[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 7, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38111-38112]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-09865]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket No.: ED-2024-SCC-0005]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Application

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

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 
the Department is proposing a new information collection request (ICR).

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
June 6, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for proposed 
information collection requests should be submitted within 30 days of 
publication of this notice. Click on this link www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain to access the site. Find this information collection request 
(ICR) by selecting ``Department of Education'' under ``Currently Under 
Review,'' then check the ``Only Show ICR for Public Comment'' checkbox. 
Reginfo.gov provides two links to view documents related to this 
information collection request. Information collection forms and 
instructions may be found by clicking on the ``View Information 
Collection (IC) List'' link. Supporting statements and other supporting 
documentation may be found by clicking on the ``View Supporting 
Statement and Other Documents'' link.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department 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: Joint Consolidation Loan Separation 
Application.

[[Page 38112]]

    OMB Control Number: 1845-NEW.
    Type of Review: New ICR.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals or Households; Private 
Sector.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 74,000.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 24,051.
    Abstract: This is a new collection. The Joint Consolidation Loan 
Separation Act (JCLSA), amended the Higher Education Act of 1965, as 
amended (HEA) to allow joint consolidation co-borrowers to apply to 
separate an existing joint Direct Consolidation Loan or Federal 
Consolidation Loan into individual Direct Consolidation Loans. The HEA, 
as amended by the JCLSA, requires joint consolidation loan borrowers to 
apply to the U.S. Department of Education if they wish to separate an 
existing joint consolidation loan into one or more individual Direct 
Consolidation Loans. The JCLSA allows for either joint application or 
separate application. Under the joint application option, each joint 
consolidation loan co-borrower applies for an individual Direct 
Consolidation Loan. Unless the co-borrowers agree on an alternate 
amount specified in a divorce decree, court order, or settlement 
agreement, each co-borrowers new individual Direct Consolidation Loan 
will be made for an amount equal to the co-borrowers' portion of the 
remaining outstanding balance of the joint consolidation loan. Under 
the separate application option, a co-borrower who certifies that they 
have experienced an act of domestic violence or economic abuse from the 
other co-borrower, or that they are unable to reasonably reach or 
access the loan information of the other co-borrower, may apply 
separately for a new individual Direct Consolidation Loan, without 
regard to whether or when the other co-borrower applies. In this 
circumstance, the applying co-borrowers new Direct Consolidation Loan 
will be made for an amount equal to that individual's portion of the 
joint consolidation loan, determined as described above for the joint 
application option.

    Dated: May 1, 2024.
Kun 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. 2024-09865 Filed 5-6-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P