[Federal Register: June 19, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 119)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 31357-31362] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [[Page 31357]] _______________________________________________________________________ Part VII Department of Education _______________________________________________________________________ 34 CFR Part 685 William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program; Final Rule [[Page 31358]] DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 34 CFR Part 685 RIN 1840-AC19 William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program AGENCY: Department of Education. ACTION: Final Regulations. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This document contains corrections and other technical changes to the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program final regulations published in the Federal Register on December 1, 1994 (59 FR 61664) and on December 1, 1995 (60 FR 61820 and 60 FR 61790). Most of these changes apply to regulations governing the new income contingent repayment plan, which becomes effective July 1, 1996. However, several amendments correct provisions currently in effect. EFFECTIVE DATE: These regulations take effect July 1, 1996. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Rachel Edelstein, Program Specialist, Direct Loan Policy, Policy Development Division, U.S. Department of Education, Room 3053, ROB-3, 600 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-5400. Telephone: (202) 708-9406. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1- 800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following regulations are amended to clarify the provisions and to correct errors and omissions in the text of the Direct Loan Program final regulations published on December 1, 1994 (59 FR 61664) and on December 1, 1995 (60 FR 61820 and 60 FR 61790). Repayment Plans--Section 685.208(f) The Secretary has amended section 685.208(f)(1) to clarify that, for married borrowers, the borrower's repayment amount is based on the Federal adjusted gross income (AGI) of the borrower and the borrower's spouse, regardless of whether the borrower files a joint Federal income tax return with his or her spouse or files a Federal income tax return separately from his or her spouse. In addition, to simplify the regulations, language alluding to joint repayment for married borrowers has been removed because the subject is addressed in greater detail in section 685.209(b). The Secretary has also amended section 685.208(f)(2) to clarify that the income contingent repayment plan in effect at the time the borrower either enters repayment and selects the income contingent repayment plan or changes from another repayment plan into the income contingent repayment plan governs the method for determining the borrower's monthly repayment amount under the income contingent repayment plan. The proposed rule published on September 20, 1995, clearly states the Secretary's intent to change the policy so that the new income contingent repayment plan would apply to borrowers who select the income contingent repayment plan when they enter repayment and to borrowers who are in other repayment plans and switch into the income contingent repayment plan on or after July 1, 1996 (see 60 FR 48849). While the preamble to the proposed rule clearly states the Secretary's intended change in policy, this change was inadvertently omitted from the regulations. Please note that, as the existing regulations indicate, if the Secretary amends the regulations and a borrower who is repaying under the existing income contingent repayment plan submits a written request that the amended regulations apply to the method of calculation of the borrower's loans, the Secretary would grant the borrower's request. Income Contingent Repayment Plan--Section 685.209 The preamble to the final regulations states, ``The Secretary has decided to require a $5.00 minimum monthly payment of borrowers whose calculated monthly payment amount is greater than $0 but less than or equal to $5.00.'' Although the preamble to the final regulations clearly states the Secretary's intended policy, this policy was inadvertently omitted from the regulations. In order to clarify the Secretary's intent, section 685.209(a)(6) has been added to the regulations. An incorrect cross reference has been corrected in paragraph (c)(6)(ii) by removing ``Sec. 685.209(a)(3)'', and adding, in its place, ``Sec. 685.209(c)(3).'' Origination of Loan by a Direct Loan Program School--Section 685.301 The terminology of this section has been changed to clarify that schools certify loan information in the Direct Loan Program by means of the origination process. Throughout this section, the word ``certification'' has been changed to ``origination.'' This change in terminology does not reflect a change in policy or procedures. In the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program, a financial aid administrator signs the application, thereby certifying that the borrower is eligible. In the Direct Loan Program, the process of originating a loan is comparable to the FFEL certification process. When the school originates the loan, the school is certifying the borrower's eligibility. Paragraph (a)(6) has been amended to reflect this concept. This technical change does not impose any new policies or procedural requirements. In addition, paragraph (a)(7) has been amended to specify that a school may not assess a fee for the origination of a Direct Loan. According to section 454(a)(6) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, schools may not ``charge any fees of any kind, however described, to student or parent borrowers for origination activities . . . .'' This statutory requirement was inadvertently omitted from the regulations. Appendix A to Part 685--Income Contingent Repayment The Secretary has updated the income percentage factors in the appendix to reflect the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Annual Update of the HHS Poverty guidelines, published in the Federal Register on March 4, 1996. In addition, the examples of the calculation of monthly repayment amounts and the charts showing sample repayment amounts have been amended to reflect the updated income percentage factors. Under the updated income percentage factors, at any given income, borrowers' payments will be slightly lower than under the income percentage factors published in the December 1, 1995 regulations. The Secretary believes the updated income percentage factors more accurately reflect a borrower's ability to repay than those previously published. Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking In accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 553, it is the practice of the Secretary to offer interested parties the opportunity to comment on proposed regulations. However, the regulatory changes in this document are necessary to correct minor technical errors and omissions in the Direct Loan Program final regulations published on December 1, 1994, and December 1, 1995. The changes in this document do not establish any new rules. Therefore, the Secretary has determined that publication of a proposed rule is unnecessary and contrary to the public interest under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B). For the same reasons, the Secretary also waives the 30-day delayed effective date under 5 U.S.C. 553(d). [[Page 31359]] Executive Order 12866 These final regulations have been reviewed in accordance with Executive Order 12866. Under the terms of the order, the Secretary has assessed the potential costs and benefits of this regulatory action. The potential costs associated with these final regulations are those resulting from statutory requirements and those determined by the Secretary as necessary for administering the program effectively and efficiently. Burdens specifically associated with information collection requirements, if any, are identified and explained elsewhere in this preamble under the heading Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. In assessing the potential costs and benefits--both quantitative and qualitative--of these final regulations, the Secretary has determined that the benefits of the regulations justify the costs. The Secretary has also determined that this regulatory action does not unduly interfere with State, local, and tribal governments in the exercise of their governmental functions. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 These regulations have been examined under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and have been found to contain no information collection requirements. Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification The Secretary certifies that these regulations will not have significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The regulations will affect borrowers who are in repayment. These regulations contain technical amendments designed to clarify and correct current regulations. The changes will not have a significant economic impact on any small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Assessment of Educational Impact The Secretary has determined that the regulations in this document would not require transmission of information that is being gathered by or is available from any other agency or authority of the United States. List of Subjects in 34 CFR Part 685 Administrative practice and procedure, Colleges and universities, Education, Loan programs-education, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Student aid, Vocational education. (Catalog of Domestic Assistance Number: 84.268, William D. Ford, Federal Direct Loan Program) Dated: June 12, 1996. Richard W. Riley, Secretary of Education. The Secretary amends Part 685 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows: PART 685--[AMENDED] 1. The authority citation for Part 685 continues to read as follows: Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq., unless otherwise noted. 2. Section 685.208 is amended by revising paragraphs (f) (1) and (2) to read as follows: Sec. 685.208 Repayment plans. * * * * * (f) * * * (1) Under the income contingent repayment plan, a borrower's monthly repayment amount is generally based on the total amount of the borrower's Direct Loans, family size, and Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) reported by the borrower for the most recent year for which the Secretary has obtained income information. The borrower's AGI includes the income of the borrower's spouse. A borrower shall make payments on a loan until the loan is repaid in full or until the loan has been in repayment through the end of the income contingent repayment period. (2) The regulations in effect at the time a borrower enters repayment and selects the income contingent repayment plan or changes into the income contingent repayment plan from another plan govern the method for determining the borrowers's monthly repayment amount for all of the borrower's Direct Loans, unless-- * * * * * 3. Section 685.209 is amended by redesignating paragraphs (a) (6) through (8) as (a) (7) through (9), respectively, and adding a new paragraph (a)(6); and by removing ``Sec. 685.209(a)(3)'' in paragraph (c)(6)(ii), and adding, in its place, ``Sec. 685.209(c)(3)'' to read as follows: Sec. 685.209 Income contingent repayment plan. (a) * * * (6) If a borrower's monthly payment is calculated to be greater than $0 but less than or equal to $5.00, the amount payable by the borrower shall be $5.00. * * * * * Sec. 685.301 [Amended] 4. Section 685.301 is amended by removing the word ``certify'' from the introductory text in paragraph (a)(6) and adding, in its place, ``originate''; and paragraph (a)(7) is amended by adding, before the period at the end of the sentence, ``or for the origination of a Direct Loan''. 5. Appendix A is amended by revising the computations following Example 1, Steps 2, 3, and 4; revising the computations following Example 2, Steps 3, 4, and 5; revising the computations following the Interpolation; and by revising the charts of Income Percentage Factors (Based on Annual Income), Income Contingent Repayment Plan (Sample First-Year Monthly Repayment Amounts for a Single Borrower at Various Income and Debt Levels), and Income Contingent Repayment Plan (Sample First-Year Monthly Repayment Amounts for a Married or Head-of-Household Borrower at Various Income and Debt Levels) to read as follows: Appendix A to Part 685--Income Contingent Repayment * * * * * * Example 1. * * * Step 2: * * * * 84.46% (0.8446) x 1,644.315=1,388.7884 Step 3: * * * * $25,000-$7,740=$17,260 * $17,260 x 0.20=$3,452 Step 4: * * * * 1,388.7884/12=$115.73 Example 2. * * * Step 3: * * * * 91.27% (0.9127) x 2,630.904=2,401.2261 Step 4: * * * * $30,000-$10,360=$19,640 * $19,640 x 0.020=$3,928 Step 5: * * * * 2,401.2261/12=$200.10 Interpolation: * * * * $27,904-$25,000=$2,904 * * * * * * 88.77-84.46=4.31 * * * * * * $26,000-$25,000=$1,000 * * * * * * 1,000/2,904=0.3444 * * * * * * 0.3444 x 4.31=1.48 * * * * * * 1.48+84.46=85.94% BILLING CODE 4000-01-P [[Page 31360]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR19JN96.025 [[Page 31361]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR19JN96.026 [[Page 31362]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR19JN96.027 [FR Doc. 96-15516 Filed 6-18-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-C