

FY 2019 Burden Hours: 6,448

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 29,432 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0.

Question 13. Estimate Cost Burden

The Census Bureau does not expect respondents to incur any cost other than that of their time to respond. The information requested is of the type and scope normally contained in department offices, and city and county government planning and tax assessing agencies. No special hardware or accounting software or system is necessary to provide answers to this information collection. Therefore, respondents should not incur any capital, start-up costs or system maintenance costs in responding. Further, purchasing of outside accounting or information collection services, if performed by the respondent, is part of usual and customary business practices and not specifically required for this information collection.

Question 14. Cost to Federal Government

The estimate to conduct the RDP geography data collection is approximately $3,000,000 for each clearance year, totaling $9,000,000 for a three-year clearance. The Geographic Areas Branch and the Geographic Programs Budget Branch within GEO, Census Bureau, have reviewed all requirements for conducting the RDP, including material and person-hour costs to arrive at this estimate and have determined that the resources are available for efficient administration of the RDP.

Question 15. Reason for Change in Burden

The increase in burden is due to the start up of the RDP as the Census Bureau moves towards the 2020 Census.

Question 16. Project Schedule for Each Survey Year

BBSP (Phase 1) for 2020 Census	December 2015: Begin Annotation. May 2016: End Annotation. December 2016: Begin Verification. May 2017: End Verification.
VTDP (Phase 2) for 2020 Census	December 2017: Begin Delineation. May 2018: End Delineation. December 2018: Begin Verification. May 2019: End Verification.
Collection of 2010 Census Redistricting Data Plans (Phase 4)	November 2015: Begin 115th CDs and SLDs Collection/Verification. May 2016: End 115th CDs and SLDs Collection/Verification. November 2017: Begin 116th CDs and SLDs Collection/Verification. May 2018: End 116th CDs and SLDs Collection/Verification.

Phase 4 of the RDP is a continuous cycle every two years to meet the needs for CDs and SLDs between the 2010 and 2020 Census.

Question 17. Request to Not Display Expiration Date

GEO will display the expiration date on the Information Collection forms and on the Privacy Act Notice given to respondents.

Question 18. Exception to the Certification

There are no exceptions.

Attachments

Phase 1 GUPS User Guide: Instructions for Using GUPS

Phase 1 Participant Guide: Instructions for Participants With User Supplied GIS Software.

Phase 1 Invitation Letter: Leadership No Liaison

Phase 1 Invitation Letter: Leadership With Liaison Established

Phase 1 Invitation Letter: Liaison Established

Phase 2 Invitation Letter

Phase 4 Check List

Phase 4 Invitation Letter: District of Columbia

Phase 4 Invitation Letter: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

Phase 4 Invitation Letter: States with One Congressional District

Phase 4 Invitation Letter: States with Multiple Congressional Districts

Phase 4 Form: District of Columbia

Phase 4 Form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

Phase 4 Form: States with One Congressional District

Phase 4 Form: States with Multiple Congressional Districts

Phase 4 Participant Guidelines

Public Law 94-171 Enclosure

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