60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Certified Housing Counselor Registration, 61224-61225 [2015-25825]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 196 (Friday, October 9, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61224-61225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25825]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5835-N-17]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Certified 
Housing Counselor Registration

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal Housing 
Commissioner, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: HUD is seeking approval from the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for the information collection described below. In 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, HUD is requesting comment 
from all interested parties on the proposed collection of information. 
The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment.

DATES: Comments Due Date: December 8, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB 
Control Number and should be sent to: Colette Pollard, Reports 
Management Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 
451 7th Street SW., Room 4176, Washington, DC 20410-5000; telephone 
202-402-3400 (this is not a toll-free number) or email at 
Colette.Pollard@hud.gov for a copy of the proposed forms or other 
available information. Persons with hearing or speech impairments may 
access this number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay 
Service at (800) 877-8339.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruth Rom[aacute]n, Office of Housing 
Counseling, Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 1250 Maryland Avenue SW., Room P2206, Washington, DC 
20410-8000; email housing.counseling@hud.gov; telephone number 202-402-
2112 (this is not a toll-free number). Persons with hearing or speech 
challenges may access this number through TTY by calling the toll-free 
Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Copies of available documents 
submitted to OMB may be obtained from Ms. Rom[aacute]n.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice informs the public that HUD is 
seeking approval from OMB for the information collection described in 
Section A.

A. Overview of Information Collection

    Title of Information Collection: Certified Housing Counselor 
Registration.
    OMB Approval Number: 2502--NEW.
    Type of Request: New.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: 
Pursuant to Section 1445 of the Dodd-Frank Act, all individuals 
providing homeownership or rental housing counseling related to HUD 
programs must be HUD-certified housing counselors. To become certified, 
a housing counselor must pass a written examination. HUD established a 
Housing Counselor Certification Exam and training program, as mandated 
by Subtitle D of title XIV of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and 
Consumer Protection Act (Pub. L. 111-203, 124 Stat. 1376 (July 21, 
2010)) (Dodd-Frank Act), and created a Web site for individuals to 
register for the examination and training. To track individuals using 
the training, successful passage of the examination, and eligibility 
for certification, the Web site has a registration requirement. 
Registration through HUD's certification contractor's Web site for the 
on-line training will require name, city, state, telephone number, 
email address, occupation, if employer is a HUD-participating housing 
counseling agency, and a HUD Housing Counseling System number. 
Registration for the practice and certification examinations through 
this system will require, in addition to the information for general 
registration, a full mailing address, social security number, 
language(s) housing counseling services are provided in if registrant 
is a housing counselor, and optional demographic data (race, ethnicity, 
gender). Collection of social security numbers is required for linking 
the individual's information to HUD's FHA Connection system, so HUD can 
verify applicants are employed by participating agencies. HUD estimates 
the collection of this information to average five minutes for each 
individual that registers for the on-line training, practice 
examination, and certification examination. Public reporting burden for 
this collection of information is estimated to average 1,700 hours per 
year.
    Respondents: Individuals.

[[Page 61225]]

    Estimated Number of Respondents: 10,700.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 3,567.
    Frequency of Response: Once.
    Average Hours per Response: 15 minutes (.25).
    Total Estimated Burdens: 892 hours.

B. Solicitation of Public Comment

    This notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and 
affected parties concerning the collection of information described in 
Section A on the following:
    (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) The accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (4) Ways to minimize the burden of 
the collection of information on those who are to respond; including 
through the use of appropriate automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission 
of responses.
    HUD encourages interested parties to submit comment in response to 
these questions.

     Authority:  Section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

    Dated: October 1, 2015.
Genger Charles,
Senior Policy Advisor for Housing.
[FR Doc. 2015-25825 Filed 10-8-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P