[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 207 (Monday, October 26, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 67724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23659]



[[Page 67724]]

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket No.: ED-2020-SCC-0127]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; PLUS Adverse Credit Reconsideration Loan Counseling

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is 
proposing a revision of a currently approved collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
November 25, 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: PLUS Adverse Credit Reconsideration Loan 
Counseling.
    OMB Control Number: 1845-0129.
    Type of Review: A revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 142,824.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 107,119.
    Abstract: Section 428B(a)(1)(A) of the Higher Education Act of 
1965, as amended (HEA), provides that to be eligible to receive a 
Federal PLUS Loan under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) 
Program, the applicant must not have an adverse credit history, as 
determined pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Secretary. In 
accordance with section 455(a)(1) of the HEA, this same eligibility 
requirement applies to applicants for PLUS loans under the Direct Loan 
Program. Since July 1, 2010 there have been no new FFEL Program loans 
originated and the Direct Loan Program is the only Federal loan program 
that offers Federal PLUS Loans.
    The adverse credit history section of the eligibility regulations 
in 34 CFR 685.200(b) and (c) were updated in 2014 by the Department of 
Education (the Department) when a review of and a change to the 
regulations was made. Specifically, an applicant for a PLUS loan who is 
determined to have an adverse credit history must complete loan 
counseling offered by the Secretary before receiving the Federal PLUS 
loan.
    The Department is requesting a revision to the information 
collection regarding the adverse credit history regulations in 34 CFR 
685.200(b) and (c) and the burden these changes create for Federal PLUS 
loan borrowers, both parent and graduate/professional students.

    Dated: October 21, 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. 2020-23659 Filed 10-23-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P