E6-2944. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects (section 3506(c)(2)(A) of Title 44, United States Code, as amended by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) publishes periodic summaries of proposed projects being developed for submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and draft instruments, call the HRSA Reports Clearance Officer on [phone].

Comments are invited 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) ways to enhance 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.

Proposed Project: The Health Education Assistance Loan (HEAL) Program; Forms (OMB No. 0915-0034 Extension)

The HEAL program provided federally insured loans to assure the availability of funds for loans to eligible students to pay for their education costs. In order to administer and monitor the HEAL program the following forms are utilized: The Lenders Application for Contract of Federal Loan Insurance form (used by lenders to make application to the HEAL insurance program); the Borrower's Deferment Request form (used by borrowers to request deferments on HEAL loans and used by lenders to determine borrower's eligibility for deferment); the Borrower Loan Status update electronic submission (submitted monthly by lenders to the Secretary on the status of each loan; and the Loan Purchase/Consolidation electronic submission (submitted by lenders to the Secretary to report sales, and purchases of HEAL loans).

The estimates of burden for the forms are as follows:

HRSA form	Number of respondents	Responses per respondent	Total responses	Hours per responses	Total burden hours
Lender's Application for Contract of Federal Loan Insurance	17	1	17	8 min.	3
Borrower's Deferment Request
Borrowers	436		436	10 min.	73
Employers	261	1.669	436	5 min.	36
Borrower Loan Status Update	8	18	144	10 min.	24
Loan Purchase/Consolidation	17	248	4,216	4 min.	281
Total	739		5,249		417

Send comments to Susan G. Queen, Ph.D., HRSA Reports Clearance Officer, Room 10-33, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

Dated: February 23, 2006.

Tina Cheatham,

Director, Division of Policy Review and Coordination.