This site displays a prototype of a “Web 2.0” version of the daily Federal Register. It is not an official legal edition of the Federal Register, and does not replace the official print version or the official electronic version on GPO’s govinfo.gov.
The documents posted on this site are XML renditions of published Federal Register documents. Each document posted on the site includes a link to the corresponding official PDF file on govinfo.gov. This prototype edition of the daily Federal Register on FederalRegister.gov will remain an unofficial informational resource until the Administrative Committee of the Federal Register (ACFR) issues a regulation granting it official legal status. For complete information about, and access to, our official publications and services, go to About the Federal Register on NARA's archives.gov.
The OFR/GPO partnership is committed to presenting accurate and reliable regulatory information on FederalRegister.gov with the objective of establishing the XML-based Federal Register as an ACFR-sanctioned publication in the future. While every effort has been made to ensure that the material on FederalRegister.gov is accurately displayed, consistent with the official SGML-based PDF version on govinfo.gov, those relying on it for legal research should verify their results against an official edition of the Federal Register. Until the ACFR grants it official status, the XML rendition of the daily Federal Register on FederalRegister.gov does not provide legal notice to the public or judicial notice to the courts.
FederalRegister.gov retrieves relevant information about this document from Regulations.gov to provide users with additional context. This information is not part of the official Federal Register document.
Federal Student Aid (FSA), Department of Education (ED).
Notice.
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Department is proposing a revision of a currently approved information collection request (ICR).
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before July 29, 2024.
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-2024-SCC-0076. 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. If the regulations.gov site is not available to the public for any reason, the Department will temporarily accept comments at ICDocketMgr@ed.gov. Please include the docket ID number and the title of the information collection request when requesting documents or submitting comments. Please note that comments 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 Manager of the Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and Strategy Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave SW, LBJ, Room 6W203, Washington, DC 20202-8240.
For specific questions related to collection activities, please contact Beth Grebeldinger, (202) 377-4018.
The Department, 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 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. The Department is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The Department 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: William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (Direct Loan Program) Promissory Notes and related forms.
OMB Control Number: 1845-0007.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved ICR.
Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals or Households; Private Sector
Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 9,862,685.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 4,021,663.
Abstract: The Direct Subsidized Loan and Direct Unsubsidized Loan Master Promissory Note (Subsidized/Unsubsidized MPN) serves as the means by which an individual agrees to repay a Direct Subsidized Loan and/or Direct Unsubsidized Loan.
The Direct PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note (PLUS Loan MPN) serves as the means by which an individual applies for and agrees to repay a Direct PLUS Loan. If a Direct PLUS Loan applicant is determined to have an adverse credit history, the applicant may qualify for a Direct PLUS Loan by obtaining an endorser who does not have an adverse credit history. The Endorser Addendum serves as the means by which an endorser agrees to repay the Direct PLUS Loan if the borrower does not repay it.
An MPN is a promissory note under which a borrower may receive loans for a single or multiple academic years. The MPN explains the terms and conditions of the loans that are made under the MPN.
The Direct Consolidation Loan Application and Promissory Note (Consolidation Note) serves as the means by which a borrower applies for a Direct Consolidation Loan and promises to repay the loan. It also explains the terms and conditions of the Direct Consolidation Loan. The Consolidation Note Instructions explain to the borrower how to complete the Consolidation Note. The Consolidation Additional Loan Listing Sheet provides additional space for a borrower to list loans that he or she wishes to consolidate. The Consolidation Request to Add Loans serves as the means by which a borrower may add other loans to an existing Direct Consolidation Loan within a specified time period. The Consolidation Loan Verification ( print page 46377) Certificate serves as the means by which the U.S. Department of Education obtains the information needed to pay off the holders of the loans that the borrower wants to consolidate.
The proposed changes to the forms currently approved under OMB No. 1845-0007 include the following:
—Revised language in the promissory notes where necessary to reflect changes to the terms and conditions of Direct Loans made by final regulations published on November 1, 2022 (87 FR 65904) and July 10, 2023 (88 FR 43820).
—To eliminate duplication of content, we have consolidated the information presented in the current Terms and Conditions and Borrowers Rights and Responsibilities Statement (BRR) into a single Terms and Conditions/BRR section.
—To make it easier for borrowers to complete the promissory notes, we have incorporated the instructions within the body of the promissory notes at the beginning of each section to which the instructions apply.
—To reduce the number of forms in this collection, we have eliminated the Additional Loan Listing Sheet and added extra spaces to list loans in the Consolidation Application/Promissory Note itself.
—To accommodate changes made to the Departments systems used in processing promissory notes, the current data field in all of the promissory notes that asks for the borrowers middle initial has been changed to request the borrowers full middle name, and a new data field asking for any suffix to the borrowers name ( e.g., Jr. or Sr.) has been added.
—We have revised the Privacy Act Statement in each of the promissory notes based on the most recent updates to the applicable Systems of Records Notices.
Dated: May 22, 2024.
Kun Mullan,
PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance, Governance and Strategy Division, Office of Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development.
[FR Doc. 2024-11713 Filed 5-28-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
6 comments have been received at Regulations.gov.
Agencies review all submissions and may choose to redact, or withhold, certain submissions (or portions thereof). Submitted comments may not be available to be read until the agency has approved them.