2024-08703. Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Federal Perkins/NDSL Loan Assignment Form

AGENCY:

Federal Student Aid (FSA), Department of Education (ED).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Department is proposing an extension without change of a currently approved information collection request (ICR).

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before June 24, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

To access and review all the documents related to the information collection listed in this notice, please use https://www.regulations.gov by searching the Docket ID number Docket Search Results ED-2024-SCC-0061. Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://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 Beth Grebeldinger, [phone].

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: Federal Perkins/NDSL Loan Assignment Form.

OMB Control Number: 1845-0048.

Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved ICR.

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

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 144,114.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 72,058.

Abstract: The U.S. Department of Education (the Department) is authorized to accept Federal Perkins Loan (Perkins Loan) Program assignments under section 463(a)(5) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. Institutions participating in the Perkins Loan program, including loans made under the National Direct/Defense Student Loan Program (NDSL), use the form (OMB Control Number 1845-0048) to assign loans to the Department for collection without recompense. This request is for approval of the assignment form which allows for assignment of Perkins Loans either individually or in a batch format, utilizing either the paper based or electronic filing format.

An institution may use the form to assign one or more loans to the Department at any time throughout the year. Some conditions under which an institution could utilize the assignment form include defaulted loans, total permanent disability discharges, voluntary withdrawal from the program, termination from the program, closure of the institution and liquidation of its Perkins Loan portfolio.

The Department is requesting an extension of the currently approved collection. There has been no change to the form. There has been a change in the number of respondents, responses, and burden hours.

Dated: April 18, 2024.

Kun Mullan,

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