SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

When submitting comments or requesting information, please include the ICR title for reference.

Information Collection Request Title: Health Professions Student Loan Program, Loans for Disadvantaged Students Program, Primary Care Loan Program, and Nursing Student Loan Program Administrative Requirements, OMB No. 0906-0088—Extension.

Abstract: This clearance request is for approval of the Health Professions Student Loan (HPSL) Program, Loans for Disadvantaged Students (LDS) Program, Primary Care Loan (PCL) Program, and Nursing Student Loan (NSL) Program Administrative Requirements.

The HPSL Program, authorized by Public Health Service (PHS) Act sections 721-722 and 725-735, is a grant program where recipients provide long-term, low-interest loans to students attending schools of medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, podiatric medicine, and pharmacy. The LDS Program, authorized by PHS Act sections 721-722 and 724-735, is a grant program where recipients provide long-term, low interest loans to certain students attending schools of allopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, podiatric medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine. The PCL Program, authorized by PHS Act sections 721-723 and 725-735, is a grant program where recipients provide long-term, low interest loans to students attending schools of allopathic medicine and osteopathic medicine to practice primary health care. The NSL Program, authorized by PHS Act sections 835-842, is a grant program where recipients provide long-term, low-interest loans to students who attend eligible schools of nursing in programs leading to a diploma degree, an associate degree, a baccalaureate degree, or a graduate degree in nursing. These programs have a number of recordkeeping and reporting requirements for academic institutions and loan applicants. The applicable program regulations are found in 42 CFR 57.201-218 and 57.301-318.

Need and Proposed Use of the Information: Participating HPSL, LDS, PCL, and NSL schools are responsible for determining the eligibility of applicants, making loans, and collecting monies owed by borrowers on their outstanding loans. Participating schools include schools that are no longer disbursing loans but are required to report and maintain program records, student records, and repayment records until all student loans are repaid in full, and all monies due to the federal government are returned.

Likely Respondents: Institutions who have received HPSL, LDS, PCL, and/or NSL Program awards.

Burden Statement: Burden in this context means the time expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, disclose, or provide the information requested. This includes the time needed to review instructions; to develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the purpose of collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information; to train personnel and to be able to respond to a collection of information; to search data sources; to complete and review the collection of information; and to transmit or otherwise disclose the information. The total annual burden hours estimated for this ICR are summarized in the table below.

Total Estimated Annualized Burden Hours: ( printed page 31466)

Table 2 shows the estimated burden for schools to maintain required records on the history and status for each loan account, which is necessary to complete the forms listed in Table 1 above.

Table 3 shows the estimated burden for schools to complete reporting requirements for loan records, which is necessary to complete the forms listed in Table 1 above.

HRSA specifically requests comments on (1) the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

91 FR 31465