80 FR 13879 - ``Low-Income Levels'' Used for Various Health Professions and Nursing Programs Authorized in Titles III, VII, and VIII of the Public Health Service Act
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services Administration Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 51 (March 17, 2015)
Health Resources and Services Administration
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 51 (March 17, 2015)
| Page Range | 13879-13880 | |
| FR Document | 2015-06008 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 51 (Tuesday, March 17, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 13879-13880] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-06008] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Health Resources and Services Administration ``Low-Income Levels'' Used for Various Health Professions and Nursing Programs Authorized in Titles III, VII, and VIII of the Public Health Service Act AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is updating income levels used to identify a ``low-income family'' for the purpose of determining eligibility for programs that provide health professions and nursing training to individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. These various programs are authorized in Titles III, VII, and VIII of the Public Health Service Act. The Department periodically publishes in the Federal Register low- income levels to be used by institutions receiving grants and cooperative agreements in order to determine individual eligibility for programs providing training for (1) disadvantaged individuals, (2) individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, or (3) individuals from low-income families. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Many health professions and nursing grant and cooperative agreement awardees use the low-income levels to determine whether potential program participants are from an economically disadvantaged background and would be eligible to participate in the program, as well as to determine the amount of funding the individual receives. Federal agencies generally make awards to: Accredited schools of medicine, osteopathic medicine, public health, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, pharmacy, allied health, podiatric medicine, nursing, and chiropractic; public or private nonprofit schools which offer graduate programs in behavioral health and mental health practice; and other public or private nonprofit health or education entities to assist the disadvantaged to enter and graduate from health professions and nursing schools. Some programs provide for the repayment of health professions or nursing education loans for disadvantaged students. The Secretary defines a ``low-income family/household'' for programs included in Titles III, VII, and VIII of the Public Health Service Act as having an annual income that does not exceed 200 percent of the Department's poverty guidelines. A family is a group of two or more individuals related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together. On June 26, 2013, in U.S. v. Windsor, 133 S. Ct. 2675 (2013), the Supreme Court held that section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibited federal recognition of same-sex spouses and same-sex marriages, was unconstitutional. In light of this decision, please note that in determining eligibility for these programs, same-sex marriages and same-sex spouses will be recognized on equal terms with opposite- sex marriages and opposite-sex spouses, regardless of where the couple resides. This approach is consistent with a post-Windsor policy of treating same-sex marriages on the same terms as opposite sex marriages to the greatest extent reasonably possible. Thus, a ``family or household'' includes same-sex spouses that are legally married in a jurisdiction that recognizes same-sex marriage regardless of whether the same-sex spouses live in a jurisdiction that recognizes same-sex marriage or a jurisdiction that does not recognize same-sex marriage as well as the family members that result from such same sex-marriage. Most HRSA programs use the income of a student's parents to compute low-income status. However, a ``household'' may potentially be only one person. Other HRSA programs, depending upon the legislative intent of the program, the programmatic purpose related to income level, as well as the age and circumstances of the participant, will apply these low- income standards to the individual student to determine eligibility, as long as he or she is not listed as a dependent on the tax form of his or her parent(s). Each program announces the rationale and choice of methodology for determining low-income levels in program guidance. The Secretary annually adjusts the low-income levels based on the Department's poverty guidelines and makes them available to persons responsible for administering the applicable programs. The Department's poverty guidelines are based on poverty thresholds published by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, adjusted annually for changes in the Consumer Price Index. The income figures that follow have been updated to reflect the Department's 2015 poverty guidelines as published in 80 FR 3236 (January 22, 2015). Low-Income Levels Based on the 2015 Poverty Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Income level Persons in family/household * ** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1....................................................... 23,540 2....................................................... 31,860 3....................................................... 40,180 4....................................................... 48,500 5....................................................... 56,820 6....................................................... 65,140 7....................................................... 73,460 8....................................................... 81,780 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ For families with more than 8 persons, add $8,320 for each additional person. Low-Income Levels Based on the 2015 Poverty Guidelines for Alaska ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Income level Persons in family/household * ** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1....................................................... 29,440 2....................................................... 39,840 3....................................................... 50,240 4....................................................... 60,640 5....................................................... 71,040 6....................................................... 81,440 [[Page 13880]] 7....................................................... 91,840 8....................................................... 102,240 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ For families with more than 8 persons, add $10,400 for each additional person. Low-Income Levels Based on the 2015 Poverty Guidelines for Hawaii ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Income level Persons in family/household * ** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1....................................................... 27,100 2....................................................... 36,660 3....................................................... 46,220 4....................................................... 55,780 5....................................................... 65,340 6....................................................... 74,900 7....................................................... 84,460 8....................................................... 94,020 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ For families with more than 8 persons, add $9,560 for each additional person. * Includes only dependents listed on federal income tax forms. ** Adjusted gross income for calendar year 2014. Separate poverty guideline figures for Alaska and Hawaii reflect Office of Economic Opportunity administrative practice beginning in the 1966-1970 period. (Note that the Census Bureau poverty thresholds--the version of the poverty measure used for statistical purposes--have never had separate figures for Alaska and Hawaii.) The poverty guidelines are not defined for Puerto Rico or other outlying jurisdictions. Puerto Rico and other outlying jurisdictions shall use income guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia. Dated: March 6, 2015. Mary K. Wakefield, Administrator. [FR Doc. 2015-06008 Filed 3-16-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4165-15-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 51 / Tuesday, March 17, 2015 / Notices 13879
ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED BURDEN HOURS
Annual
Number of Hours per
Type of collection frequency per Total hours
respondents response
response
Customer outcomes and usability testing ........................................................ 900 1 40/60 600
Customer Satisfaction and needs assessment survey ................................... 600 1 40/60 400
Focus Groups .................................................................................................. 130 1 1 130
Small Discussion Groups ................................................................................. 130 1 1 130
Pilot Testing of instruments for applicability among diverse populations ....... 450 1 40/60 300
Dated: March 11, 2015. veterinary medicine, optometry, the legislative intent of the program, the
Genevieve deAlmeida, pharmacy, allied health, podiatric programmatic purpose related to income
Project Clearance Liaison, NIDA, NIH. medicine, nursing, and chiropractic; level, as well as the age and
[FR Doc. 2015–06087 Filed 3–16–15; 8:45 am] public or private nonprofit schools circumstances of the participant, will
BILLING CODE 4140–01–P which offer graduate programs in apply these low-income standards to the
behavioral health and mental health individual student to determine
practice; and other public or private eligibility, as long as he or she is not
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND nonprofit health or education entities to listed as a dependent on the tax form of
HUMAN SERVICES assist the disadvantaged to enter and his or her parent(s). Each program
graduate from health professions and announces the rationale and choice of
Health Resources and Services nursing schools. Some programs methodology for determining low-
Administration provide for the repayment of health income levels in program guidance.
professions or nursing education loans The Secretary annually adjusts the
‘‘Low-Income Levels’’ Used for Various for disadvantaged students. low-income levels based on the
Health Professions and Nursing The Secretary defines a ‘‘low-income Department’s poverty guidelines and
Programs Authorized in Titles III, VII, family/household’’ for programs makes them available to persons
and VIII of the Public Health Service included in Titles III, VII, and VIII of the responsible for administering the
Act Public Health Service Act as having an applicable programs. The Department’s
AGENCY: Health Resources and Services annual income that does not exceed 200 poverty guidelines are based on poverty
Administration, HHS. percent of the Department’s poverty thresholds published by the U.S. Bureau
ACTION: Notice. guidelines. A family is a group of two of the Census, adjusted annually for
or more individuals related by birth, changes in the Consumer Price Index.
SUMMARY: The Health Resources and marriage, or adoption who live together. The income figures that follow have
Services Administration (HRSA) is On June 26, 2013, in U.S. v. Windsor, been updated to reflect the Department’s
updating income levels used to identify 133 S. Ct. 2675 (2013), the Supreme 2015 poverty guidelines as published in
a ‘‘low-income family’’ for the purpose Court held that section 3 of the Defense 80 FR 3236 (January 22, 2015).
of determining eligibility for programs of Marriage Act, which prohibited
that provide health professions and federal recognition of same-sex spouses LOW-INCOME LEVELS BASED ON THE
nursing training to individuals from and same-sex marriages, was 2015 POVERTY GUIDELINES FOR THE
disadvantaged backgrounds. These unconstitutional. In light of this 48 CONTIGUOUS STATES AND THE
various programs are authorized in decision, please note that in DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Titles III, VII, and VIII of the Public determining eligibility for these
Health Service Act. programs, same-sex marriages and same- Persons in family/household * Income level **
The Department periodically sex spouses will be recognized on equal
publishes in the Federal Register low- terms with opposite-sex marriages and 1 ............................................ 23,540
income levels to be used by institutions opposite-sex spouses, regardless of 2 ............................................ 31,860
receiving grants and cooperative where the couple resides. This approach 3 ............................................ 40,180
agreements in order to determine is consistent with a post-Windsor policy 4 ............................................ 48,500
individual eligibility for programs of treating same-sex marriages on the 5 ............................................ 56,820
providing training for (1) disadvantaged 6 ............................................ 65,140
same terms as opposite sex marriages to 7 ............................................ 73,460
individuals, (2) individuals from the greatest extent reasonably possible. 8 ............................................ 81,780
disadvantaged backgrounds, or (3) Thus, a ‘‘family or household’’ includes
individuals from low-income families. same-sex spouses that are legally For families with more than 8 persons, add
$8,320 for each additional person.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Many married in a jurisdiction that recognizes
health professions and nursing grant same-sex marriage regardless of whether
and cooperative agreement awardees the same-sex spouses live in a LOW-INCOME LEVELS BASED ON THE
use the low-income levels to determine jurisdiction that recognizes same-sex 2015 POVERTY GUIDELINES FOR
whether potential program participants marriage or a jurisdiction that does not ALASKA
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
are from an economically disadvantaged recognize same-sex marriage as well as
background and would be eligible to the family members that result from Persons in family/household * Income level **
participate in the program, as well as to such same sex-marriage. 1 ............................................ 29,440
determine the amount of funding the Most HRSA programs use the income 2 ............................................ 39,840
individual receives. Federal agencies of a student’s parents to compute low- 3 ............................................ 50,240
generally make awards to: Accredited income status. However, a ‘‘household’’ 4 ............................................ 60,640
schools of medicine, osteopathic may potentially be only one person. 5 ............................................ 71,040
medicine, public health, dentistry, Other HRSA programs, depending upon 6 ............................................ 81,440
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![13880 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 51 / Tuesday, March 17, 2015 / Notices
LOW-INCOME LEVELS BASED ON THE Immigration Services (USCIS) invites the privacy of an individual or is
2015 POVERTY GUIDELINES FOR the general public and other Federal offensive. For additional information,
ALASKA—Continued agencies to comment upon this please read the Privacy Act notice that
proposed revision of a currently is available via the link in the footer of
Persons in family/household * Income level ** approved collection of information. In http://www.regulations.gov.
accordance with the Paperwork Note: The address listed in this notice
7 ............................................ 91,840 Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the should only be used to submit comments
8 ............................................ 102,240 information collection notice is concerning this information collection.
For families with more than 8 persons, add published in the Federal Register to Please do not submit requests for individual
$10,400 for each additional person. obtain comments regarding the nature of case status inquiries to this address. If you
the information collection, the are seeking information about the status of
LOW-INCOME LEVELS BASED ON THE categories of respondents, the estimated your individual case, please check ‘‘My Case
burden (i.e. the time, effort, and Status’’ online at: https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/
2015 POVERTY GUIDELINES FOR HA- Dashboard.do, or call the USCIS National
WAII resources used by the respondents to Customer Service Center at 1–800–375–5283.
respond), the estimated cost to the
Persons in family/household * Income level ** respondent, and the actual information Written comments and suggestions
collection instruments. from the public and affected agencies
1 ............................................ 27,100 DATES: Comments are encouraged and
should address one or more of the
2 ............................................ 36,660 will be accepted for 60 days until May following four points:
3 ............................................ 46,220
18, 2015. (1) Evaluate whether the proposed
4 ............................................ 55,780 collection of information is necessary
5 ............................................ 65,340 ADDRESSES: All submissions received
for the proper performance of the
6 ............................................ 74,900 must include the OMB Control Number functions of the agency, including
7 ............................................ 84,460 1615–0116 in the subject box, the whether the information will have
8 ............................................ 94,020 agency name and Docket ID USCIS– practical utility;
For families with more than 8 persons, add 2010–0008. To avoid duplicate (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the
$9,560 for each additional person. submissions, please use only one of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the
* Includes only dependents listed on federal following methods to submit comments:
income tax forms. proposed collection of information,
(1) Online. Submit comments via the
** Adjusted gross income for calendar year including the validity of the
2014. Federal eRulemaking Portal Web site at
methodology and assumptions used;
www.regulations.gov under e-Docket ID (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and
Separate poverty guideline figures for number USCIS–2010–0008;
Alaska and Hawaii reflect Office of clarity of the information to be
(2) Email. Submit comments to
Economic Opportunity administrative collected; and
USCISFRComment@uscis.dhs.gov; (4) Minimize the burden of the
practice beginning in the 1966–1970 (3) Mail. Submit written comments to
period. (Note that the Census Bureau collection of information on those who
DHS, USCIS, Office of Policy and
poverty thresholds—the version of the are to respond, including through the
Strategy, Chief, Regulatory Coordination
poverty measure used for statistical use of appropriate automated,
Division, 20 Massachusetts Avenue
purposes—have never had separate electronic, mechanical, or other
NW., Washington, DC 20529–2140.
figures for Alaska and Hawaii.) The technological collection techniques or
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If other forms of information technology,
poverty guidelines are not defined for you need a copy of the information
Puerto Rico or other outlying e.g., permitting electronic submission of
collection instrument with instructions, responses.
jurisdictions. Puerto Rico and other or additional information, please visit
outlying jurisdictions shall use income the Federal eRulemaking Portal site at: Overview of This Information
guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States http://www.regulations.gov. We may Collection
and the District of Columbia. also be contacted at: USCIS, Office of (1) Type of Information Collection:
Dated: March 6, 2015. Policy and Strategy, Regulatory Revision of a Currently Approved
Mary K. Wakefield, Coordination Division, Laura Dawkins, Collection.
Administrator. Chief, 20 Massachusetts Avenue NW., (2) Title of the Form/Collection:
[FR Doc. 2015–06008 Filed 3–16–15; 8:45 am] Washington, DC 20529–2140, Application for Fee Waivers and
BILLING CODE 4165–15–P
Telephone number 202–272–8377. Exemption.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: (3) Agency form number, if any, and
the applicable component of the DHS
Comments sponsoring the collection: Form I–912;
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY Regardless of the method used for USCIS.
submitting comments or material, all (4) Affected public who will be asked
[OMB Control Number 1615–0116] submissions will be posted, without or required to respond, as well as a brief
change, to the Federal eRulemaking abstract: Primary: Individuals or
Agency Information Collection Portal at http://www.regulations.gov, households. The collection of
Activities: Application for Fee Waivers and will include any personal information on Form I–912 is necessary
and Exemption, Form I–912; Revision information you provide. Therefore, in order for U.S. Citizenship and
of a Currently Approved Collection
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
submitting this information makes it Immigration Services (USCIS) to make a
AGENCY: U.S. Citizenship and public. You may wish to consider determination that the applicant is
Immigration Services, Department of limiting the amount of personal unable to pay the application fee for
Homeland Security. information that you provide in any certain immigration benefits.
ACTION: 60-day notice. voluntary submission you make to DHS. (5) An estimate of the total number of
DHS may withhold information respondents and the amount of time
SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland provided in comments from public estimated for an average respondent to
Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and viewing that it determines may impact respond: The estimated total number of
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Document Created: 2015-12-18 12:02:07
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 12:02:07
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 13879 |
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