    [Federal Register Volume 85, Number 168 (Friday, August 28, 2020)]
    [Notices]
    [Page 53350]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 2020-19029]

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    DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

    [Docket No.: ED-2020-SCC-0043]

    Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
    Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment
    Request; Borrower Defense to Loan Repayment Universal Form

    AGENCY: Federal Student Aid (FSA), Department of Education (ED).

    ACTION: Notice.

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    SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is
    proposing a new information collection.

    DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
    September 28, 2020.

    ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for proposed
    information collection requests should be sent within 30 days of
    publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find
    this particular information collection request by selecting
    ``Department of Education'' under ``Currently Under Review,'' then
    check ``Only Show ICR for Public Comment'' checkbox.

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to
    collection activities, please contact Beth Grebeldinger, 202-377-4018.

    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Education (ED), in
    accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C.
    3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with
    an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing
    collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact
    of its information collection requirements and minimize the public's
    reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department's
    information collection requirements and provide the requested data in
    the desired format. ED is soliciting comments on the proposed
    information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The
    Department of Education is especially interested in public comment
    addressing the following issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to
    the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be
    processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden
    accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility,
    and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the
    Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents,
    including through the use of information technology. Please note that
    written comments received in response to this notice will be considered
    public records.
        Title of Collection: Borrower Defense to Loan Repayment Universal
    Form.
        OMB Control Number: 1845-NEW.
        Type of Review: A new information collection.
        Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
        Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 96,000.
        Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 48,000.
        Abstract: The Department of Education (the Department) amends the
    William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program regulations
    issued under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), to
    implement changes made to the regulations in Sec.  685.206(e)--Borrower
    responsibilities and defenses. These final regulations are a result of
    negotiated rulemaking and will add a new requirement to the current
    regulations. These final regulations require the collection of this
    information from borrowers who believe they qualify for a borrower
    defense to repayment discharge, as permitted under Section 455(h) of
    the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. The regulations provide,
    among other things, for the Secretary to discharge a borrower's Direct
    Loan based on the loan in question being disbursed after July 1, 2020.
    The Department is attaching a list of elements that we are proposing be
    included on a revised Application for Borrower Defense to Loan
    Repayment form (Universal Borrower Defense Application). This revised
    form will be based on the current Universal Borrower Defense
    Application, OMB control number 1845-0146, and will facilitate
    processing claims from all borrowers who believe that they have a valid
    borrower defense claim.

        Dated: August 25, 2020.
    Kate Mullan,
    PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and
    Strategy Division Office of Chief Data Officer Office of Planning,
    Evaluation and Policy Development.
    [FR Doc. 2020-19029 Filed 8-27-20; 8:45 am]
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