00-21255. 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, Public Law 104-13), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) publishes 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 [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 National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program Deferment Request Forms and Associated Reporting Requirements (OMB No. 0915-0179)—Revision

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program was established to assure an adequate supply of trained primary care health professionals to the neediest communities in the Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) of the United States. Under the program, allopathic physicians, osteopathic physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, physician assistants, and, if needed by the NHSC program, students of other health professionals are offered the opportunity to enter into a contractual agreement with the Secretary under which the Public Health Service agrees to pay the total school tuition, required fees and a stipend for living expenses. In exchange, the scholarship recipient agrees to provide full-time clinical services at a site in a federally designated HPSA.

Once the scholars have met their academic requirements, the law requires that individuals receiving a degree from a school of medicine, osteopathic medicine or dentistry be allowed to defer their service obligation for a maximum of 3 years to complete approved internship, residency or other advanced clinical training. The Deferment Request Form provides the information necessary for considering the period and type of training for which deferment of the service obligation will be approved.

The estimated response burden is as follows:

Form	Number of respondents	Responses per respondent	Hours per response	Total hour burden
Deferment Request Forms	600	1	1	600
Letters of Intent and Request	100	1	1	100
Total	700		2	700

Send comments to Susan G. Queen, Ph.D., 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: August 15, 2000.

James J. Corrigan,

Associate Administrator for Management and Program Support.