82_FR_25091 82 FR 24988 - Housing Counseling Certification Examination Availability and Change To Certification Examination Cost

82 FR 24988 - Housing Counseling Certification Examination Availability and Change To Certification Examination Cost

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 103 (May 31, 2017)

Page Range24988-24989
FR Document2017-11213

This notice follows publication of the ``Housing Counseling: New Certification Requirements'' final rule, issued on December 14, 2016, which requires that HUD announce the availability of the Housing Counselor Examination and start the 36-month time-period for individuals and Housing Counseling Agencies to come into compliance with the final rule's certification requirements. The final rule also noted that HUD would provide notice of any changes to the cost of the Housing Counselor Examination. Through this notice, HUD is announcing that the HUD Certified Housing Counselor Examination will be available starting on August 1, 2017, and that as of August 1, 2020, housing counseling required by or provided in connection with HUD programs may only be provided by HUD certified housing counselors working for participating agencies approved to provide such housing counseling by HUD's Office of Housing Counseling. This notice also announces a reduction to the cost of the Housing Counselor Examination.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 103 (Wednesday, May 31, 2017) 
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 103 (Wednesday, May 31, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24988-24989]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-11213]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5339-N-05]


Housing Counseling Certification Examination Availability and 
Change To Certification Examination Cost

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal Housing 
Commissioner, HUD.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the HUD Certified Housing Counselor 
Examination.

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SUMMARY: This notice follows publication of the ``Housing Counseling: 
New Certification Requirements'' final rule, issued on December 14, 
2016, which requires that HUD announce the availability of the Housing 
Counselor Examination and start the 36-month time-period for 
individuals and Housing Counseling Agencies to come into compliance 
with the final rule's certification requirements. The final rule also 
noted that HUD would provide notice of any changes to the cost of the 
Housing Counselor Examination. Through this notice, HUD is announcing 
that the HUD Certified Housing Counselor Examination will be available 
starting on August 1, 2017, and that as of August 1, 2020, housing 
counseling required by or provided in connection with HUD programs may 
only be provided by HUD certified housing counselors working for 
participating agencies approved to provide such housing counseling by 
HUD's Office of Housing Counseling. This notice also announces a 
reduction to the cost of the Housing Counselor Examination.

DATES: Availability of HUD Certified Housing Counselor Examination: 
August 1, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lorraine Griscavage-Frisbee at Office 
of Housing Counseling, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, 302 Carson Street, Las Vegas, Nevada 89101, 
telephone number 702-366-2126 (this is not a toll-free number). Persons 
with hearing or speech challenges may access this number through TTY by 
calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Questions 
can also be addressed to Lorraine Griscavage-Frisbee, Office of Housing 
Counseling, at [email protected]. Please include ``Housing 
Counseling Program: Certification Examination'' in the subject line of 
the email.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Section 106 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 (12 
U.S.C. 1701x) (Section 106) was amended by Subtitle D of title XIV of 
the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Public 
Law 111-203, 124 Stat. 1376, approved July 21, 2010) to strengthen and 
improve the effectiveness of housing counseling that is required under 
or provided in connection with HUD programs (Section 106 amendments). 
The Section 106 amendments require that individuals providing housing 
counseling required under or provided in connection with HUD programs 
be certified by taking and passing an examination administered by HUD's 
Office of Housing Counseling (HUD certified housing counselors) (12 
U.S.C. 1701x(e)). On December 14, 2016, HUD published a final rule 
implementing the Section 106 certification requirements. The final rule 
states, in part, that within 36 months of the issuance of the 
certification examination housing counseling required by or in 
connection with HUD programs may only be provided by HUD certified 
housing counselors working for HUD-approved housing counseling agencies 
(HCAs) \1\

[[Page 24989]]

that are approved to provide such housing counseling by HUD's Office of 
Housing Counseling. See 81 FR 90632. The final rule also provided that 
the cost for taking the examination would be $100 for online testing at 
the examinee's location and $140 at a proctoring site, and any future 
changes to the cost would be announced by Federal Register notice.
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    \1\ HUD-approved organizations, intermediaries, multistate 
organizations, state housing finance agencies, and their branches 
and affiliates (collectively referred to as Housing Counseling 
Agencies, or HCAs).
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    This notice announces the availability of the certification 
examination beginning August 1, 2017. This Notice also provides the 
deadline of August 1, 2020 (36 months) within which all housing 
counselors and HCAs must satisfy the certification requirements in the 
final rule. This notice also announces that the cost for taking the 
examination has been reduced. The cost for online testing at the 
examinee's location will now be $60 and at a proctoring site the cost 
will be $100. Information about the examination, including 
registration, costs, and examination locations is available at 
www.hudhousingcounselors.com.
    As required by Section 106 and HUD's regulations, as of August 1, 
2020, housing counseling required by or in connection with HUD programs 
may only be provided by HUD certified housing counselors working for 
HCAs that are approved to provide such housing counseling by HUD's 
Office of Housing Counseling.

II. Tribes

    As HUD noted in the final rule, application of the of the Section 
106 certification examination requirements will only apply to Indian 
tribes and tribal entities after HUD undergoes tribal consultation and 
addresses the participation of tribes in HUD's Housing Counseling 
Program in future rulemaking or guidance, as appropriate.

    Dated: May 24, 2017.
Genger M. Charles,
General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Housing.
[FR Doc. 2017-11213 Filed 5-30-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4210-67-P

24988 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 103 / Wednesday, May 31, 2017 / Notices comments in connection with the 60- Form I–485—652,599 respondents of August 1, 2020, housing counseling day notice. responding at an estimated 6 hours 15 required by or provided in connection You may access the information minutes per response. with HUD programs may only be collection instrument with instructions, Form I–485 Supplement A—36,000 provided by HUD certified housing or additional information by visiting the respondents responding at an estimated counselors working for participating Federal eRulemaking Portal site at: 1 hour and 15 minutes per response. agencies approved to provide such http://www.regulations.gov and enter Form I–485 Supplement J—28,309 housing counseling by HUD’s Office of USCIS–2009–0020 in the search box. respondents responding at an estimated Housing Counseling. This notice also Written comments and suggestions from 1 hour per response. announces a reduction to the cost of the the public and affected agencies should Biometrics Processing—An estimated Housing Counselor Examination. address one or more of the following 522,089 respondents will be required to DATES: Availability of HUD Certified four points: provide biometrics which requires an Housing Counselor Examination: (1) Evaluate whether the proposed estimated 1 hour and 10 minutes per August 1, 2017. collection of information is necessary response. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: for the proper performance of the (6) An estimate of the total public Lorraine Griscavage-Frisbee at Office of functions of the agency, including burden (in hours) associated with the Housing Counseling, Office of Housing, whether the information will have collection: The total estimated annual Department of Housing and Urban practical utility; hour burden associated with this Development, 302 Carson Street, Las (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the collection is 4,762,897 hours. Vegas, Nevada 89101, telephone number agency’s estimate of the burden of the (7) An estimate of the total public 702–366–2126 (this is not a toll-free proposed collection of information, burden (in cost) associated with the number). Persons with hearing or including the validity of the collection: The estimated total annual speech challenges may access this methodology and assumptions used; cost burden associated with this number through TTY by calling the toll- collection of information is (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and free Federal Relay Service at 800–877– $233,841,457. clarity of the information to be 8339. Questions can also be addressed collected; and Dated: May 24, 2017. to Lorraine Griscavage-Frisbee, Office of (4) Minimize the burden of the Samantha Deshommes, Housing Counseling, at collection of information on those who Chief, Regulatory Coordination Division, housing.counseling@hud.gov. Please are to respond, including through the Office of Policy and Strategy, U.S. Citizenship include ‘‘Housing Counseling Program: use of appropriate automated, and Immigration Services, Department of Certification Examination’’ in the Homeland Security. subject line of the email. electronic, mechanical, or other [FR Doc. 2017–11103 Filed 5–30–17; 8:45 am] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, BILLING CODE 9111–97–P I. Background e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. Section 106 of the Housing and Urban DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND Development Act of 1968 (12 U.S.C. Overview of This Information URBAN DEVELOPMENT 1701x) (Section 106) was amended by Collection Subtitle D of title XIV of the Dodd-Frank [Docket No. FR–5339–N–05] (1) Type of Information Collection Wall Street Reform and Consumer Request: Revision of a Currently Housing Counseling Certification Protection Act (Public Law 111–203, Approved Collection. Examination Availability and Change 124 Stat. 1376, approved July 21, 2010) (2) Title of the Form/Collection: To Certification Examination Cost to strengthen and improve the Application To Register Permanent effectiveness of housing counseling that AGENCY: Office of the Assistant is required under or provided in Residence or Adjust Status, Adjustment Secretary for Housing—Federal Housing connection with HUD programs (Section of Status Under Section 245(i), and Commissioner, HUD. 106 amendments). The Section 106 Confirmation of Bona Fide Job Offer or Request for Job Portability Under INA ACTION: Notice of Availability of the amendments require that individuals Section 204(j). HUD Certified Housing Counselor providing housing counseling required Examination. under or provided in connection with (3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the DHS HUD programs be certified by taking SUMMARY: This notice follows and passing an examination sponsoring the collection: Form I–485, publication of the ‘‘Housing Counseling: Supplement A, and Supplement J to administered by HUD’s Office of New Certification Requirements’’ final Housing Counseling (HUD certified Form I–485; USCIS. rule, issued on December 14, 2016, housing counselors) (12 U.S.C. (4) Affected public who will be asked which requires that HUD announce the 1701x(e)). On December 14, 2016, HUD or required to respond, as well as a brief availability of the Housing Counselor published a final rule implementing the abstract: Primary: Individuals or Examination and start the 36-month Section 106 certification requirements. households. The information collected time-period for individuals and Housing The final rule states, in part, that within is used to determine eligibility to adjust Counseling Agencies to come into 36 months of the issuance of the status under section 245 of the compliance with the final rule’s certification examination housing Immigration and Nationality Act, and to certification requirements. The final counseling required by or in connection nlaroche on DSK30NT082PROD with NOTICES confirm a bona fide job offer or a request rule also noted that HUD would provide with HUD programs may only be for job portability under INA Section notice of any changes to the cost of the provided by HUD certified housing 204(j). Housing Counselor Examination. counselors working for HUD-approved (5) An estimate of the total number of Through this notice, HUD is announcing housing counseling agencies (HCAs) 1 respondents and the amount of time that the HUD Certified Housing estimated for an average respondent to Counselor Examination will be available 1 HUD-approved organizations, intermediaries, respond: starting on August 1, 2017, and that as multistate organizations, state housing finance VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:54 May 30, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\31MYN1.SGM 31MYN1

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 103 / Wednesday, May 31, 2017 / Notices 24989 that are approved to provide such DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR of information, which are specific to housing counseling by HUD’s Office of each species and are described within Housing Counseling. See 81 FR 90632. Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR 17.84: The final rule also provided that the [FWS–HQ–ES–2017–N037; (1) General take or removal. Take is cost for taking the examination would FXES11130900000–178–FF09E32000] defined by the ESA as ‘‘[to] harass, be $100 for online testing at the harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, examinee’s location and $140 at a Agency Information Collection trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to proctoring site, and any future changes Activities: OMB Control Number 1018– engage in any such conduct.’’ In this IC, to the cost would be announced by 0095; Endangered and Threatened take most commonly takes the form of Federal Register notice. Wildlife, Experimental Populations human-related mortality, including unintentional taking incidental to This notice announces the availability AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, otherwise lawful activities (e.g., of the certification examination Interior. highway mortalities); animal husbandry beginning August 1, 2017. This Notice ACTION: Notice; request for comments. actions authorized to manage the also provides the deadline of August 1, population (e.g., translocation or 2020 (36 months) within which all SUMMARY: We (U.S. Fish and Wildlife providing aid to sick, injured, or housing counselors and HCAs must Service, Service) will ask the Office of orphaned individuals); take in defense satisfy the certification requirements in Management and Budget (OMB) to of human life; take related to defense of the final rule. This notice also approve the information collection (IC) property (if authorized); or take in the described below. As required by the form of authorized harassment. announces that the cost for taking the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and (2) Specimen collection, recovery, or examination has been reduced. The cost as part of our continuing efforts to reporting of dead individuals. This for online testing at the examinee’s reduce paperwork and respondent information documents incidental or location will now be $60 and at a burden, we invite the general public and proctoring site the cost will be $100. authorized scientific collection. Most of other Federal agencies to take this the information collected addresses the Information about the examination, opportunity to comment on this IC. This including registration, costs, and reporting of sightings of experimental IC is scheduled to expire on October 31, population animals or the inadvertent examination locations is available at 2017. We may not conduct or sponsor www.hudhousingcounselors.com. discovery of an injured or dead and you are not required to respond to individual. As required by Section 106 and HUD’s a collection of information unless it (3) Depredation-related take. Involves regulations, as of August 1, 2020, displays a currently valid OMB control take for management purposes where housing counseling required by or in number. livestock depredation is documented, connection with HUD programs may DATES: To ensure that we are able to and may include authorized harassment only be provided by HUD certified consider your comments on this IC, we or authorized lethal take of housing counselors working for HCAs must receive them by July 31, 2017. experimental population animals in the that are approved to provide such ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the act of attacking livestock. See 50 CFR housing counseling by HUD’s Office of IC to the Service Information Collection 17.84 for specific provisions of Housing Counseling. Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and harassment for each species within this Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, section. II. Tribes MS: BPHC, Falls Church, VA 22041– The information that we collect 3803 (mail); or info_coll@fws.gov includes: As HUD noted in the final rule, (email). Please include ‘‘1018–0095’’ in • Name, address, and phone number application of the of the Section 106 of reporting party. certification examination requirements the subject line of your comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: • Species involved. will only apply to Indian tribes and • Type of incident. Service Information Collection tribal entities after HUD undergoes • Quantity of take. tribal consultation and addresses the Clearance Officer, at info_coll@fws.gov • Location and time of the reported participation of tribes in HUD’s Housing (email) or (703) 358–2503 (telephone). incident. Counseling Program in future SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: • Description of the circumstances rulemaking or guidance, as appropriate. I. Abstract related to the incident. Service recovery specialists use this Dated: May 24, 2017. Section 10(j) of the Endangered information to determine the success of Genger M. Charles, Species Act of 1973 (ESA), as amended reintroductions in relation to General Deputy Assistant Secretary for (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), authorizes the established recovery plan goals for the Housing. Secretary of the Interior to establish experimental populations of vertebrate [FR Doc. 2017–11213 Filed 5–30–17; 8:45 am] experimental populations of endangered endangered and threatened species BILLING CODE 4210–67–P or threatened species. Because involved. In addition, this information individuals of experimental populations helps us to assess the effectiveness of are protected under the ESA, the control activities in order to develop information we collect is important for better means to reduce problems with monitoring the success of reintroduction livestock for those species where and recovery efforts. This is a nonform depredation is a problem. nlaroche on DSK30NT082PROD with NOTICES collection (meaning there is no designated form associated with this II. Data collection). Information collection OMB Control Number: 1018–0095. requirements for experimental Title: Endangered and Threatened agencies, and their branches and affiliates populations of vertebrate endangered Wildlife, Experimental Populations, 50 (collectively referred to as Housing Counseling and threatened species are found in 50 CFR 17.84. Agencies, or HCAs). CFR 17.84. We collect three categories Service Form Number(s): None. VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:54 May 30, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\31MYN1.SGM 31MYN1


Document Created: 2017-05-31 05:59:51
Document Modified: 2017-05-31 05:59:51
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of Availability of the HUD Certified Housing Counselor Examination.
DatesAvailability of HUD Certified Housing Counselor Examination: August 1, 2017.
ContactLorraine Griscavage-Frisbee at Office of Housing Counseling, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 302 Carson Street, Las Vegas, Nevada 89101, telephone number 702-366-2126 (this is not a toll-free number). Persons with hearing or speech challenges may access this number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Questions
FR Citation82 FR 24988 
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