Proposed Information Collection Activity; Public Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Proposed Information Collection Activity; Public Comment Request

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans

Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and

respondent burden, Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) invites the

general public and other Federal agencies to comment on this

information collection. This request for comment is being made pursuant

to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 U.S.C.

3506(c)(2)(A)). Comments should address the accuracy of the burden

estimates and ways to minimize the burden including the use of

automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of

information technology, as well as other relevant aspects of the

information collection.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposal for the

collection of information should be received on or before March 3,

1997.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Nancy J. Kessinger, Veterans

Benefits Administration (20S52), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810

Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420. All comments will become a

matter of public record and will be summarized in the VBA request for

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. In this document VBA is

soliciting comments concerning the following information collection:

OMB Control Number: 2900-0073.

Title and Form Number: Enrollment Certification, VA Form 22-1999.

(NOTE: A reference to VA Form 22-1999 also includes VA Forms 22-1999-1,

22-1999-2, and 22-1999-3 unless otherwise specified. VA Forms 22-1999-

1, 22-1999-2, and 22-1999-3 contain the same information as VA Form 22-

1999.)

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Need and Uses: The information collected on VA Form 22-1999 is used

by the VA to determine the amount of educational benefits payable to

the trainee during the period of enrollment or training and to

determine whether the trainee has requested an advanced payment of

benefits. Without the information, the VA would not have a basis upon

which to make payment.

Current Actions: The VA is authorized to pay education benefits to

veterans and other eligible persons pursuing approved programs of

education under Title 38, U.S.C., Chapters 30, 32, and 35, Title 10,

U.S.C., Chapter 1606, and Public Law 96-342, Sections 901 and 903.

Educational institutions and job establishments are required to report

information concerning the enrollment or reenrollment into training of

veterans, service persons, reservists, and other eligible persons. In

certain cases, the VA is authorized to make payment in advance if the

trainee requests an advanced payment. In these cases, VA Form 22-1999

serves as the trainee's request for an advanced payment as well as the

educational institution's report of the trainee's enrollment.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit, not-for-profit

institutions, and State, Local or Tribal Government.

Estimated Annual Burden: 110,344 hours.

Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 10 minutes.

Frequency of Response: On occasion (The number of responses per

respondent will vary according to the number of trainees who receive VA

benefits at the educational institution or job training establishment

during a 12-month period).

Estimated Annual Responses: 662,068.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 7,481.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or

copies of the form should be directed to Department of Veterans

Affairs, Attn: Nancy J. Kessinger, Veterans Benefits Administration

(20S52), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW,

Washington, DC 20420, Telephone (202) 273-7079 or FAX (202) 275-4884.

By direction of the Secretary.

Dated: December 16, 1996.

Donald L. Neilson,

Director, Information Management Service.

[FR Doc. 96-33085 Filed 12-30-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8320-01-P