The Administration for Children and
Families (ACF) requests emergency clearance to collect information
on the number of individuals in subsidized employment as a result
of the TANF Emergency Fund. The TANF Emergency Fund was authorized
under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery
Act), and this legislation provided up to $5 billion to help
States, Territories, and Tribes in fiscal year (FY) 2009 and FY
2010 that have an increase in assistance caseloads or in certain
types of expenditures. Many jurisdictions are implementing
subsidized employment programs as a result of the availability of
this new funding, and there is substantial interest from the White
House, OMB, the Congress, and the media in understanding how this
funding has been used. There is also significant public interest in
the number of individuals that are being placed in subsidized
employment as a result of the Recovery Act. This information will
help the agency as well as the public better understand how
jurisdictions are using the money they are awarded through the
Emergency Fund.
The Administration for
Children and Families (ACF) requests emergency clearance to collect
information on the number of individuals in subsidized employment
as a result of the TANF Emergency Fund. The TANF Emergency Fund was
authorized under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
(Recovery Act), and this legislation provided up to $5 billion to
help States, Territories, and Tribes in fiscal year (FY) 2009 and
FY 2010 that have an increase in assistance caseloads or in certain
types of expenditures. Many jurisdictions are implementing
subsidized employment programs as a result of the availability of
this new funding, and there is substantial interest from the White
House, OMB, the Congress, and the media in understanding how this
funding has been used. There is also significant public interest in
the number of individuals that are being placed in subsidized
employment as a result of the Recovery Act. This information will
help the agency as well as the public better understand how
jurisdictions are using the money they are awarded through the
Emergency Fund. As a result, we are seeking emergency clearance to
begin a voluntary data collection to gather information on the
number of individuals in subsidized employment funded in whole or
in part by the TANF Emergency Fund or that were included in the
calculation of a TANF Emergency Fund award. We are requesting
emergency clearance as the authorization for this program expires
at the end of FY 2010, creating an extremely brief window of
opportunity for data collection. Given this Administration's
commitment to transparency and accountability, it would create
public harm if the results of this program were not captured and
quantified. The first data collection is due August 14, 2010/
Failing to collect information on subsidized employment funded
through use of the TANF Emergency Fund would prevent the
Administration, the Congress, and the public from obtaining
meaningful information about the program. Therefore, this
collection of information is needed prior to the time allowed by
the use of normal clearance procedures and is essential to the
mission of the agency. ACF requests a determination by June 30,
2010 under Sec. 1320.13 of the Paperwork Reduction Act
regulation.
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:
(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;
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.