[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 26 (Tuesday, February 10, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6695-6696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2704]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-New (VRE)]


Proposed Information Collection (Evaluation of VA's Vocational 
Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Program) Activity; Comment Request

AGENCY: Office of Policy and Planning, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Policy and Planning, Department of Veterans 
Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the 
proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to 
publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed 
collection of information, including each proposed new collection of 
information, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the 
notice. This notice solicits comments on information needed to satisfy 
the requirements detailed in Public Law 108-454, section 805. This 
project will collect information on awareness, demographics, health 
care, disability, life insurance, burial benefits, employment, 
education and training, and vocational rehabilitation. This project 
will provide information needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the 
VR&E program and support VA policy, planning, and quality improvement 
decisions.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection 
of information should be received on or before April 13, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information 
through Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at http://www.Regulations.gov; or to George Fitzelle, Office of Policy and 
Planning, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20420 or e-mail [email protected]. Please refer to 
``OMB Control No. 2900-NEW (VRE)'' in any correspondence. During the 
comment period, comments may be viewed online through the FDMS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Fitzelle at (202) 461-5770 or 
FAX (202) 273-5993.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 
U.S.C. 3501-3521), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of 
information they conduct or sponsor. This request for comment is being 
made pursuant to Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA.
    With respect to the following collection of information, the Office 
of Policy and Planning invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
VA's functions, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of VA's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or the use 
of other forms of information technology.
    Title: Evaluation of VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment 
(VR&E) Program.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-NEW (VRE).
    Type of Review: New collection.
    Abstract: The evaluation requires information that is not available 
in VA administrative files and therefore surveys will be conducted of 
program participants and non-participants and counselors who assist 
them. Focus groups will be conducted with dependents of program 
participants. In addition, interviews will be conducted with officials 
of state vocational rehabilitation programs to conduct an inventory of 
these programs that are also available to disabled veterans. This 
evaluation is part of an ongoing assessment of the effectiveness of 
programs conducted to fulfill the requirements of Public Law 103-62, 
the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993, and Title 38, Sec.  
527, Evaluation and Data Collection. This evaluation will provide 
information to support VA policy, planning, and quality improvement 
decisions.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 15,175 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 35 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: One-time.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 24,300.

    Dated: February 4, 2009.


[[Page 6696]]


    By direction of the Secretary.
Denise McLamb,
Program Analyst, Enterprise Records Service.
[FR Doc. E9-2704 Filed 2-9-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P