[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 167 (Wednesday, August 28, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53196-53197]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20957]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-NEW]


Agency Information Collection (Principles of Excellence Complaint 
System Intake); Comment Request

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) 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 extension of a currently approved collection, and allow 
60 days for public comment in response to the notice. VA published an 
emergency notice the Principles of Excellence Complaint System Intake 
on April 30, 2013, that has been withdrawn. Due to a change in the 
direction of the collection VA, is asking for public comments on the 
revised collection. The PRA submission describes the nature of the 
information collection and its expected cost and burden; it includes 
the actual data collection instrument. Interested persons are invited 
to send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of 
this collection of information, including any of the following 
subjects: (1) The necessity and utility of the proposed information 
collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2) 
the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) the 
use of automated collection

[[Page 53197]]

techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the 
information collection burden.
    To obtain copies of the supporting statement and the related form 
for this information collection, contact the Further Information 
Contact listed in this notice.

DATES: Written comments and recommendation on the proposed collection 
of information should be received on or before October 15, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information 
through Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at www.Regulations.gov; 
or to Nancy J. Kessinger, Veterans Benefits Administration (20M33), 
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20420 or email [email protected]. Please refer to ``OMB Control 
No. 2900--NEW (Principles of Excellence Complaint System Intake)'' in 
any correspondence. During the comment period, comments may be viewed 
online through FDMS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy J. Kessinger at (202) 632-8924 
or fax (202) 632-8925.

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, VBA 
invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of VBA's functions, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy 
of VBA'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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Principles of Excellence Complaint System Intake.
    OMB Control Number: 2900--NEW (Principles of Excellence Complaint 
System Intake).
    Type of Review: New collection.
    Abstract: The purpose of the complaint system is to provide a 
standardized method to submit a complaint against an educational 
institution alleging fraudulent and unduly aggressive recruiting 
techniques, misrepresentation, payment of incentive compensation, 
failure to meet state authorization requirements, or failure to adhere 
to the Principles of Excellence as outlined in the Executive Order 
13607, Establishing Principles of Excellence for Educational 
Institutions Serving Service Members, Veterans, Spouses, and Other 
Family Members.
    The VA's Principles of Excellence Complaint System (PoECS) will 
leverage DoD's complaint system to intake and manage complaints 
utilizing their systems architecture with each agency only having 
access to their data. The complainants will access the complaint system 
through the GI Bill Web site and eBenefits portal. Veterans, family 
members, or other members of the public will be able to open links at 
either VA Web site location and enter the requested information. 
Complainants will be offered the opportunity to review the information 
in their complaint prior to clicking on the submit button. Once a 
complaint is submitted, the complainant will receive an email verifying 
that the complaint was received. At this point, the complaint will be 
stored in the complaint system and be available to select VA employees 
for review. VA will review the complaint and on behalf of the 
complainant will share the complaint with the institution which is 
subject of the complaint. VA will request the institution to formally 
respond to the complaint within 90 days. If an institution fails to 
respond within 90 days, VA will contact the institution and request a 
status update. Once VA receives a response from the institution, VA 
will forward the response to the complainant. At this point, VA will 
close the case. Valid complaints received will be transmitted to the 
central repository at FTC Consumer Sentinel. The information in the 
central repository is the same information provided by the complainant. 
Authorized law enforcement officials who have been granted access to 
the FTC Consumer Sentinel database will have access to view all 
complaints. The information gathered through the system can only be 
obtained from the individual respondent. Valid complaints will be 
accepted from third parties.
    We are conducting a 45-day public comment review period pursuant to 
5 CFR 1320.13. 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.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 300 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 15 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,200.

    Dated: August 23, 2013.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Crystal Rennie,
VA Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2013-20957 Filed 8-27-13; 8:45 am]
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