[Federal Register: June 22, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 121)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 38728-38730]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22jn00-8]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
34 CFR Parts 668, 682, 685 and 692
Student Assistance General Provisions, Federal Family Education
Loan Program, William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, and State
Student Incentive Grant Program
AGENCY: Department of Education.
ACTION: Final regulations.
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SUMMARY: The Secretary makes technical amendments to the Student
Assistance General Provisions, Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL)
Program, William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, and the State
Student Incentive Grant (SSIG) Program regulations. These amendments
are necessary to change the name of the SSIG Program to the Leveraging
Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) Program, correct cross-
references, and delete obsolete references. These technical amendments
incorporate changes made to the Higher Education Act of 1965, as
amended (HEA), by the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 (1998
Amendments).
EFFECTIVE DATE: These regulations take effect June 22, 2000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jackie Butler, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Regional Office Building 3, Room
3045, Washington, DC 20202-5447. Telephone: (202) 708-8242.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternate format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the contact person listed.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Because the Higher Education Amendments
renamed the State Student Incentive Grant (SSIG) Program the Leveraging
Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) Program, we are making
conforming name changes to the Student Assistance General Provisions
regulations, 34 CFR part 668, FFEL Program regulations, 34 CFR part
682, William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program regulations, 34 CFR
part 685, and SSIG Program regulations, 34 CFR part 692.
We are also correcting cross-references and removing obsolete
references. Therefore:
* We have replaced references to ``institution of higher
education'' throughout 34 CFR part 692 with ``institution'' to reflect
the type of institutions described in Sec. 668.1(b) of the Student
Assistance General Provisions regulations, and corrected other cross-
references to various terms now defined in 34 CFR parts 600 and 668.
* We have removed references to section 1203 of the HEA
throughout 34 CFR part 692 to reflect that this section was eliminated
by the 1998 Amendments.
* We have removed OMB control numbers after Secs. 692.20,
692.21 and 692.40.
Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking
It is the practice of the Secretary to offer interested parties the
opportunity to comment on proposed regulations. However, these
regulations merely reflect statutory changes, correct cross-references,
and remove obsolete regulatory provisions. The changes do not establish
or affect substantive policy. Therefore, the Secretary has concluded
that these regulations are technical in nature and do not necessitate
public comment. Therefore, the Secretary finds that such a solicitation
would be unnecessary and contrary to the public interest under 5 U.S.C.
553(b)(B).
For the same reasons, the Secretary has determined, under section
492(b)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, that these
regulations should not be subject to negotiated rulemaking.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
The Secretary certifies that these regulations would not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
Small entities affected by these regulations are small institutions of
higher education. Although States and State agencies are impacted by
these regulations, they are not defined as ``small entities'' in the
Regulatory Flexibility Act. These regulations contain technical
amendments designed to clarify and correct current regulations. The
changes will not have a significant economic impact on the
institutions, State or State agencies affected.
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.
Intergovernmental Review
The LEAP Program is subject to Executive Order 12372 and the
regulations in 34 CFR part 79. The objective of the Executive order is
to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened
federalism by relying on processes developed by State and local
governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal financial
assistance.
In accordance with the order, we intend this document to provide
early notification of the Department's specific plans and actions for
this program.
Assessment of Educational Impact
Based on our own review, we have determined that these final
regulations do not require transmission of information that any other
agency or authority of the United States gathers or makes available.
Electronic Access to This Document
You may view this document in text or Adobe Portable Document
Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following sites:
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http://www.ed.gov/news.html
http://ifap.ed.gov/csb_html/fedlreg.htm
To use the PDF, you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
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(GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in the Washington, DC area, at
(202) 512-1530.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal
Regulations is available on GPO
[[Page 38729]]
Access at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers: 84.032 Federal
Family Education Loan Program; 84.069 Leveraging Educational
Assistance Partnership Program; and 84.268 William D. Ford Federal
Direct Loan Program)
List of Subjects
34 CFR Part 668
Administrative practice and procedure, Colleges and universities,
Consumer protection, Grant programs---education, Loan programs--
education, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Student aid.
34 CFR Parts 682 and 685
Administrative practice and procedure, Colleges and universities,
Education, Loan programs--education, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Student aid, Vocational education.
34 CFR Part 692
Grant programs--education, Postsecondary education, State
administered--education, Student aid--education, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: June 15, 2000.
A. Lee Fritschler,
Assistant Secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education.
For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Secretary amends title
34 of the Code of Federal Regulations parts 668, 682, 685 and 692 as
follows:
PART 668--STUDENT ASSISTANCE GENERAL PROVISIONS
1. The authority citation for part 668 is revised to read as
follows:
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1001, 1002, 1003, 1085, 1088, 1091, 1091b,
1092, 1094, 1099-c, and 1099c-1, unless otherwise noted.
Sec. 668.1 [Amended]
2. Section 668.1(c)(4) is amended by removing ``State Student
Incentive Grant (SSIG) Program'' and adding, in its place, ``Leveraging
Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) Program''.
Sec. 668.2 [Amended]
3. Section 668.2(b) is amended by removing the definition State
Student Incentive Grant (SSIG) program: and adding, in alphabetical
order, the definition Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership
(LEAP) Program: The grant program authorized by Title IV-A-4 of the
HEA.
Sec. 668.14 [Amended]
4. Section 668.14 is amended by removing ``SSIG and NEISP'' from
paragraphs (a)(1) and (c) and adding, in its place, ``LEAP and NEISP''.
Sec. 668.26 [Amended]
5. Section 668.26(b)(5) is amended by removing ``NEISP or SSIG
Program'' and adding, in its place, ``NEISP or LEAP Program''.
Sec. 668.35 [Amended]
6. Section 668.35(e)(2) is amended by removing ``SSIG'' and adding,
in its place, ``LEAP''.
Sec. 668.138 [Amended]
7. Section 668.138(a) is amended by removing ``SSIG'' and adding,
in its place, ``LEAP''.
Sec. 668.139 [Amended]
8. Section 668.139(c) is amended by removing ``SSIG'' and adding,
in its place, ``LEAP''.
PART 682--FEDERAL FAMILY EDUCATION LOAN (FFEL) PROGRAM
9. The authority citation for part 682 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1071 to 1087-2, unless otherwise noted.
Sec. 682.200 [Amended]
10. Section 682.200(a)(1) is amended by removing ``State Student
Incentive Grant (SSIG) Program'' and adding, in alphabetical order,
``Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) Program''.
PART 685-WILLIAM D. FORD FEDERAL DIRECT LOAN PROGRAM
11. The authority citation for part 685 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq., unless otherwise noted.
Sec. 685.102 [Amended]
12. Section 685.102(a)(1) is amended by removing ``Federal State
Student Incentive Grant Program'' and adding, in alphabetical order,
``Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program''.
PART 692--LEVERAGING EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
13. The part heading is revised to read as set forth above.
14. The authority citation for part 692 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1070c through 1070c-4, unless otherwise
noted.
15. The heading of subpart A is revised to read as follows:
Subpart A--Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program
16. The subpart designations for subparts B through E are removed;
Secs. 692.10 through 692.41 are transferred to subpart A, and the
subpart headings remain as undesignated center headings in subpart A.
Sec. 692.1 [Amended]
17. An undesignated center heading ``General'' is added preceding
Sec. 692.1.
18. Section 692.1 is amended by removing ``State Student Incentive
Grant'' in the heading and adding, in its place, ``Leveraging
Educational Assistance Partnership''; and by removing ``State Student
Incentive Grant'' in the text and adding, in its place, ``Leveraging
Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP)''.
Sec. 692.2 [Amended]
19. Section 692.2 is amended by removing ``State Student Incentive
Grant'' in the heading and adding, in its place, ``LEAP''; and by
removing ``this program'' in paragraphs (a) and (b) and adding, in its
place, ``the LEAP Program''.
Sec. 692.3 [Amended]
20. Section 692.3 is amended by:
A. Removing ``State Student Incentive Grant'' in the heading and
undesignated introductory text, and adding, in its place, ``LEAP'';
B. Removing ``(Drug-Free Schools and Campuses)'' in paragraph
(b)(8), and adding, in its place, ``(Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Prevention)'';
C. Removing paragraph (c); and
D. Redesignating paragraph (d) as paragraph (c).
21. Section 692.4 is amended by revising the heading, paragraph
(a), paragraph (b), and the introductory text of paragraph (c) to read
as follows:
Sec. 692.4 What definitions apply to the LEAP Program?
* * * * *
(a) The definitions of the following terms under 34 CFR part 600:
Postsecondary vocational institution (Sec. 600.6).
Public or private nonprofit institution of higher education
(Sec. 600.4).
Secretary (Sec. 600.2).
State (Sec. 600.2).
(b) The definitions of the following terms under 34 CFR part 668:
Academic year (Sec. 668.2).
Enrolled (Sec. 668.2).
HEA (Sec. 668.2).
[[Page 38730]]
Institution (Sec. 668.1(b)).
(c) The definitions of the following terms also apply to the LEAP
Program:
* * * * *
Sec. 692.10 [Amended]
22. Section 692.10 is amended by removing ``SSIG'' the four times
it appears in paragraph (a)(1), the five times it appears in paragraph
(a)(2), and the three times it appears in paragraph (b), and adding, in
its place, ``LEAP''.
Sec. 692.11 [Amended]
23. Section 692.11 is amended by removing ``the program'' in the
heading, and adding, in its place, ``the LEAP Program''; and by
removing ``this part'' in the text, and adding, in its place, ``the
LEAP Program''.
24. The undesignated center heading that appears above Sec. 692.20
is amended by removing ``This Program'', and adding, in its place,
``The LEAP Program''.
25. Section 692.20 is amended by:
A. Removing paragraph (a);
B. Redesignating paragraphs (b) and (c) as paragraphs (a) and (b),
respectively;
C. Removing ``State Student Incentive Grant'' in newly redesignated
paragraph (a), and adding, in its place, ``Leveraging Educational
Assistance Partnership'';
D. Revising newly redesignated paragraph (b); and
E. Removing the OMB control number and the cross-reference
following the section.
The revision reads as follows:
Sec. 692.20 What must a State do to receive an allotment under the
LEAP Program?
* * * * *
(b)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, the
State must submit its application through the State agency designated
to administer its Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program
as of July 1, 1985.
(2) If the Governor of the State so designates, and notifies the
Secretary in writing, the State may submit its application under
paragraph (a) of this section through an agency that did not administer
its Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program as of July 1,
1985.
Sec. 692.21 [Amended]
26. Section 692.21 is amended by:
A. Removing ``this program'' in the undesignated introductory text,
and adding, in its place, ``the LEAP Program'';
B. Removing ``in accordance with the Federal-State Relationship
Agreement under section 1203 of the HEA'' in paragraph (a);
C. Removing ``of higher education'' in paragraph (g);
D. Amending paragraph (h)(2) by removing ``of higher education'',
and by removing ``this program'' both times it appears, and adding, in
its place, ``the LEAP Program'';
E. Removing ``SSIG'' both times it appears in paragraph (j), and
adding, in its place, ``LEAP'';
F. Removing ``this part'' in paragraph (k), and adding, in its
place, ``the LEAP Program''; and
G. Removing the OMB control number following the section.
Sec. 692.30 [Amended]
27. Section 692.30 is amended by removing ``of higher education''
in paragraphs (b)(1) and (d)(1); and by removing ``this part'' in
paragraph (e)(1), and adding, in its place, ``the LEAP Program''.
Sec. 692.40 [Amended]
28. The undesignated center heading that appears above Sec. 692.40
is amended by removing ``This Program'', and adding, in its place,
``The LEAP Program''.
29. Section 692.40 is amended by removing ``668.7'' and adding, in
its place, ``668.32'' in paragraph (a); and by removing the OMB control
number following the section.
Subpart B--[Added and Reserved]
30. Subpart B--is added and reserved.
[FR Doc. 00-15658 Filed 6-21-00; 8:45 am]
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