[Federal Register: November 21, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 225)]
[Notices]               
[Page 65681-65683]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21no03-27]                         

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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

 
Renewal of Two Currently Approved Information Collections; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service 
(hereinafter the ``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

[[Page 65682]]

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 two forms:
    [sbull] Corporation for National Service Enrollment Form (OMB 
3045-0006), and
    [sbull] Corporation for National Service End of Term/Exit Form (OMB 
 3045-0015).
    Copies of the forms can be obtained by contacting the office listed 
below in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section by January 20, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Corporation for National and Community 
Service, National Service Trust, Attn: Mr. Bruce Kellogg, 8th Floor, 
1201 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20525.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bruce Kellogg, (202) 606-5000, ext. 
256.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Corporation is particularly interested 
in comments which:
    [sbull] 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;
    [sbull] 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;
    [sbull] Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and
    [sbull] 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.

I. 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 AmeriCorps program, an AmeriCorps participant receives an 
``education award''. This education award can be used to make a payment 
towards a qualified student loan or pay for educational expenses at 
qualified post-secondary institutions and approved school-to-work 
opportunities programs. This award is an amount of money set aside in 
the AmeriCorps member's name in the National Service Trust Fund. 
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 program. This involves:
    [sbull] Tracking the service for all AmeriCorps members;
    [sbull] Ensuring that the requirements of the Corporation's 
enabling legislation are met, vis-a-vis the education award;
    [sbull] Processing school and loan payments that the members 
authorize; and
    [sbull] Processing payments for the interest that accrues on 
certain qualified student loans during the member's service period.

II. Current Action

    The Corporation has been using several versions of the two forms 
contained in this Notice since the AmeriCorps program began in 1994. 
The Corporation plans to renew both forms and requested an extension of 
the November 30, 2003, expiration date from the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for both forms in order to satisfy the public comment 
period. OMB granted a 90 day extension and assigned a new expiration 
date of February 29, 2004.
    The Corporation's Enrollment Form serves two purposes essential to 
the functioning of the AmeriCorps program. It is the means by which 
programs certify that an individual is eligible to serve in an 
AmeriCorps program and the date service has begun. Second, it provides 
the Corporation, Grantees, program managers, and Congress with 
demographic data on AmeriCorps members.
    The Enrollment Form is the beginning-of-service counterpart to the 
Corporation's End of Term/Exit Form, which concludes the tracking of 
members at the end of their term of service.
    Submission of the End of Term/Exit Form provides legal 
certification for the disbursement of an education award to an 
AmeriCorps member. It is the document by which an authorized program 
official at an AmeriCorps program site indicates whether an AmeriCorps 
member is eligible for an education award.
    Several versions of both forms have been used since the AmeriCorps 
program began in 1994.
    In 1999, the Corporation began using an electronic system to both 
enroll and exit AmeriCorps members. Local projects can enter into a 
database information about their members' enrollment and completion of 
service. This data is transferred to the Trust periodically where it 
becomes the official record.

A. Enrollment Form--(OMB 3045-0006)

    Currently, AmeriCorps members use a form entitled Corporation for 
National Service Enrollment Form to enroll national service 
participants in the AmeriCorps program. The form requests program-
related as well as demographic information. The program information 
includes the participant's start date, the code number of the program, 
the expected completion date, and whether the term of service is full 
or part time. This is the Corporation's sole source of data for 
individual members. The demographic information includes background 
information on the AmeriCorps member (including gender, marital status, 
education level, and reasons for joining).
    The program information is used to:
    [sbull] Make liability projections for the Trust Fund;
    [sbull] Verify national service participation when requested by a 
lender who holds an AmeriCorps member's student loan (members are 
eligible to have the repayment of certain student loans postponed if 
they are participating in national service),
    [sbull] Plan and monitor programs (review recruiting efforts, 
identify programs with excessive early termination rates, establish and 
reconcile program's budgets)
    The demographic information is used for recruiting purposes and to 
provide the Corporation, program managers, and the Congress with 
demographic data on AmeriCorps members.
    In requesting permission for renewal of this form, the Corporation 
does not propose making any changes to the version currently in use.
    Type of Review: Renewal.
    Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service.
    Title: Corporation for National Service Enrollment Form.
    OMB Number: 3045-0006.
    Agency Number: None.

[[Page 65683]]

    Affected Public: Individuals about to participate in an AmeriCorps 
program.
    Total Respondents: 10,000 annually.
    Frequency: Once per service period (average of once per year).
    Average Time Per Response: Total of 7 minutes (4 minutes for the 
AmeriCorps members, and 3 minutes for the program staff).
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,166 hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): None.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): None.

B. End of Term/Exit Form--(3045-0015)

    The Corporation's End of Term/Exit form is the means by which 
AmeriCorps programs certify that a member has, or has not, successfully 
satisfied conditions which must be met in order to receive an education 
award. When an AmeriCorps member successfully completes a term of 
national service, a designated program official certifies that the 
service was completed and the individual is eligible for an education 
award. The End of Term/Exit form is the document upon which this 
certification is recorded.
    Additional information requested on the form includes the member's 
service completion date, the current address where the education award 
documentation should be mailed, and two questions regarding the 
member's desire for post service information.
    Type of Review: Renewal.
    Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service.
    Title: Corporation for National Service End of Term/Exit Form.
    OMB Number: None.
    Agency Number: None.
    Affected Public: AmeriCorps members who have ended their term of 
national service.
    Total Respondents: 10,000 annually.
    Frequency: Once per term of service (average of once per year).
    Average Time Per Response: 7 minutes, total (4 minutes for the 
AmeriCorps members to complete the form and, 3 minutes for the program 
staff).
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 1,166 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: November 18, 2003.
Ruben L. Wiley,
Director, National Trust.
[FR Doc. 03-29155 Filed 11-20-03; 8:45 am]


	

	
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