2022-16780. Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; State Authorization

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is proposing an extension without change of a currently approved collection.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before October 4, 2022.

ADDRESSES:

To access and review all the documents related to the information collection listed in this notice, please use http://www.regulations.gov by searching the Docket ID number ED-2022-SCC-0102. Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov by selecting the Docket ID number or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. If the regulations.gov site is not available to the public for any reason, ED will temporarily accept comments at [e-mail]. Please include the docket ID number and the title of the information collection request when requesting documents or submitting comments. Please note that comments submitted by fax or email and those submitted after the comment period will not be accepted. Written requests for information or comments submitted by postal mail or delivery should be addressed to the PRA Coordinator of the Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and Strategy Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, LBJ, Room 6W208D, Washington, DC 20202-8240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Department of Education (ED), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department's information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. ED is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The Department of Education 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: State Authorization.

OMB Control Number: 1845-0144.

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

Respondents/Affected Public: Private Sector; State, Local, and Tribal Governments.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 5,428.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 2,714.

Abstract: The Department of Education (the Department) requests extension of this information collection regarding Institutional Eligibility regulations in § 600.9—State Authorization. These regulations were a result of negotiated rulemaking in early 2019 and the requirements to these regulations have not changed.

The regulations in § 600.9(c)(2)(i) require an institution to determine in which State a student is located while enrolled in a distance education or correspondence course when the institution participates in a State authorization reciprocity agreement under which it is covered in accordance with the institution's policies and procedures. The updates to the policies and procedures are not reported to the Department nor is there a specified format for such information.

The regulations in § 600.9(c)(2)(ii) require an institution, upon request from the Secretary, provide the written documentation of its determination of a student's location, including the basis for such determination. There is no specific form or format for the institutions to provide this information to the Department upon request. It is anticipated that an institution would provide the pertinent portions of the policy and procedures manual to respond to such a request from the Department, but it may provide the requested information in another method.

Dated: August 1, 2022.

Kun Mullan,

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