2013-03532. Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Federal Perkins Loan Program Regulations

AGENCY:

Federal Student Aid (FSA), Department of Education (ED).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is proposing an extension of an existing information collection of a previously approved information collection.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before April 16, 2013.

ADDRESSES:

Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov by selecting Docket ID number ED-2013-ICCD-0012 or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. Please note that comments submitted by fax or email and those submitted after the comment period will not be accepted. Written requests for information or comments submitted by postal mail or delivery should be addressed to the Director of the Information Collection Clearance Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, LBJ, Room 2E103, Washington, DC 20202-4537.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Electronically mail [e-mail]. Please do not send comments here.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Department of Education (ED), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department's information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. ED is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The Department of Education is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. Please note that written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records.

Title of Collection: Federal Perkins Loan Program Regulations.

OMB Control Number: 1845-0023.

Type of Review: an extension of an existing information collection of a previously approved information collection.

Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals or households, State, Local, or Tribal Governments, Private Sector.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 23,488,137.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 607,752.

Abstract: Institutions of higher education make Perkins loans. Information is necessary in order to monitor a school's due diligence in its contact with the borrower regarding repayment, billing and collections, reimbursement to its Perkins loan revolving fund, rehabilitation of defaulted loans as well as institutions use of third party collections. This extension is a request for approval of reporting and record-keeping requirements contained in the regulations related to the administrative requirements of the Perkins Loan Program.

Dated: February 11, 2013.

Kate Mullan,

Acting Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Privacy, Information and Records Management Services, Office of Management.