04-6626. 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 includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before April 26, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Denise McLamb, Records Management Service (005E3), 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. 2900-0118.”

Send comments and recommendations concerning any aspect of the information collection 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. 2900-0118” in any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Transfer of Scholastic Credit (Schools), VA Form Letter 22-315.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: When a student receiving VA education benefits is enrolled at two training institutions, the institution at which the student pursues his or her approved program of education must verify that courses pursued at a second or supplemental institution will be accepted at full credit toward the student's course objective. Educational payment for courses pursued at the second institution is not payable until evidence is received verifying that the student is pursuing his or her approved program while enrolled in these courses. VA Form Letter 22-315 serves as this certification of acceptance. The form letter is sent to the student requesting that they have the certifying official of his or her primary institution to list the course or courses pursued at the second institution for which the primary institution will give full credit. Without this information, benefits cannot be authorized for any courses pursued at other than the primary institution.

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 December 15, 2003, at pages 69773-69774.

Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions, and State, local or tribal government.

Estimated Annual Burden: 3,550 hours.

Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 10 minutes.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 21,300.

Dated: March 16, 2004.

By direction of the Secretary.

Loise Russell,

Director, Records Management Service.