[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 240 (Tuesday, December 15, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 77952-77953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30618]



[[Page 77951]]

Vol. 80

Tuesday,

No. 240

December 15, 2015

Part VI





Department of Education





-----------------------------------------------------------------------





Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

  Federal Register / Vol. 80 , No. 240 / Tuesday, December 15, 2015 / 
Unified Agenda  

[[Page 77952]]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Office of the Secretary

34 CFR Subtitles A and B


Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of Education.

ACTION: Semiannual regulatory agenda.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Secretary of Education publishes a semiannual agenda of 
Federal regulatory and deregulatory actions. The agenda is issued under 
the authority of section 4(b) of Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory 
Planning and Review.'' The purpose of the agenda is to encourage more 
effective public participation in the regulatory process by providing 
the public with early information about regulatory actions we plan to 
take.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions or comments related to 
specific regulations listed in this agenda should be directed to the 
agency contact listed for the regulations. Other questions or comments 
on this agenda should be directed to LaTanya Cannady, Program 
Specialist, or Hilary Malawer, Acting Assistant General Counsel, 
Division of Regulatory Services, Office of the General Counsel, 
Department of Education, Room 6C128, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20202-2241; telephone: (202) 401-9676 (LaTanya Cannady) 
or (202) 401-6148 (Hilary Malawer). Individuals who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text telephone (TTY) 
may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 4(b) of Executive Order 12866, dated 
September 30, 1993, requires the Department of Education (ED) to 
publish, at a time and in a manner specified by the Administrator of 
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management 
and Budget, an agenda of all regulations under development or review. 
The Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 602(a), requires ED to 
publish, in October and April of each year, a regulatory flexibility 
agenda.
    The regulatory flexibility agenda may be combined with any other 
agenda that satisfies the statutory requirements (5 U.S.C. 605(a)). In 
compliance with the Executive order and the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 
the Secretary publishes this agenda.
    For each set of regulations listed, the agenda provides the title 
of the document, the type of document, a citation to any rulemaking or 
other action taken since publication of the most recent agenda, and 
planned dates of future rulemaking. In addition, the agenda provides 
the following information:
     An abstract that includes a description of the problem to 
be addressed, any principal alternatives being considered, and 
potential costs and benefits of the action.
     An indication of whether the planned action is likely to 
have significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities as defined by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 
601(6)).
     A reference to where a reader can find the current 
regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations.
     A citation of legal authority.
     The name, address, and telephone number of the contact 
person at ED from whom a reader can obtain additional information 
regarding the planned action.
    In accordance with ED's Principles for Regulating listed in its 
regulatory plan (78 FR 1361, published January 8, 2013), ED is 
committed to regulations that improve the quality and equality of 
services to its customers. ED will regulate only if absolutely 
necessary and then in the most flexible, most equitable, least 
burdensome way possible.
    Interested members of the public are invited to comment on any of 
the items listed in this agenda that they believe are not consistent 
with the Principles for Regulating. Members of the public are also 
invited to comment on any uncompleted actions in this agenda that ED 
plans to review under section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 
U.S.C. 610) to determine their economic impact on small entities.
    This publication does not impose any binding obligation on ED with 
regard to any specific item in the agenda. ED may elect not to pursue 
any of the regulatory actions listed here, and regulatory action in 
addition to the items listed is not precluded. Dates of future 
regulatory actions are subject to revision in subsequent agendas.
Electronic Access to This Document
    The entire Unified Agenda is published electronically and is 
available online at www.reginfo.gov.

Philip Rosenfelt,
Acting General Counsel.

         Office of Postsecondary Education--Proposed Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
        Sequence No.                   Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
236.........................  Borrower Defense.......         1840-AD19
------------------------------------------------------------------------


           Office of Postsecondary Education--Final Rule Stage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Regulation
        Sequence No.                   Title             Identifier No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
237.........................  Title IV of the HEA--           1840-AD14
                               Program Integrity and
                               Improvement.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (ED)

Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE)

Proposed Rule Stage

236.  Borrower Defense

    Legal Authority: Not Yet Determined
    Abstract: The Department will begin negotiated rulemaking to 
develop proposed regulations for determining which acts or omissions of 
an institution of higher education a borrower may assert as a defense 
to repayment of a loan made under the William D. Ford Federal Direct 
Loan (Federal Direct Loan) Program and identify the consequences of 
such borrower defenses for borrowers, institutions, and the Secretary.

[[Page 77953]]

    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Intent to Establish          08/20/15  80 FR 50588
 Negotiated Rulemaking Committee.
NPRM................................   06/00/16  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes.
    Agency Contact: Annmarie Weisman, Department of Education, Office 
of Postsecondary Education, Room 8029, 1990 K Street NW., Washington, 
DC 20006, Phone: 202 502-7784, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 1840-AD19

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (ED)

Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE)

Final Rule Stage

237. Title IV of the HEA--Program Integrity and Improvement

    Legal Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1001; 20 U.S.C. 1002; 20 U.S.C. 1091; 20 
U.S.C. 1094; 20 U.S.C. 1099c; 20 U.S.C. 1070a; 20 U.S.C. 1087b; 20 
U.S.C. 1087d; 20 U.S.C. 1087e; 20 U.S.C. 1088
    Abstract: The Department is issuing regulations for the Federal 
Student Aid programs, authorized under title IV of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). We are regulating in the following 
areas: Cash management of funds provided under the title IV Federal 
Student Aid programs, clock-to-credit hour conversion, and repeat 
coursework.
    Timetable:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Action                    Date            FR Cite
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPRM................................   05/18/15  80 FR 28483
NPRM Comment Period End.............   07/02/15  .......................
Final Action........................   11/00/15  .......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes
    Agency Contact: Nathan Arnold, Department of Education, Office of 
Postsecondary Education, Room 8081, 1990 K Street NW., Washington, DC 
20006, Phone: 202 219-7134, Email: [email protected].
    RIN: 1840-AD14

[FR Doc. 2015-30618 Filed 12-14-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P