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[Federal Register: January 5, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 4)]
[Notices]               
[Page 1111-1112]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05ja01-50]                         

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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

 
Revision of Currently Approved Information Collection; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service 
(hereinafter ``Corporation''), as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a preclearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program helps to 
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, 
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, 
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of 
collection requirement on respondents can be properly assessed.
    Currently, the Corporation is soliciting comments concerning the 
proposed revision of its Voucher and Payment Request Form (OMB #3045-
0014).
    Copies of the forms can be obtained by contacting the office listed 
below in the address section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section by March 6, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Levon Buller, National Service Trust, 
Corporation for National and Community Service, 1201 New York Ave., 
NW., Washington, DC 20525.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Levon Buller, (202) 606-5000, ext. 
383.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Corporation is particularly interested 
in comments which:
    <bullet> Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the 
Corporation, including whether the information will have practical 
utility;
    <bullet> Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
    <bullet> Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    <bullet> Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.

Background

    The Corporation supports programs that provide opportunities for 
individuals who want to become involved in national service. The 
service opportunities cover a wide range of activities over varying 
periods of time. Upon successfully completing an agreed-upon term of 
service in an approved AmeriCorps program, a national service 
participant--an AmeriCorps member--receives an ``education award''. 
This award is an amount of money set aside in the member's name in the 
National Service Trust Fund. This education award can be used to make 
payments towards qualified student loan or pay for educational expenses 
at qualified post-secondary institutions and approved school-to-work 
opportunities programs. Members have seven years in which to draw 
against any unused balance.
    The National Service Trust is the office within the Corporation 
that administers the education award

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program. This involves tracking the service for all AmeriCorps members, 
ensuring that certain requirements of the Corporation's enabling 
legislation are met, and processing school and loan payments that the 
members authorize.

Current Action

    After an AmeriCorps member completes a period of national service, 
the individual receives an education award that can be used to pay 
against qualified student loans or pay for current post secondary 
educational expenses. The Voucher and Payment Request Form is the 
document that a member uses to access his or her account in the 
National Service Trust.
    The form serves three purposes: (1) The AmeriCorps member uses it 
to request and authorize a specific payment to be made from his or her 
account, (2) the school or loan company uses it to indicate the amount 
for which the individual is eligible, and (3) the school or loan 
company and member both certify that the payment meets various 
legislative requirements. When the Corporation receives a voucher, it 
is processed and the U.S. Treasury issues a payment to the loan holder 
or school on behalf of the AmeriCorps member.
    The form was first designed and some variation of it has been in 
use since the summer of 1994. The proposed revisions are being made to 
clarify certain sections of the existing form. The voucher will include 
boxes for some of the responses, because the Corporation intends to 
scan the images and automatically retrieve some of the information. 
Currently, all of the information from the form is entered into the 
Corporation's database by hand. Automating part of this process should 
greatly decrease the processing time and decrease the number of payment 
errors.
    Type of Review: Renewal.
    Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service.
    Title: Voucher and Payment Request Form.
    OMB Number: 3045-0014.
    Agency Number: None.
    Affected Public: Individuals who have completed a term of national 
service who wish to access their education awards.
    Total Respondents: 55,000 responses annually (estimated annual 
average over the next three years).
    Frequency: Experience has shown that some members may not ever use 
the education award and others use it several times a year.
    Average Time Per Response: Total of 5 minutes (one half minute for 
the AmeriCorps member's section and 4\1/2\ minutes for the school or 
lender).
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 4,583 hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): None.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): None.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a 
matter of public record.

    Dated: January 2, 2001.
Levon L. Buller,
Acting Director, National Service Trust.
[FR Doc. 01-371 Filed 1-4-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050-28-P

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