Proposed Information Collection Activity: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the information needed to pay benefits to veterans and other eligible persons pursuing approved programs of education.

DATES:

Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection of information should be received on or before January 18, 2005.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments on the collection of information to Nancy J. Kessinger, Veterans Benefits Administration (20M35), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420 or e-mail irmnkess@vba.va.gov. Please refer to “OMB Control No. 2900-0355” in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Nancy J. Kessinger at (202) 273-7079 or Fax (202) 275-5947.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the PRA of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. This request for comment is being made pursuant to Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA.

With respect to the following collection of information, VBA invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of VBA's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of VBA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of information technology.

Title: Verification of Pursuit of Course (Leading to a Standard College Degree Under Chapters 32, 34, and 35, Title 38, U.S.C., and Section 903 of Pub. L. 96-342), VA Form 22-6553.

OMB Control Number: 2900-0355.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: VA Form 22-6553 is used to verify continued enrollment or report changes in enrollment status of claimants receiving educational benefits in pursuit of a college course. Schools are required to report to VA, when a claimant fails to enroll, has interrupted or terminated a program, or has unsatisfactory progress or conduct. VA uses the information from the current collection to ensure that schools promptly report changes in training and if a claimant's education benefits are to be continued unchanged, increased, decreased, or terminated.

Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions, and State, Local or Tribal Governments.

Estimated Annual Burden: 14,000 hours.

Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 10 minutes.

Estimated Number of Respondents: The number of respondents is arrived at based on the average number of educational institutions using VA Form 22-6553 which had veterans or eligible persons enrolled during the last 12 months, and a projected number of trainees. VA currently has an average of 6,000 active educational institutions (colleges, universities, or other institutions of higher learning).

Estimated Number of Responses: The frequency of responses for each educational institution will vary according to the number of students who receive VA education benefits at that school. VA estimates an annual average of 14 responses per educational institution. The total annual number of response is 84,000.