2023-00629. Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Payback Information Management System

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Department is proposing a revision of a currently approved information collection request (ICR).

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before March 14, 2023.

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-2023-SCC-0010. 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, the Department 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 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 Manager of the Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and Strategy Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave, SW, LBJ, Room 6W203, Washington, DC 20202-8240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For specific questions related to collection activities, please contact Karen Holliday, 202-245-7318.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Department, 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. The Department is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The Department 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: Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Payback Information Management System.

OMB Control Number: 1820-0617.

Type of Review: A revision of a currently approved ICR.

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

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 12,026.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 4,917.

Abstract:Public Law 114-95, section 302 (b) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) provides Long-Term Training grants to academic institutions to support scholarship assistance to students. Students who receive scholarships under this program are required to work within the public rehabilitation program, such as with a state vocational rehabilitation agency, or an agency or organization that has a service arrangement with a state vocational rehabilitation agency. The student is expected to work two years in such settings for every year of full-time scholarship support. The program regulations at 34 CFR 386.33 through 386.35 and 386.40 through 386.43 detail the payback provisions and the RSA scholars' requirements to comply with them.

Section 302 (b)(2)(C) of the Act requires tracking of scholars' employment status and location of former scholars supported under the grants in order to ensure that students are meeting the payback requirement. Scholars must provide requested information necessary to meet the exit certification requirements.

In addition to meeting the requirement that all scholars be tracked, the information collected will provide performance data relevant to the rehabilitation fields and degrees pursued by RSA scholars, as well as the funds owed and the rehabilitation work completed by them. These data are used to assess program effectiveness and efficiency, and to meet the reporting requirements of Public Law 103-62 section 4 of the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA).

In summary, RSA is requesting a revision of the currently approved collection by adding a section titled State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Agency: RSA Job Board Posting, where RSA envisions State VR agencies may initiate posting of an open position on the RSA Job Board on a rolling basis as positions become available. This addition to the current collection will be a helpful resource to students who receive RSA support, graduate, and seek qualifying employment to fulfill their required service obligation. This collection package adds the participation of State VR agencies to the existing approved ICR Job leads will be submitted electronically through the online RSA Payback Information Management System (PIMS). There is minimal estimated burden required to report job information using the PIMS system.

Dated: January 10, 2023.

Juliana Pearson,

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