2024-09331. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; PLUS Adverse Credit Reconsideration Loan Counseling

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Department is proposing an extension without change of a currently approved information collection request (ICR).

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before May 31, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations for proposed information collection requests should be submitted within 30 days of publication of this notice. Click on this link www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain to access the site. Find this information collection request (ICR) by selecting “Department of Education” under “Currently Under Review,” then check the “Only Show ICR for Public Comment” checkbox. Reginfo.gov provides two links to view documents related to this information collection request. Information collection forms and instructions may be found by clicking on the “View Information Collection (IC) List” link. Supporting statements and other supporting documentation may be found by clicking on the “View Supporting Statement and Other Documents” link.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For specific questions related to collection activities, please contact Beth Grebeldinger, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Department 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: PLUS Adverse Credit Reconsideration Loan Counseling.

OMB Control Number: 1845-0129.

Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved ICR.

Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals or Households.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 142,824.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 107,119.

Abstract: Section 428B(a)(1)(A) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), provides that to be eligible to receive a Federal PLUS Loan under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program, the applicant must not have an adverse credit history, as determined pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Secretary. In accordance with section 455(a)(1) of the HEA, this same eligibility requirement applies to applicants for PLUS loans under the Direct Loan Program. Since July 1, 2010, there have been no new FFEL Program loans originated and the Direct Loan Program is the only Federal loan program that offers Federal PLUS Loans.

The adverse credit history section of the eligibility regulations in 34 CFR 685.200 (b) and (c) were updated in 2014 by the Department of Education (the Department) when a review of and a change to the regulations was made. Specifically, an applicant for a PLUS loan who is determined to have an adverse credit history must complete loan counseling offered by the Secretary before receiving the Federal PLUS loan.

The Department is requesting an extension to the information collection regarding the adverse credit history regulations in 34 CFR 685.200 (b) and (c) and the burden these changes create for Federal PLUS loan borrowers, both parent and graduate/professional students.

Dated: April 25, 2024.

Kun Mullan,

PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance, Governance and Strategy Division, Office of Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development.