[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 164 (Friday, August 25, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40575-40576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18032]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket No.: ED-2017-ICCD-0086]


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 (FSA), Department of Education (ED).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is 
proposing an extension of an existing information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
September 25, 2017.

ADDRESSES: To access and review all the documents related to the 
information collection listed in this notice, please use http://www.regulations.gov by searching the Docket ID number ED-2017-ICCD-
0086. Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted 
electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov by selecting the Docket ID number or via postal 
mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. Please note that comments 
submitted by fax or email and those submitted after the comment period 
will not be accepted. Written requests for information or comments 
submitted by postal mail or delivery should be addressed to the 
Director of the Information Collection Clearance Division, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Room 216-34, 
Washington, DC 20202-4537.

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

[[Page 40576]]

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: An extension of an existing information collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 475,974.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 356,982.
    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 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) specify 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 an extension 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: August 22, 2017.
Kate Mullan,
Acting Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Office of 
the Chief Privacy Officer, Office of Management.
[FR Doc. 2017-18032 Filed 8-24-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P