2012-15418. Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests; Federal Student Aid; Electronic Debit Payment Option for Student Loans

SUMMARY:

The Preauthorized Debit Account (PDA) Application is used to establish electronic debiting for individuals who have requested to have their defaulted federal education debt payments debited from their bank accounts.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before August 24, 2012.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments regarding burden and/or the collection activity requirements should be electronically mailed to [e-mail] or mailed to U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, LBJ, Washington, DC 20202-4537. Copies of the proposed information collection request may be accessed from http://edicsweb.ed.gov,, by selecting the “Browse Pending Collections” link and by clicking on link number 04879. When you access the information collection, click on “Download Attachments” to view. Written requests for information should be addressed to U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Washington, DC 20202-4537. Requests may also be electronically mailed to [e-mail] or faxed to 202-401-0920. Please specify the complete title of the information collection and OMB Control Number when making your request.

Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires that Federal agencies provide interested parties an early opportunity to comment on information collection requests. The Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Privacy, Information and Records Management Services, Office of Management, publishes this notice containing proposed information collection requests at the beginning of the Departmental review of the information collection. 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: Electronic Debit Payment Option for Student Loans.

OMB Control Number: 1845-0025.

Type of Review: Revision and Extension.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 1,600.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 133.

Abstract: An Electronic Debit Account Program gives the borrower the option to repay federally funded student loans via automatic debit deductions from their checking or savings accounts. The PDA payment option allows individuals with defaulted federal education debts (student loans or grant overpayments) held by the U.S. Department of Education's (ED's) Federal Student Aid Default Resolution Group to have their payments automatically debited from their checking or savings accounts and sent to ED. Individuals who choose the use the PDA option to make their payments must authorize ED to debit their bank accounts. The PDA Brochure and Application (PDA Application) explains the PDA payment option and collects the applicant's authorization for electronic debiting of payments and the bank account information needed by ED to debit the applicant's account.

The authority for the PDA option is provided under the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984, Public Law 98-368, and 31 CFR part 202, Depositaries and Financial Agents of the Government. Operating rules and regulations approved and published by the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA) and 31 CFR part 210 also govern the use of the PDA Application. Finally, Regulation E, issued and maintained by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, implements Title IX of the Consumer Credit Protection Act, as amended in 15 U.S.C. 1601. This regulation is designed to implement the act, which primarily serves to protect the interests of the individual consumer participating in electronic transfers.

ED has used the collection of information on the currently approved PDA Application to establish electronic debiting for individuals who have requested to have their defaulted federal education debt payments debited from their bank accounts.

Dated: June 15, 2012.

Darrin A. King,

Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Privacy, Information and Records Management Services, Office of Management.