2022-00346. Agency Information Collection Activity: Advertising, Sales, Enrollment Materials, and Candidate Handbooks

AGENCY:

Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed revision of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice.

DATES:

Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection of information should be received on or before March 14, 2022.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments on the collection of information through Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at www.Regulations.gov or to Nancy J. Kessinger, Veterans Benefits Administration (20M33), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420 or email to [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0682” in any correspondence. During the comment period, comments may be viewed online through FDMS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Maribel Aponte, Office of Enterprise and Integration, Data Governance Analytics (008), 1717 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20006, [phone] or email [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0682” in any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the PRA of 1995, Federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. This request for comment is being made pursuant to Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA.

With respect to the following collection of information, VBA invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of VBA's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of VBA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of information technology.

Authority: 38 CFR 21.4252(h).

Title: Advertising, Sales, Enrollment Materials, and Candidate Handbooks.

OMB Control Number: 2900-0682.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: This notice is replacing the previous 60-Day Notice, Vol. 86 No. 239 that was published on January 16, 2021. A Correction Notice was published in Vol. 87 No. 1 on January 3, 2022. The statute prohibits approval of the enrollment of a Veteran in a course if the educational institution uses advertising, sales, or enrollment practices that are erroneous, deceptive, or misleading either by actual statement, omission, or intimation. The advertising, sales and enrollment materials are reviewed to determine if the institution is in compliance with guidelines for approval. VA received two public comments which questions the 15-minute length of burden time needed to gather the information required for VA review upon compliance for this ICR. After careful assessment, VA agrees with the comments, and have therefore adjusted the time burden from 15 minutes to 60 minutes accordingly, and as result have updated the Supporting Statement to reflect the change.

Affected Public: Individuals and Households.

Estimated Annual Burden: 5,525 hours.

Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 60 minutes.

Frequency of Response: Annually.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,525.

By direction of the Secretary:

Maribel Aponte,

VA PRA Clearance Officer, Office of Enterprise and Integration/Data Governance Analytics, Department of Veterans Affairs.