FNS will collect information to estimate funding needs and also provide data on the number of applications processed, number of fair hearings, and fraud control activity. FNS uses the data to estimate funding needs and to monitor state agency activity levels and performance.
If the information were not collected it would disrupt budget planning and delay appropriation distributions and FNS would not be able to verify and ensure state compliance with statutory criteria. The FNS–388 and FNS–388A records state agencies are required to maintained by the same recordkeeping activities are essentially the same; three years. We are merging this information collection for operational efficiency.
Summary
Under section 16 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (the Act), 7 USC 2025, the Secretary is authorized to pay each state agency an amount equal to 50 percent of all administrative costs involved in each state agency's operation of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Under corresponding SNAP regulations at 7 CFR 272.2(c), the state agency is required to submit and maintain annually for FNS approval a (1) Budget Projection Statement (FNS–366A), which projects total costs for major areas of SNAP operations, and (2) a Program Activity Statement (FNS–366B), which provides a summary of SNAP operations during the preceding fiscal year both approved by OMB under the Food Processing Reporting Systems (FPRS). Additionally, under section 11(o) of the Act each state agency is required to develop and submit plans for the use of (3) automated data processing (ADP) and information retrieval systems to administer SNAP. As for (4) state plan of operation updates, state agencies will submit the operations planning documents to the appropriate regional office for approval through the SNAP The Waiver Information Management System (WIMS) (5) the Federal Financial Reporting Form SF 425 (known as SF 425/FNS 778); (6) Other ADP Plan or Updates.
Additionally, to improve operational efficiency and streamline the agency's information collection portfolio, FNS is merging the recordkeeping hours for the State Issuance and Participation Estimates (FNS–388) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Project Area Data Format (FNS–388A) into this information collection and will submit a discontinuation request for 0584–0081. We are not seeking reporting burden hours for FNS 388 or 388A.