0970-0223 State Self Assessment Review - Supporting Statement A 1-18-2019

State Self-Assessment Review and Report

Request for Extension with No Changes

0970-0223

SUPPORTING STATEMENT A

January 2019

A. Justification

1. Circumstances Making the Collection of Information Necessary

The Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) oversees administration of the Child Support Enforcement program in the 54 States and jurisdictions that participate in it. The Federal government sets program standards and policy, evaluates States’ performance in conducting their program, and offers technical assistance and training to the States. It also conducts audits of State program activities.

In its oversight role, the Federal government is responsible for receiving Self-Assessment reports submitted by states and, as appropriate, providing to the States comments, recommendations for additional or corrective action, and technical assistance that a State may need. In addition, the submitted reports are reviewed and analyzed by OCSE to identify “best practices” to be shared with other States. The authority to collect and report information requested on this form is found in section 454(15) (A) of the Social Security Act.

Attachment B contains the recommended Self-Assessment reporting format and instructions for completing it.

2. Purpose and Use of the Information Collection

The Self-Assessment reports are intended to give States the opportunity to assess whether they are meeting Federal requirements for providing child support services and providing the best services possible. In addition, these reports are used by OCSE to monitor State compliance in areas critical to successful State child support programs.

Child support enforcement can play a pivotal role in reducing welfare dependency, with savings to the Federal Government. One aspect of motivating States to take the necessary action is to pinpoint program areas where improvement is critical and warrants priority attention.

The information submitted in this report will be used to:

1. approve IV-D State plan amendments certifying that the State has a self-assessment review process;

2. identify best practices to be shared with other States;

3. evaluate areas where technical assistance may be required by a State; and

4. provide Federal auditors with an indication of where their efforts should be concentrated during compliance audits.

3. Use of Improved Information Technology and Burden Reduction

The improved information technology which would reduce the burden is not yet available in all States. There are no technical or legal obstacles which prevent burden reduction.

4. Efforts to Identify Duplication and Use of Similar Information

This report will be the only method used by States to report their assessment of the performance of their own child support enforcement programs. No data are reported elsewhere and there is no other report in use by OCSE/ACF which collects similar State information.

5. Impact on Small Businesses or Other Small Entities

This reporting requirement is imposed on State government agencies. No small businesses complete this form.

6. Consequences of Collecting the Information Less Frequently

The data collected in the Self-Assessment reports are used annually by OCSE to evaluate State programs and to identify areas where program improvement may be required and to set in motion tailored strategies for achieving such improvement. Failure to collect this data would preclude the Department from monitoring and evaluating the success of the program.

7. Special Circumstances Relating to the Guidelines of 5 CFR 1320.5

This collection is conducted in a manner consistent with guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.6. There are no special circumstances.

8. Comments in Response to the Federal Register Notice and Efforts to Consult Outside the Agency

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 CFR Part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), ACF published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the agency’s intention to request an OMB review of this information collection activity.  This notice was published on May 1, 2018, Volume 83, Number 84, page 19065-19066, and provided a sixty-day period for public comment. We did not receive any comments in response to this Notice.

The recommended format for the Self-Assessment report was developed under a contract with the Office of Child Support Enforcement. As a part of this effort, Federal and State partners convened a Self-Assessment workgroup to provide guidance in developing this uniform reporting format. This reporting format is not required though it is highly recommended to improve the accuracy and consistency in reporting throughout the States.

9. Explanation of Any Payment or Gift to Respondents

No payments or other remuneration to respondents are made for the collection of this information.

10. Assurance of Confidentiality Provided to Respondents

The data reported contain no private information for individuals.

11. Justification for Sensitive Questions

Data are reported only on an aggregate basis. There is no personal information or data of a sensitive nature.

12. Estimates of Annualized Burden Hours and Costs

Based on experience from other data collection efforts, the burden on all State agencies is estimated at 216 hours per year, calculated as follows:

Form Name	Number of Respondents	Number of Responses per Respondent	Average Burden Hours per Response	Total Burden Hours	Hourly Rate	Cost per Respondent
Self-assessment report	54	1	4	216	$45	$9,720.00

The burden cost is estimated to be $45.00 per hour for a total of $180.00 per respondent ($45.00 x 4).  Total burden cost for all respondents is $9,720.00 (216 x 45).  The job code is 13-1111 and wage data from September 2018 is $45 per hour hours.  https://www.bls.gov/oes/2017/may/oes_nat.htm#13-0000

13. Estimates of Other Total Annual Cost Burden to Respondents and Record Keepers

The States are already collecting more information than this report requires. There should be no additional costs as a result of the form.

14. Annualized Cost to the Federal Government

Cost to the Federal Government is estimated at $5,000 for tabulation and analyzing the data.

15. Explanation for Program Changes or Adjustments

There are no program changes or adjustments to this instrument.

16. Plans for Tabulation and Publication and Project Time Schedule

Data collected in this report will be for internal use only, not for publication.

17. Reason(s) Display of OMB Expiration Date is Inappropriate

The expiration date will be displayed.

18. Exceptions to Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions

There are no exceptions to the certification statement.

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