[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 77 (Wednesday, April 22, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19926-19927]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10655]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Agency Iinformation Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: 
Comment Request

    In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public 
comment on proposed data collection projects (section 3506(c)(2)(A) of 
Title 44, United States Code, as amended by the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, Public Law 104-13), the Health Resources and Services 
Administration (HRSA) will publish periodic summaries of proposed 
projects being developed for submission to OMB under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995. To request more information on the proposed 
project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and draft 
instruments, call the HRSA Reports Clearance Officer on (301) 443-1891.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.
    Proposed Project: The Health Education Assistance Loan (HEAL) 
Program: Student Application for a Federal Health Education Assistance 
Loan--Extension of OMB Clearance 0915-0038. The HEAL program provides 
federally-insured loans to students in schools of medicine, dentistry, 
veterinary medicine, optometry, podiatric medicine, pharmacy, public 
health, chiropractic, or allied health, and graduate students in health 
administration or clinical psychology. Eligible lenders, such as

[[Page 19927]]

banks, State agencies, and HEAL schools make HEAL loans which are 
insured by the Federal Government against loss due to the borrower's 
death, disability, bankruptcy, and default. The basic purpose of the 
program is to assure the availability of funds for loans to eligible 
students who need to borrow money to pay for their educational costs. 
The Student Application is used by students to apply for HEAL loans and 
by schools and lenders to process the applications.
    The HEAL program has been in the process of phasing out for the 
last three years in the absence of current legislation. An OMB 
clearance approval was given for this application form through October 
31, 1998, to accommodate the final operational year of the program. In 
March 1998 the Senate introduced in Congress a bill, S. 1754, to 
reauthorize the Health Professions Programs including the HEAL program. 
Based on this reauthorization bill, and subject to passage, enactment, 
and appropriation of funds, an extension of OMB approval of this form 
will be sought. As a contingency action, it is in the best interest of 
the program to publish a 60-day notice at this time to accommodate a 
smooth transition of the program from phaseout to full operation 
without any time delays. To facilitate this, the Agency is inviting 
comments on the current form, in case OMB clearance on this form is 
needed.
    The estimate of annual burden for the Student Application based on 
the amount appropriated in FY 1995, the last full year of operation, is 
as follows:

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                                                                                    Burden per                  
       Type of respondent            Number of     Responses per   Total number      response      Total burden 
                                    respondents     respondent     of responses      (minutes)         hours    
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Applicants......................          20,000               1          20,000              15           5,000
Schools.........................             200             100          20,000              30          10,000
Lenders.........................               6           3,333          20,000              30          10,000
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    Total.......................          20,206  ..............          60,000  ..............          25,000
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    Send comments to Lyman Van Nostrand, HRSA Reports Clearance 
Officer, Room 14-33, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, 
MD 20857. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this 
notice.

    Dated: April 16, 1998.
Jane Harrison,
Acting Director, Division of Policy Review and Coordination.
[FR Doc. 98-10655 Filed 4-21-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-15-P