[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 207 (Monday, October 27, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55673-55674]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-28390]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0455]


Agency Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 
(44 U.S.C., 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Veterans 
Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs, has 
submitted the collection of information abstracted below to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA 
submission describes the nature of the information collection and its 
expected cost and burden; it includes the actual data collection 
instrument.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 26, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY OF THE SUBMISSION CONTACT: Ron 
Taylor, Information Management Service (045A4), Department of Veterans 
Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420, (202) 273-8015 
or FAX (202) 273-5981. Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-0455.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Equal Opportunity Compliance Review Report, VA Form 20-8734, 
and Supplement to Equal Opportunity Compliance Review Report, VA Form 
20-8734a.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0455.
    Type of Review: Reinstatement, without change, of a previously 
approved collection for which approval has expired.
    Abstract: Executive Order 12250, Leadership and Coordination of 
Nondiscrimination Laws, delegated authority to the Attorney General to

[[Page 55674]]

coordinate the implementation and enforcement by Executive agencies of 
various equal opportunity laws. Government-wide guidelines issued by 
the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in 28 CFR 42.406 instructs funding 
agencies to ``provide for the collection of data and information from 
applicants for and recipients of Federal assistance sufficient to 
permit effective enforcement of Title VI.'' Executive, Order 12250 
extended the delegation to cover Title IX of the Education Amendments 
of 1972, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
    VA's requirements to effectuate our external civil rights 
requirements are contained on 38 CFR, Part 18. These regulations, in 
part, provide that the responsible agency official or designee shall 
from time to time review the practices of recipients to determine 
whether they are complying with the equal opportunity provisions. VA 
Form 20-8734 is used to gather information from post-secondary 
proprietary schools below college level. The information is used to 
assure that VA Federally-funded programs are in compliance with equal 
opportunity laws. VA Form 20-8734a, is used to gather information from 
students and instructors at post-secondary proprietary schools below 
college level. The information is used to assure equal access and equal 
treatment to participants in VA Federally-funded programs.
    Education Compliance Survey Specialists in VA field stations use VA 
Forms 20-8734 and 20-8734a during regular scheduled educational 
compliance survey visits, as well as during investigations of equal 
opportunity complaints, to identify areas which may indicate whether 
there is disparate treatment of members of protected groups. The 
information obtained on these forms is analyzed and maintained on file 
at the regional office. If this information were not collected, VA 
would be unable to carry out its civil rights enforcement 
responsibilities established in the DOJ's instructions.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number. The Federal Register Notice with a 
60-day comment period soliciting comments on this collection of 
information was published on July 18, 1997 at page 38607.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.
    Estimated Annual Burden and Average Burden Per Respondent: Based on 
past experience, VBA estimates that 76 interviews will be conducted 
with recipients using VA Form 20-8734 at an average of 1 hour and 45 
minutes per interview (133 hours). This includes one hour for an 
interview with the principal facility official, plus 45 minute for 
reviewing records and reports and touring the facility. It is also 
estimated that 76 interviews will be conducted with students using VA 
Form 20-8734a at an average of 30 minutes per interview (38 hours) and 
with instructors at an average of 30 minutes per interview (38 hours) 
with a total of 76 hours. Interviews are also conducted with 76 
students without instructors at an average time of 30 minutes.
    VBA estimates that it will take 1 hour to conduct an interview with 
the recipients (76 hours) and 30 minutes with the instructors (38 
hours). The total number of hours for interviewing recipients and 
instructors are estimated at 114.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 228.
    Send comments and recommendations concerning any aspect of the 
information collection to VA's OMB Desk Officer, Allison Eydt, OMB 
Human Resources and Housing Branch, New Executive Office Building, Room 
10235, Washington, DC 20503 (202) 395-4650. Please refer to ``OMB 
Control No. 2900-0455'' in any correspondence.

    Dated: September 30, 1997.

    By direction of the Secretary.
William Morgan,
Program Analyst, Information Management Service.
[FR Doc. 97-28390 Filed 10-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P