Notices. Request for public comments
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/register/2026/03/27/2026-05938A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children and Families Proposed Information Collection Activity; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
(TANF)Pilot Evaluation AGENCY: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation; Administration for Children and Families; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ACTION: Request for public comments. SUMMARY: The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is proposing to collect data for the new Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
(TANF)Pilot Evaluation. DATES: Comments due May 26, 2026. ADDRESSES: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ACF is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described above. You can obtain copies of the proposed collection of information and submit comments by emailing *opreinfocollection@acf.hhs.gov.* Identify all requests by the title of the information collection. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: *Description:* The *TANF Pilot Evaluation* will include implementation and outcomes studies of pilot programs authorized under the Fiscal Responsibility Act
(FRA)of 2023 (Pub. L. 118-5), which authorizes HHS to select up to five states to test new outcomes-based performance benchmarks in the TANF program. The implementation study will describe pilot design, staffing, service provision, partnerships, contextual details, and factors that support or hinder the pilot's implementation. The outcomes study will assess changes in participant outcomes using surveys and administrative data. This new information collection request includes a semi-structured discussion guide, staff survey, time-use survey, cost and resource workbooks, and in-depth participant interview guide for the implementation study. It also includes a 12-month post-TANF-exit survey for the outcomes study. These instruments will provide information on how states implement the pilots, how services and staffing evolve, and how outcomes change under the new performance benchmarks. The data will be used to produce a report on outcomes to be submitted to Congress, as required by the FRA; inform future TANF policy development; and contribute to the broader evidence base on outcomes-based performance monitoring. *Respondents:* Most of the implementation study data collection instruments will be conducted with TANF staff including state and local-level leadership staff, data specialists, supervisors, and frontline staff. The in-depth interview guide will be conducted with TANF participants. The 12-month post-TANF-exit survey will be conducted with TANF participants who provided contact information through the Study Information Form, which was approved under ACF's generic clearance for formative research (Office of Management and Budget #: 0970-0356), and agreed to be contacted for this survey. Annual Burden Estimates Instruments 1, 2, and 5 will be tailored based on the respondent and, therefore, the burden table shows the breakdown by respondent type. Instrument Respondent Total number of respondents Total number of responses per respondent Average burden per response Total burden hours (3 years) Annual burden hours Instrument 1: Semi-structured program discussion guide state-level leadership staff local-level leadership staff 50 200 6 6 1.5 1.5 450 1,800 150 600 data specialists 10 6 1 60 20 supervisors 100 6 1 600 200 frontline staff 200 6 1 1,200 400 Instrument 2: Leadership and staff survey local-level leadership staff 500 2 0.33 330 110 supervisors 500 2 0.33 330 110 Instrument 3: Staff survey frontline staff 2,140 2 0.33 1412 471 Instrument 4: Staff time use survey frontline staff 2,140 9 0.17 3274 1,091 Instrument 5: Pilot costs and resources workbook state-level leadership staff 10 3 4 120 40 local-level leadership staff 10 3 4 120 40 Instrument 6: In-depth participant interview guide participants 100 1 1.25 125 42 Instrument 7: 12-Month Post-TANF-Exit Survey participants 3,000 1 0.75 2,250 750 Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours 4,024 *Comments:* The Department specifically requests comments 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)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. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted within 60 days of this publication. (Authority: 42 U.S.C. 613.) Mary C. Jones, ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer. [FR Doc. 2026-05938 Filed 3-26-26; 8:45 am]
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