Special Census Program

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Form SC-900 RCE Governmental Unit Cost Estimate Request Form	Modified
Form SC-Q Special Census Program Form	Modified
Special Census Program 30d FRN 2025-11-21.pdf Supplementary Document	2025-11-21
Attachment A - 2020 Special Census Documents List.docx Supplementary Document	2025-09-23
Special Census_SupportingStatementA FINALv1.2.docx Supporting Statement A	2025-09-24
SpecialCensusProgram_SSB_2025-06-06.docx Supporting Statement B	2025-09-24

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
256411	Governmental Unit Cost Estimate Request Form	Modified
219039	Special Census Program Form	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0607-0368	ICR Reference No: 202509-0607-004
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202501-0607-003
Agency/Subagency: DOC/CENSUS	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Special Census Program
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 11/21/2025

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	12/31/2025
Responses	357,080	357,080
Time Burden (Hours)	59,560	59,560
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: A Special Census is a basic enumeration of population, housing units, group quarters, and units at transitory locations, conducted by the Census Bureau at the request of a Governmental Unit. Title 13, United States Code, section 196 authorizes the Census Bureau to conduct Special Censuses on a cost reimbursable basis for the government of any state, county, city, or other political subdivision. This includes the District of Columbia, American Indian Reservations, Alaska Native villages, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Island Areas, and other Governmental Units that require current population data between decennial censuses. A full Special Census is a basic enumeration of population, housing units, group quarters, and units at transitory locations for an area entirely within the jurisdiction of a local Governmental Unit requesting the Special Census. A partial Special Census is conducted using the same methodologies and procedures as a regular or full Special Census, but it is for a subset of areas within the jurisdiction of the local Governmental Unit. The areas requested in a partial Special Census must contain at least one full tract that is completely within the jurisdiction of the Governmental Unit and can contain additional contiguous tracts or blocks. For example, Governmental Units may choose to conduct a partial Special Census with just those tracts that might have experienced a large population growth or a boundary change.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 13 USC 196
  

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:
	90 FR 30840	07/11/2025
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 52617	11/21/2025
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 2

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Governmental Unit Cost Estimate Request	SC-900 RCE	Special Census Cost Estimate Request Form
Special Census Program	SC-Q, SC-Q(S), SC-CQ, SC-CQ(S), SC-Q-GE, SC-Q-GE(S), SC-Q-TL(S), SC-CQ-TL, SC-CQ-TL(S), SC-RQ, SC-RQ(S) , SC-435, SC-Q-TL, SC-693.2(ETL), SC-50.1a, SC-QE-ISR 1, SC-QE-ISR, SC-116, SC-351, SC-117, SC-921, SC-920, SC-688(TLAC)	Housing Unit Enumerator Questionnaire ,   Housing Unit Enumerator Questionnaire (Spanish) ,   HU Enumerator Continuation Questionnaire (English) ,   HU Enumerator Continuation Questionnaire (Spanish) ,   GQ Individual Census Questionnaire (English) ,   GQ Individual Census Questionnaire (Spanish) ,   Transitory Unit Questionnaire (English) ,   Transitory Unit Questionnaire (Spanish) ,   Transitory Unit Continuation Questionnaire (English) ,   Transitory Unit Continuation Questionnaire (Spanish) ,   Reinterview Questionnaire (English) ,   Reinterview Questionnaire (Spanish) ,   Reinterview Dependent Quality Check Record ,   Transitory Location Listing Sheet ,   Special Census Office Job Aids - Telephone Script ,   Special Census Internet Self-Response Screens ,   Special Census Internet Self-Response Screens ,   Group Quarters Control Record ,   Special Census Group Quarters Advance Contact Script ,   Transitory Location Control Record ,   Special Census Add Page ,   Special Census Address Listing Page ,   Special Census Transitory Location Advance Contact In-Field Script

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	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	357,080	357,080	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	59,560	59,560	0	0	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

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

Burden Increase Due to:

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

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement:

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $2,900,000

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? Yes Part B of Supporting Statement

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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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: 11/21/2025

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