Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Periodically, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will publish a summary of information collection requests under OMB review, in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). To request a copy of these documents, call the SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer on (301) 443-7978.

Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant Synar Report Format, FFY 2005-2007—(OMB No. 0930-0222; Revision)—Section 1926 of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 300x-26] stipulates that funding Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant agreements for alcohol and drug abuse programs for fiscal year 1994 and subsequent fiscal years require States to have in effect a law providing that it is unlawful for any manufacturer, retailer, or distributor of tobacco products to sell or distribute any such product to any individual under the age of 18. This section further requires that States conduct annually, random, unannounced inspections to ensure compliance with the law; that the State submit annually a report describing the results of the inspections, and the activities carried out by the State to enforce the required law, the success the State has achieved in reducing the availability of tobacco products to individuals under the age of 18, and the strategies to be utilized by the State for enforcing such law during the fiscal year for which the grant is sought.

Before making an award to a State under the SAPT Block Grant, the Secretary must make a determination that the State has maintained compliance with these requirements. If a determination is made that the State is not in compliance, penalties shall be applied. Penalties range from 10 percent of the Block Grant in applicable year 1 to 40 percent in applicable year 4 and subsequent years. Respondents include the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands.

Regulations that implement this legislation are at 45 CFR 96.130, are approved by OMB under control number 0930-0163, and require that each State submit an annual Synar report to the Secretary describing their progress in complying with section 1926 of the PHS Act. The Synar report, due December 31 following the fiscal year for which the State is reporting, describes the results of the inspections and the activities carried out by the State to enforce the required law; the success the State has achieved in reducing the availability of tobacco products to individuals under the age of 18; and the strategies to be utilized by the State for enforcing such law during the fiscal year for which the grant is sought.

SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention will request OMB approval of revisions to the current report format associated with Section 1926 (42 U.S.C. 300x-26). The report format is changing significantly. Any changes in either formatting or content are being made to simplify the reporting process for the States and to clarify the information as the States report it; both outcomes will facilitate consistent, credible, and efficient monitoring of Synar compliance across the States and will reduce the reporting burden by the States. All of the information required in the new report format is already being collected and reported by the States.

Written comments and recommendations concerning the proposed information collection should be sent by May 14, 2004, to: SAMHSA Desk Officer, Human Resources and Housing Branch, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503; due to potential delays in OMB's receipt and processing of mail sent through the U.S. Postal Service, respondents are encouraged to submit comments by fax to: 202-395-6974.