Change Request Memo

Non-Substantive Change Request

OMB No. 0920-0770, exp. 04/30/2026

National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System

Date Submitted: March 18, 2025

Summary of request: CDC/NCHHSTP/DHP is requesting a change request to revise questions to align with EO 14168 Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.

Description of Changes Requested: This request updates sex questions used in the following data collection tools to be in accordance with EO 14168. Please check the boxes below if your request includes:

X Revision of an existing question(s)

X Deletion of an existing question(s)

Eligibility Screener (ICR Att 3a (English, Track Changes) and Att 4a (Spanish, Track Changes)):

1. Revised 1 question (ES8a) assessing respondent’s sex. The revised item asks respondents their sex with response options of ‘Male’ and ‘Female’ (Att 3a: page 27; Att 4a: page 27). Note – response options of ‘Don’t Know’ and ‘Refuse to Answer’ are NOT read to respondents and provided only as a way for the interviewer to move forward if the respondent is unwilling or unable to provide a clear response. These hidden options are included for all questions in the instrument. Respondents with ‘Don’t Know’ or ‘Refuse to Answer’ responses to sex are NOT eligible to complete the Behavioral Assessment.

2. Deleted 1 question assessing gender identity (ES8b). (Att 3a: page 27; Att 4a: page 27)

3. Updated skip logic (Check_INTRO_ES17) to use the revised sex item (ES8a) to route respondents to a set of questions about sexual behaviors (Att 3a: page 31; Att 4a: page 31). Note – these edits effect only the underlying programming language of the instrument, they do NOT impact the “look and feel”, respondent experience, or data elements of the data collection.

4. Updated calculations (CALC_EL_MSM and CALC_EL_HET) that previously were based on combinations of sex (ES8a) and gender (ES8b). The updated logic and calculations are based solely on respondents’ sex (ES8a) (Att 3a: page 34; Att 4a: pages 34-35). Note – these edits effect only the underlying programming language of the instrument, they do NOT impact the “look and feel”, respondent experience, or data elements of the data collection.

Behavioral Assessment (ICR Att 3b-3d (English, Track Changes) and Att 4b-4d (Spanish, Track Changes)):

1. Deleted 39 sexual behavior questions (SX60a – SX68e) previously asked of respondents with atypical combinations of sex and gender instead of the main sexual behavior questions. All respondents will now receive the main sexual behavior questions based on respondent’s sex. (Att 3b-3d: pages 57-65; Att 4b-4d: pages 58-65)

2. Deleted 1 question (PA1b) that included a response option that did not comply with Executive Order 14168 (Att 3b-3d: pages 99-100; Att 4b4d: pages 99-100). Deleted an associated flashcard (Flashcard Z) used only for this question (Att 3b-3d: page 140; Att 4b-4d: page 140).

3. Updated logic leading into the sexual behavior questions that previously was based on combinations of sex and gender. The updated logic is based solely on respondents’ sex (ES8a) (Att 3b-3d: pages 23-24, 32, 39, 48-57; Att 4b-4d: pages 23-24, 32, 39, 48-57). Note – these edits effect only the underlying programming language of the instrument, they do NOT impact the “look and feel”, respondent experience, or data elements of the data collection.

4. Updated calculations (CALC_HETDEFR7 and CALC_HET_RCTRR7) that previously used gender to now use sex (Att 3d: page 112; Att 4d: page 115). Note – these edits effect only the underlying programming language of the instrument, they do NOT impact the “look and feel”, respondent experience, or data elements of the data collection.

Timeframe: Changes will be implemented as soon as possible after receipt of OMB approval.

Impact on currently approved information collection methods: None.

Impact on burden: None. CDC estimates that the revised questions will not add to the length of the interview and do not alter the current estimated burden per response. There are no changes to the number of respondents or total estimated burden hours.

Attachments enclosed:

Att 3a_Eligibility_Screener_Eng_track

Att 3a_Eligibility_Screener_Eng_clean

Att 3b_Behavioral_Assessment_ MSM_Eng_track

Att 3b_Behavioral_Assessment_ MSM_Eng_clean

Att 3c_Behavioral_Assessment_ PWID_Eng_track

Att 3c_Behavioral_Assessment_ PWID_Eng_clean

Att 3d_Behavioral_Assessment_ HET_Eng_track

Att 3d_Behavioral_Assessment_ HET_Eng_clean

Att 4a_Eligibility_Screener_Span_track

Att 4a_Eligibility_Screener_Span_clean

Att 4b_Behavioral_Assessment_MSM_Span_track

Att 4b_Behavioral_Assessment_MSM_Span_clean

Att 4c_Behavioral_Assessment_PWID_Span_track

Att 4c_Behavioral_Assessment_PWID_Span_clean

Att 4d_Behavioral_Assessment_HET_Span_track

Att 4d_Behavioral_Assessment_HET_Span_clean