Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Comment Request

In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects (section 3506(c)(2)(A) of Title 44, United States Code, as amended by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) publishes periodic summaries of proposed projects being developed for submission to OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and draft instruments, call the HRSA Reports Clearance Officer at (301) 443-1891.

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Proposed Project: Maternal and Child Health Services Title V Block Grant Program—Guidance and Forms for the Title V Application/Annual Report (OMB No. 0915-0172)—Revision

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) proposes to revise the Maternal and Child Health Services Title V Block Grant Program—Guidance and Forms for the Application/Annual Report. The guidance is used annually by the 50 States and 9 jurisdictions in making application for Block Grants under Title V of the Social Security Act and in preparing the required annual report. The proposed revisions follow and build on extensive consultation received from a Workgroup convened in 2002 to provide suggestions for improving the guidance and forms. The proposed revisions are editorial and technical revisions in nature and are based on the experience of the States and jurisdictions using previous versions of the guidance. Changes include consolidating the narrative to reduce redundancy, and reducing the number of Health Status Indicators (HSI) required in the application/annual report.

In addition, HRSA proposes changing the format for electronic submission to direct web entry. Web based data and text entry will provide for automatic calculation of ratios, rates, and percentages, carry data over year-to-year and assure that data used in multiple tables are entered only once. It will also facilitate the orderly printing of tables, text, and required appendices.

The guidance used annually by the 50 States and 9 jurisdictions had a previous estimated burden of 358 hours. Based on the new revisions and more efficient electronic submission, the estimated burden has been reduced by 5% to 322 hours. The estimated response burden is as follows:

Send comments to Susan G. Queen, Ph.D., HRSA Reports Clearance Officer, Room 11A-33, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Written comments should be received within 60 days of notice.