2014-23179. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Public Comment Request

AGENCY:

Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects (Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announces plans to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR), described below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Prior to submitting the ICR to OMB, HRSA seeks comments from the public regarding the burden estimate, below, or any other aspect of the ICR.

DATES:

Comments on this Information Collection Request must be received no later than December 1, 2014.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments to [e-mail] or mail the HRSA Information Collection Clearance Officer, Room 10-29, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and draft instruments, email [e-mail] or call the HRSA Information Collection Clearance Officer at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

When submitting comments or requesting information, please include the information request collection title for reference.

Information Collection Request Title: The Health Professions Student Loan (HPSL) and Nursing Student Loan (NSL) Programs: Deferment-HRSA Form 519 and AOR-HRSA Form 501

OMB No. 0915-0044—Extension

Abstract: The HPSL program, as authorized by Public Health Service (PHS) Act sections 721-722, and 725-735, provides long-term, low-interest loans to students attending schools of medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, podiatric medicine, and pharmacy. The NSL program as authorized by PHS Act sections 835-842, provides long-term, low-interest loans to students who attend eligible schools of nursing in programs leading to a diploma in nursing, including an associate degree, a baccalaureate degree, or graduate degree in nursing.

Need and Proposed Use of the Information: Participating HPSL and NSL schools are responsible for determining eligibility of applicants, making loans, and collecting monies owed by borrowers on their outstanding loans. The Deferment Form (Deferment-HRSA Form 519) provides the schools with documentation of a borrower's deferment status, as detailed for the HPSL program under 42 CFR 57.210 and for NSL under 42 CFR 57.310. The Annual Operating Report (AOR-HRSA Form 501) provides the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with information from participating schools (including schools that are no longer disbursing loans but are required to report and maintain program records, student records, and repayment records until all student loans are repaid in full and all monies due to the federal government are returned) relating to HPSL and NSL program operations and financial activities.

Likely Respondents: Financial Aid Directors working at institutions participating in the HPSL and NSL programs.

Burden Statement: Burden in this context means the time expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, disclose or provide the information requested. This includes the time needed to review instructions; to develop, acquire, install and utilize technology and systems for the purpose of collecting, validating and verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information; to train personnel and to be able to respond to a collection of information; to search data sources; to complete and review the collection of information; and to transmit or otherwise disclose the information. The total annual burden hours estimated for this Information Collection Request are summarized in the table below.

Total Estimated Annualized burden hours:

Instrument	Number of respondents	Responses per respondent	Total responses	Hours per response	Total burden hours
Deferment—HRSA Form 519	3,234	1	3,234	.533333	1,725
AOR-HRSA Form 501	834	1	834	12	10,008
Total	4,068		4,068		11,733

HRSA specifically requests comments on (1) the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions, (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden, (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and (4) the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

Dated: September 23, 2014.

Jackie Painter,

Acting Director, Division of Policy and Information Coordination.