[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 145 (Monday, August 2, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41536-41537]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16401]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-NEW]


Agency Information Collection Activity: 35% Exemption Request 
From 85/15 Reporting Requirement

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs (VA), 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 new collection, and 
allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection 
of information should be received on or before October 1, 2021.

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 to [email protected]. Please refer to ``OMB Control 
No. 2900-NEW'' in any correspondence. During the comment period, 
comments may be viewed online through FDMS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maribel Aponte, Office of Enterprise 
and Integration, Data Governance Analytics (008), 1717 H Street NW, 
Washington, DC 20006, (202) 266-4688 or email [email protected]. 
Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-NEW'' in any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA of 1995, 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.

[[Page 41537]]

    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.
    Authority: Title 38 United States Code (U.S.C.) 3680A(d) and 38 
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 21.4201.
    Title: Exemption Request from 85/15 Reporting Requirement, VA Form 
22-10216.
    OMB Control Number: 2900-NEW.
    Type of Review: New collection.
    Abstract: This form will be used to satisfy requirements as 
outlined. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is authorized to pay 
education benefits to Veterans and other eligible persons pursuing 
approved programs of education under chapters 30, 31, 32, 33, and 35 of 
title 38, U.S.C. and chapter 1606 of title 10, U.S.C.
    As part of the benefits authorization process, Code of Federal 
Regulations (CR) Title 38 Sec.  21.4201 places restrictions on 
enrollment based on the percentage of students receiving financial 
support in any approved program. Except as otherwise provided by 
regulation, VA shall not approve an enrollment in any course for an 
eligible Veteran, not already enrolled, for any period during which 
more than 85 percent of the students enrolled in the course are having 
all or part of their tuition fees or other charges paid for them by the 
educational institution or by VA under title 38, U.S.C., or under title 
10, U.S.C. This is known as the 85/15Rule and is applicable to 
Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs) and Non-College Degree 
postsecondary schools (NCDs).
    The requirements apply to all courses, not otherwise exempt or 
waiver offered by all educational institutions, regardless whether the 
institution is degree-granting, proprietary profit, proprietary 
nonprofit, eleemosynary, public and/or tax-supported.
    These schools are required to submit information necessary to 
determine if their programs of training are approved for the payment of 
VA educational assistance. This specified information is submitted 
either to VA or to the State Approving Agency (SAA) having jurisdiction 
over that school.
    This regulation includes a provision that permits an exemption from 
routine reporting of this data for schools that assert the number of VA 
beneficiary students in all programs approved for GI Bill never exceeds 
35% of the total enrollment at the educational institution. If 
approved, such schools must still monitor and collect the data, but are 
exempt from routinely reporting it to VA.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 500 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 30 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: Annually.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000.

    By direction of the Secretary.
Maribel Aponte,
VA PRA Clearance Officer, Office of Enterprise and Integration/Data 
Governance Analytics, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2021-16401 Filed 7-30-21; 8:45 am]
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