[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 245 (Friday, December 20, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77136-77137]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30286]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: 
Public Comment Request

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public 
comment on proposed data collection projects (Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995), the Health Resources and Services 
Administration (HRSA) announces plans to submit an Information 
Collection Request (ICR), described below, to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB). Prior to submitting the ICR to OMB, HRSA seeks 
comments from the public regarding the burden estimate, below, or any 
other aspect of the ICR.

DATES: Comments on this Information Collection Request must be received 
within 60 days of this notice.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to [email protected] or mail the HRSA 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Room 10-29, Parklawn 
Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on the 
proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and 
draft instruments, email [email protected] or call the HRSA 
Information Collection Clearance Officer at (301) 443-1984.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: When submitting comments or requesting 
information, please include the information request collection title 
for reference.
    Information Collection Request Title: NURSE Corps Loan Repayment 
Program OMB No. 0915-0140--Revision
    Abstract: The NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program (NURSE Corps LRP), 
formerly known as the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program (NELRP), 
assists in the recruitment and retention of professional Registered 
Nurses (RNs), including advanced practice RNs (i.e., nurse 
practitioners, certified registered nurse anesthetists, certified 
nurse-midwives, clinical nurse specialists), dedicated to working at 
eligible health care facilities with a critical shortage of nurses 
(i.e., a Critical Shortage Facility) or working as nurse faculty in 
eligible, accredited schools of nursing, by decreasing the financial 
barriers associated with pursuing a nursing profession. The NURSE Corps 
LRP provides loan repayment assistance to these nurses to repay a 
portion of their qualifying educational loans in exchange for full-time 
service at a public or private nonprofit Critical Shortage Facility or 
in an eligible, accredited school of nursing.
    Need and Proposed Use of the Information: The need and purpose of 
this information collection is to obtain information for NURSE Corps 
LRP applicants and participants. The information is used to consider an 
applicant for a NURSE Corps LRP contract award and to monitor a 
participant's compliance with the service requirements. Individuals 
must submit an application in order to participate in the program. The 
application asks for personal, professional, educational, and financial 
information required to determine the applicant's eligibility to 
participate in the NURSE Corps LRP. The semi-annual employment 
verification form asks for personal and employment information to 
determine if a participant is in compliance with the service 
requirements.
    Likely Respondents: Professional RNs or advanced practice RNs 
(i.e., nurse practitioners, certified registered nurse anesthetists, 
certified nurse-midwives, clinical nurse specialists) who are 
interested in participating in the NURSE Corps LRP, and official 
representatives at their service sites.
    Burden Statement: Burden in this context means the time expended by 
persons to generate, maintain, retain, disclose or provide the 
information requested. This includes the time needed to review 
instructions; to develop, acquire, install and utilize technology and 
systems for the purpose of collecting, validating and verifying 
information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and 
providing information; to train personnel and to be able to respond to 
a collection of information; to search data sources; to complete and 
review the collection of information; and to transmit or otherwise 
disclose the information. The total annual burden hours estimated for 
this Information Collection Request are summarized in the table below.
    Total Estimated Annualized Burden Hours:
    The estimates of reporting burden for applicants are as follows:

 
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                                     Number of      Responses/         Total         Hours per     Total burden
           Instrument               respondents     respondents      responses       response          hours
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NURSE Corps LRP Application *...           5,500               1           5,500           2.0            11,000
Authorization to Release                   5,500               1           5,500            .10              550
 Information Form...............
Authorization to Release                   5,500               1           5,500            .10              550
 Employment Information.........
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    Total.......................           5,500               1          16,500            .733          12,100
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* Please note that the burden hours associated with this instrument account for both new and continuation
  applications. Additional (uploaded) supporting documentation is included as part of this instrument and
  reflected in the burden hours.


[[Page 77137]]

    The estimates of reporting burden for Participants are as follows:

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Participant Semi-Annual                    2,300               2           4,600            .5             2,300
 Employment Verification Form...
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    Total.......................           2,300               2           4,600            .5             2,300
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Total for Applicants and                  18,800  ..............          21,100            .682          14,400
 Participants...................
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    HRSA specifically requests comments on (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 techniques or other forms of information technology to 
minimize the information collection burden.

    Dated: December 12, 2013.
Bahar Niakan,
Director, Division of Policy and Information Coordination.
[FR Doc. 2013-30286 Filed 12-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P