[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 117 (Wednesday, June 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33095-33096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-15995]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: 
Comment Request

    In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public 
comment on proposed data collection projects (section 3506(c)(2)(A) of 
Title 44, United States Code, as amended by the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13), the Health Resources and Services 
Administration (HRSA) will publish periodic summaries of proposed 
projects being developed for submission to OMB under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995. To request more information on the proposed 
project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans, call the HRSA 
Reports Clearance Officer on (301) 443-1129.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.
    Proposed Project: The Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program 
Application (OMB No. 0915-0140)--Extension--This is a request for

[[Page 33096]]

extension of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the 
application form for the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program 
(NELRP). The NELRP was originally authorized by 42 U.S.C. 297b(h) 
(section 836(h) of the Public Health Service Act) as amended by Public 
Law 100-607, November 4, 1988. The NELRP is currently authorized by 42 
U.S.C. 297(n) (section 846 of the Public Health Service Act) as amended 
by Public Law 102-408, October 13, 1992. The application form is 
currently approved under OMB No. 0915-0140, which expires 12/31/97.
    Under the NELRP, registered nurses are offered the opportunity to 
enter into a contractual agreement with the Secretary, under which the 
Public Health Service agrees to repay the nurses' indebtedness for 
nursing education. In exchange, the nurses agree to serve for a 
specified period of time in certain types of health facilities 
identified in the statute.
    Nurse educational loan repayment contracts will be approved by the 
Secretary for eligible nurses who have incurred previous monetary 
indebtedness by accepting a loan for nursing education costs from a 
bank, credit union, savings and loan association, insurance company, 
Government agency or program, school, or other lender that meets NELRP 
criteria.
    Approval is requested for the application form. The application 
form requires information from two types of respondents:
    a. Applicants must provide information on the proposed service site 
and on all nursing education loans for which reimbursement is 
requested, and
    b. Lenders must provide information on loan status for all loans 
accepted for repayment.
    The application form is not being changed, so the estimates of 
average burden to complete the forms remains the same. Burden estimates 
are as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           Responses                    Total   
                Form/regulatory requirement                   Number of       per        Hours per      burden  
                                                             respondents   respondent    response       hours   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NELRP Application..........................................        1,000            1          1.5         1,500
Loan Verification Form.....................................         *200            1           .25           50
    Total..................................................        1,200  ...........  ............       1,550 
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* The remainder of the loans are verified through credit reports.                                               

    Send comments to Patricia Royston, HRSA Reports Clearance Officer, 
Room 14-36, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. 
Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

    Dated: June 12, 1997.
James J. Corrigan,
Acting Associate Administrator for Management and Program Support.
[FR Doc. 97-15995 Filed 6-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-15-U