2013-21178. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Assurances for the Protection and Advocacy for Assistive Technology (PAAT) Program

AGENCY:

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS). Department of Education (ED).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is proposing an extension without change of an existing information collection.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before September 30, 2013.

ADDRESSES:

Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov by selecting Docket ID number ED-2013-ICCD-0080 or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. 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 Information Collection Clearance Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Room 2E115, Washington, DC 20202-4537.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tomakie Washington, 202-401-1097 or email [e-mail]. Please do not send comments here.

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: Assurances for the Protection and Advocacy for Assistive Technology (PAAT) Program.

OMB Control Number: 1820-0658.

Type of Review: Extension without change of an existing collection of information.

Respondents/Affected Public: Private Sector.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 57.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 9.

Abstract: This information collection instrument will be used by grantees to request funds to carry out the Protection and Advocacy for Assistive Technology (PAAT) Assurances program. PAAT is mandated by the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended in 2004 (AT Act), to provide protection and advocacy services to individuals with disabilities for the purposes of assisting in the acquisition, utilization or maintenance of assistive technology or assistive technology services.

Dated: August 22, 2013.

Stephanie Valentine,

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