Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Voting Access Annual Report

Proposed Projects

Title: Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Voting Access Annual Report.
OMB No.: 0970-0327.

Description: This is a revision to include the application for the previously cleared Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Annual Report, Payments to States and Units of Local Government, 42 U.S.C. 15421.

The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) application to States and Units of Local Government is required by federal statute and regulation. Each State or Unit of Local Government must prepare an application to receive funds under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), Public Law 107-252, Title II, Subtitle D, Part 2, Sections 261 to 265, Payments to States and Units of Local Government to Assure Access for Individuals
with Disabilities (42 U.S.C. 15421-25). The application is provided in writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Developmental Disabilities.

An annual report is required by Federal statute (the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002, Public Law 107-252, Section 261, Payments to States and Units of Local Government, 42 U.S.C. 15421). Each State or Unit of Local Government must prepare and submit an annual report at the end of every fiscal year. The report addresses the activities conducted with the funds provided during the year. The information collected from the annual report will be aggregated into an annual profile of how States have utilized the funds and establish best practices for election officials. It will also provide an overview of the State election goals and accomplishments and permit the Administration on Developmental Disabilities to track voting progress to monitor grant activities.

More Than Five Billion Dollars Released Under LIHEAP

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt has announced the release of $5.1 billion from the federal government's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program(LIHEAP) under the Fiscal Year 2009 Continuing Resolution. The funds will assist states, territories, tribal areas and the District of Columbia with addressing their energy needs, particularly for the upcoming winter season. "The release of these funds will help low-income families stay warm this winter," Secretary Leavitt said. "These funds will also help reduce the risk of health and safety problems exacerbated by exposure to extreme temperatures." LIHEAP funding is provided to states through the Office of Community Services in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at HHS.The funds will assist eligible low-income households in meeting their heating and other energy needs. "The funds released by the Bush Administration will help our most vulnerable citizens, including the disabled, elderly and children," said Josephine Robinson, director, Office of Community Services at ACF. Under the language of the Continuing Resolution, $4.5 billion in block grant funds and $590 million contingency funds must be released by Oct.30, 2008. Block grant funds will be allocated to states under a formula specified in the Continuing Resolution. Of the $590 million in contingency funds, $100 million will assist states where large numbers of eligible households use heating oil for heat: Alaska, Connecticut,Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The remaining $490 million will help individuals in all 50 states. For a complete list of state allocations of the funds released today go to: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/news/press/2008/liheap_allocations_fy2009.htm. Individuals interested in applying for energy assistance should contact their local/state/LIHEAP agency. For more information, go to http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap or http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap/brochure.html.

President's Committee for People With Intellectual Disabilities

Notice of Quarterly Meeting - The meeting will be open to the public. Individuals who would like to participate via conference call may do so by dialing 888-603-6970, passcode: PCPID. Agenda: PCPID will meet to continue work on the 2009 Annual Report to the President. DATES: November 19, 2008, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST; and November 20, 2008, from 8 a.m. to 9.a.m.

Financial Status - State Councils on Developmental Disabilities

Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request For the program of the State Councils on Developmental Disabilities, funds are awarded to State agencies contingent on fiscal requirements in subtitle B of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act. The SF-269, ordinarily mandated in the revised OMB Circular A-102, provides no accounting breakouts necessary for proper stewardship. Consequently, the proposed streamlined form will substitute for the SF-269 and will allow compliance monitoring and proactive compliance maintenance and technical assistance.

State Developmental Disabilities Council 5-Year State Plan

Request for Comment A Plan developed by the State Council on Developmental Disabilities is required by federal statute. Each State Council on Developmental Disabilities must develop the plan, provide for public comments in the State, provide for approval by the State's Governor, and finally submit the plan on a five-year basis. On an annual basis, the Council must review the plan and make any amendments. The State Plan will be used (1) By the Council as a planning document; (2) by the citizenry of the State as a mechanism for commenting on the plans of the Council; and (3) by the Department as a stewardship tool, for ensuring compliance with the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, as one basis for providing technical assistance (e.g., during site visits), and as a support for management decision making. 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.

Protection and Advacacy (P&A) Voting Access Application and Annual Report

Description: This is a revision to include the application for the previously cleared Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Annual report. An application is required by Federal statute (the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002, Pub. L. 107-252, Section 291, Payments for Protection and Advocacy Systems, 42 U.S.C. 15461). Each State Protection & Advocacy (P&A) System must prepare an application in accordance with the program announcement. There is no application kit; the P&As application may be in the format of its choice. It must, however, be signed by the P&As Executive Director or the designated representative, and contain the assurances as outlined under Part I.C. Use of Funds. The P&As designated representatives may signify their agreement with the conditions/assurances by signing and returning the assurance document Attachment B, found in Part IV of this Instruction. The assurance document signed by the Executive Director of the P&A, or other designated person, should be submitted with the application to the Administration on Developmental Disabilities.

HHS Program To Improve Disaster Assistance

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt announced implementation of the Disaster Case Management demonstration program to make it easier for disaster victims to obtain a wide range of assistance and social services. The program will aid people from the Louisiana parishes covered under President Bush's disaster declaration related to Hurricane Gustav. The demonstration project will assist individuals and families by linking them with a single case manager at a disaster assistance center. The case manager will help them access the various programs available through federal, state and local governments, and nongovernmental organizations. "This program is intended to provide fast, one-stop shopping for those who need help. Our goal is a coordinated system that links disaster victims with a single contact who will help them determine what help they need, who provides it, and how to get it," Secretary Leavitt said. The program draws from existing state, local and voluntary agency programs to create a seamless system. Case managers, drawn largely from nongovernmental organizations involved in disaster relief, can assist people quickly in creating disaster recovery plans that will help them start to connect to service providers and resources. The services could include linking individuals to emergency food and shelter, temporary financial assistance, transportation, legal assistance, health care including mental health care and counseling,employment, and other public assistance. Most importantly, the program will follow clients throughout their recovery process to ensure they continue to get the assistance they need. If clients need assistance beyond the disaster aid, the case manager, to the extent possible, will connect them with the social service system within the state. HHS' Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will manage the project. "This program will help people in their time of greatest need," said Daniel Schneider, ACF acting assistant secretary. "When disaster strikes, people are in shock and great distress, and they may well not understand where and how to get aid. This program will help them overcome systemic and bureaucratic obstacles that can get in the way." Objectives include deployment into a disaster area within 72 hours of a disaster declaration; integration with existing state, local and voluntary agency programs; filling gaps by augmentation of existing state, local and voluntary agency programs; and incorporation of lessons learned from previous disasters.