[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 249 (Friday, December 28, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 76414-76415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-31230]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

34 CFR Part 685

RIN 1840-AC94
[Docket ID ED-2008-OPE-0009]


William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Final regulations; correction.

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SUMMARY: On October 23, 2008, the Department of Education amended the 
regulations for the Federal Perkins Loan (Perkins Loan) Program; the 
Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program; and the William D. Ford 
Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program, including the Public Service 
Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program offered within the Direct Loan Program. 
This document makes corrections to the October 23, 2008, final 
regulations.

DATES: Effective December 28, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Moran, U.S. Department of 
Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 8023, Washington, DC 20006-8502. 
Telephone: (202) 502-7732. Email: [email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain this document in an 
accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact 
disc) on request to the contact person listed in this section.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Within the regulations issued on October 23, 
2008, the Secretary included rules to implement the Public Service Loan 
Forgiveness benefit offered within the Direct Loan Program. 73 FR 
63232. One of the matters addressed by those rules was the extent to 
which service for an organization engaged in religious activities 
qualifies a borrower for the loan forgiveness benefit. The Department's 
intent in regulating in this area was to be consistent with the 
treatment of such service in corresponding regulations for the FFEL 
Program (34 CFR 682.210(m)), the Perkins Loan Program (34 CFR 
674.36(c)(4)), and the Department of Defense Program to Encourage 
Public and Community Service (32 CFR 77.3(a)). However, as a result of 
a drafting error, the Department omitted wording from paragraph (3) of 
the definition of ``public service organization'' in 34 CFR 685.219(b) 
that would have corresponded with language in paragraph (5)(ii) of the 
definition and been consistent with language in the regulations for the 
FFEL, Perkins Loan, and Department of Defense programs. This language 
would have made clear that service for a non-profit organization that 
qualifies a borrower for the loan forgiveness benefit cannot be 
comprised of activities that are related to religious instruction, 
worship services, or any form of proselytizing. To correct the drafting 
error, the Department is publishing this technical correction to add 
the omitted language. This correction clarifies the intended meaning of 
the regulations. The Department also corrects a typographical error--
the spelling of the word ``health'' under paragraph (5)(i) of the 
definition of ``public service organization.''
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
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List of Subjects in 34 CFR Part 685

    Administrative practice and procedure, Colleges and universities, 
Loan programs--education, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Student aid, Vocational education.

    Dated: December 21, 2012.
David Bergeron,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.

    Accordingly, 34 CFR part 685 is corrected as follows:

PART 685--WILLIAM D. FORD FEDERAL DIRECT LOAN PROGRAM

0
1. The authority citation for part 685 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070g, 1087a, et seq., unless otherwise 
noted.

0
2. Section 685.219(b) is amended by:
0
A. In the definition of ``public service organization,'' revising 
paragraph (3).
0
B. In paragraph (5)(i) of the definition of ``public service 
organization,'' removing the word ``heath'' and adding, in its place, 
the word, ``health''.
    The revision reads as follows:


Sec.  685.219  Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) A non-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the 
Internal Revenue Code that--
    (i) Is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of the Internal 
Revenue Code; and

[[Page 76415]]

    (ii) Is not an organization engaged in religious activities, unless 
the qualifying activities are unrelated to religious instruction, 
worship services, or any form of proselytizing;
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2012-31230 Filed 12-27-12; 8:45 am]
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