2020-17172. Agency Information Collection Activities; 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 of 1995, ED is proposing a revision to an existing information collection.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before October 5, 2020.

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-2020-SCC-0127. 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 Director 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, 202-377-4018.

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: PLUS Adverse Credit Reconsideration Loan Counseling.

OMB Control Number: 1845-0129.

Type of Review: A revision of an existing information collection.

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 a revision 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: August 3, 2020.

Kate Mullan,

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