E7-20354. Agency Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review

AGENCY:

Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-21), this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs, has submitted the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden and it includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before November 15, 2007.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments on the collection of information through http://www.Regulations.gov; or to VA's OMB Desk Officer, OMB Human Resources and Housing Branch, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503 [phone]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0455” in any correspondence.

For Further Information or a Copy of the Submission Contact: Denise McLamb, Records Management Service (005R1B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420, [phone], FAX [phone] or e-mail: [e-mail]. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0455).”

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Equal Opportunity Compliance Review Report, VA Form 20-8734 and Supplement to Equal Opportunity Compliance Review Report, VA Form 20-8734a.

OMB Control Number: 2900-0455.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: Executive Order 12250, Leadership and Coordination of Nondiscrimination Laws, delegated authority to the Attorney General to coordinate the implementation and enforcement by Executive agencies of various equal opportunity laws prohibiting discriminatory practices in Federal programs and programs receiving Federal financial assistance. The Order extended the delegation to cover Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Department of Justice issued government-wide guidelines (29 CFR 42.406) instructing funding agencies to provide for the collection of data and information from applicants for and recipients of Federal assistance.

VA Forms 20-8734 and 20-8734a are used by VA personnel during regularly scheduled educational compliance survey visits, as well as during investigations of equal opportunity complaints, to identify areas where there may be disparate treatment of members of protected groups. VA Form 20-8734 is used to gather information from post-secondary proprietary schools below college level. The information is used to assure that VA-funded programs comply with equal opportunity laws. VA Form 20-8734a, is used to gather information from students and instructors at post-secondary proprietary schools below college level. The information is used to assure that participants have equal access to equal treatment in VA-funded programs. If this information were not collected, VA would be unable to carry out the civil rights enforcement responsibilities established in the Department of Justice's guidelines and VA's regulations.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on August 8, 2007, at pages 44612-44613.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

Estimated Annual Burden and Average Burden Per Respondent: Based on past experience, VBA estimates that 76 interviews will be conducted with recipients using VA Form 20-8734 at an average of 1 hour and 45 minutes per interview (133 hours). This includes one hour for an interview with the principal facility official, plus 45 minutes for reviewing records and reports and touring the facility. It is estimated that 76 interviews will be conducted with students using VA Form 20-8734a at an average of 30 minutes per interview (38 hours) and with instructors at an average of 30 minutes per interview (38 hours). Interviews are also conducted with 76 students without instructors at an average time of 30 minutes (38 hours). The total burden hour is 247.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 228.

Dated: October 10, 2007.

By direction of the Secretary.

Denise McLamb,

Program Analyst, Records Management Service.