[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 77 (Wednesday, April 22, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19926-19927]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10655]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services Administration
Agency Iinformation 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, Public Law 104-13), the Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA) will publish periodic summaries of proposed
projects being developed for submission to 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 (301) 443-1891.
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: Student Application for a Federal Health Education Assistance
Loan--Extension of OMB Clearance 0915-0038. The HEAL program provides
federally-insured loans to students in schools of medicine, dentistry,
veterinary medicine, optometry, podiatric medicine, pharmacy, public
health, chiropractic, or allied health, and graduate students in health
administration or clinical psychology. Eligible lenders, such as
[[Page 19927]]
banks, State agencies, and HEAL schools make HEAL loans which are
insured by the Federal Government against loss due to the borrower's
death, disability, bankruptcy, and default. The basic purpose of the
program is to assure the availability of funds for loans to eligible
students who need to borrow money to pay for their educational costs.
The Student Application is used by students to apply for HEAL loans and
by schools and lenders to process the applications.
The HEAL program has been in the process of phasing out for the
last three years in the absence of current legislation. An OMB
clearance approval was given for this application form through October
31, 1998, to accommodate the final operational year of the program. In
March 1998 the Senate introduced in Congress a bill, S. 1754, to
reauthorize the Health Professions Programs including the HEAL program.
Based on this reauthorization bill, and subject to passage, enactment,
and appropriation of funds, an extension of OMB approval of this form
will be sought. As a contingency action, it is in the best interest of
the program to publish a 60-day notice at this time to accommodate a
smooth transition of the program from phaseout to full operation
without any time delays. To facilitate this, the Agency is inviting
comments on the current form, in case OMB clearance on this form is
needed.
The estimate of annual burden for the Student Application based on
the amount appropriated in FY 1995, the last full year of operation, is
as follows:
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Burden per
Type of respondent Number of Responses per Total number response Total burden
respondents respondent of responses (minutes) hours
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Applicants...................... 20,000 1 20,000 15 5,000
Schools......................... 200 100 20,000 30 10,000
Lenders......................... 6 3,333 20,000 30 10,000
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Total....................... 20,206 .............. 60,000 .............. 25,000
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Send comments to Lyman Van Nostrand, HRSA Reports Clearance
Officer, Room 14-33, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville,
MD 20857. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this
notice.
Dated: April 16, 1998.
Jane Harrison,
Acting Director, Division of Policy Review and Coordination.
[FR Doc. 98-10655 Filed 4-21-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-15-P
