Notice of Intent To Review Online Homeownership Education Courses for Nationwide Use in the Single Family Housing Section 502 Direct Loan Program, 74104-74105 [2013-29335]
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74104
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 237 / Tuesday, December 10, 2013 / Notices
the Consolidated Farm and Rural
Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1926) to
make loans to public entities, nonprofit
corporations, and Indian tribes for the
development of community facilities for
public use in rural areas and is covered
by 7 CFR 1942–C. The primary
regulation for administering the
Community Facilities program is 7 CFR
1942–A (OMB Number 0575–0015) that
outlines eligibility, project feasibility,
security, and monitoring requirements.
The Community Facilities fire and
rescue program has been in existence for
many years. This program has financed
a wide range of fire and rescue projects
varying in size and complexity from
construction of a fire station with fire
fighting and rescue equipment to
financing a 911 emergency system.
These facilities are designed to provide
fire protection and emergency rescue
services to rural communities.
Information will be collected by the
field offices from applicants, borrowers,
and consultants. This information will
be used to determine applicant/
borrower eligibility, project feasibility,
and to ensure borrowers operate on a
sound basis and use funds for
authorized purposes. Failure to collect
proper information could result in
improper determination of eligibility,
improper use of funds, and/or unsound
loans.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average 2.16 hours per
response.
Respondents: Not-for-profit
institutions, State, local, or tribal
governments.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
2,500.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 4.95.
Estimated Number of Responses:
12,375.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 26,730 hours.
Copies of this information collection
can be obtained from Jeanne Jacobs,
Regulations and Paperwork
Management Branch, (202) 692–0040.
Comments:
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the Rural Housing
Service (RHS), including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(b) the accuracy of RHS’ estimate of the
burden of the proposed collection of
information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:48 Dec 09, 2013
Jkt 232001
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. Comments may be sent to
Jeanne Jacobs, Regulations and
Paperwork Management Branch, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Rural
Development, STOP 0742, 1400
Independence Ave. SW., Washington,
DC 20250. All responses to this notice
will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval. All
comments will also become a matter of
public record.
Dated: November 27, 2013.
Richard A. Davis,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–29363 Filed 12–9–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–XV–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service
Notice of Intent To Review Online
Homeownership Education Courses
for Nationwide Use in the Single
Family Housing Section 502 Direct
Loan Program
Rural Housing Service, USDA.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
On September 23, 2013, the
Rural Housing Service (RHS) Single
Family Housing Direct Program
published a Notice in the Federal
Register, ’’Notice of Intent To Review
Online Homeownership Education
Courses for Nationwide Use in the
Single Family Housing Section 502
Direct Loan Program’’ (78 FR 58272).
Through this action, RHS is extending
the submission deadline of online
homeownership education course
packages for National Office approval to
December 31, 2013.
DATES: Online homeownership
education providers interested in having
their courses reviewed should submit a
complete package to the Single Family
Housing, Direct Loan Division on or
before December 31, 2013.
Submissions may be sent
electronically to
SFHDIRECTPROGRAM@wdc.usda.gov
or by mail to 1400 Independence
Avenue, Stop 0783, Washington, DC
20250–0783.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Shantelle Gordon, shantelle.gordon@
wdc.usda.gov or (202) 205–9567.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective
on May 7, 2007, first-time homebuyers
financed under the direct loan program
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
must successfully complete an approved
homeownership education course prior
to loan closing. 7 CFR Part 3550.11
outlines the order of preference given to
courses. First preference is given to
classroom, one-on-one counseling, or
interactive video conference. These
formats are generally extensive and
require a significant time and
participation commitment from the
Agency applicants. Second preference is
given to interactive home-study or
interactive telephone counseling of at
least four hours duration. These formats
may only be used if the formats under
the first preference are not reasonably
available. Third preference, which can
only be used if all other formats are not
reasonably available, is given to online
counseling. The regulation also outlines
the requirements an education provider
and their course must meet in order to
be approved for use by Agency
applicants.
While approval is generally made by
the Agency at the state level, there is
currently one nationally approved
online education provider. To expand
the Agency applicants’ access to and
options of approved education
providers, the Agency will consider
approving other online education
providers on a national level. Approval
will be subject to meeting course
criteria, a recommendation by the
Agency-selected panel of housing
partners, and signoff by the
Administrator. Approval will be given
as a third preference format unless the
education provider is able to
demonstrate and document how their
online course along with a required
supplemented service provides the same
level of training and individualized
attention as a first or second preference.
A notice of education providers
approved through this process will be
issued via a memorandum to the Rural
Development (RD) state offices. The
memorandum will list the format
preference assigned to each provider. A
copy of the memorandum will be
simultaneously emailed to all education
providers who applied through this
notice.
Approvals are not subject to
expiration. However, an approval may
be revoked for justifiable cause.
At a minimum, courses submitted for
consideration must contain the
following content:
• Preparing for homeownership
(evaluate readiness to go from rental
to homeownership)
• Budgeting (pre and post purchase)
• Credit counseling
• Shopping for a home
• Lender differences (predatory
lending)
E:\FR\FM\10DEN1.SGM
10DEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 237 / Tuesday, December 10, 2013 / Notices
maindgalligan on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
• Obtaining a mortgage (mortgage
process, different types of mortgages)
• Loan closing (closing process,
documentation, closing costs)
• Post-occupancy counseling
(delinquency and foreclosure
prevention)
• Life as a homeowner (homeowner
warranties, maintenance, and repairs)
The Agency-selected panel will base
their recommendation on the following
considerations:
• Certificate of completion
• Fee (must be nominal)
• Duration
• Topics covered
• System features (chat function,
bookmarks, start-stop, audio, etc.)
• Readability (level of complexity in
language used)
• User Friendliness
• Bi-lingual Spanish
• Multi-lingual
• Pre/Post assessment of knowledge
• Attractiveness of site/course
Submission packages should include
course background, copy of certificate of
completion, price sheet, and contact
information (name, phone number, and
email address).
If an education provider wishes to be
considered as a first or second format
preference, they must express which
one in their submission package,
provide strong written justification, and
supporting materials.
Due to the lapse in federal funding
that caused a partial closing of federal
government operations from October 1
through October 16, 2013, RHS is
extending this notice and submission
deadline for review of online
homeownership education courses to
December 31, 2013.
Non-Discrimination Statement
USDA prohibits discrimination in all
its programs and activities on the basis
of race, color, national origin, age,
disability, and where applicable, sex,
marital status, familial status, parental
status, religion, sexual orientation,
political beliefs, genetic information,
reprisal, or because all or part of an
individual’s income is derived from any
public assistance program. (Not all
prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
To file a complaint of discrimination,
complete, sign and mail a program
discrimination complaint form,
(available at any USDA office location
or online at www.ascr.usda.gov, or write
to: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Civil Rights, 1400 Independence
Avenue SW., STOP 9410, Washington,
DC 20250–9410.
Or call toll-free (866) 632–9992
(voice) to obtain additional information,
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:48 Dec 09, 2013
Jkt 232001
the appropriate office or to request
documents. Individuals who are deaf,
hard of hearing or have speech
disabilities may contact USDA through
the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877–
8339 or (877) 845–6136 (in Spanish).
‘‘USDA is an equal opportunity
provider, employer and lender.’’
Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of
program information (e.g. Braille, large
print, audiotape, etc.) should contact
USDA TARTET Center at (202) 720–
2600 (voice and TDD).
Dated: November 20, 2013.
Richard A. Davis,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–29335 Filed 12–9–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–XV–P
COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS
District of Columbia Advisory
Committee
United States Commission on
Civil Rights.
ACTION: Notice of period during which
individuals may apply to be appointed
to the District of Columbia Advisory
Committee; request for applications.
AGENCY:
Because the terms of the
members of the District of Columbia
Advisory Committee are expiring as of
March 21, 2014, the United States
Commission on Civil Rights hereby
invites any individual who is eligible to
be appointed to apply. The
memberships covered by this notice are
exclusively for the District of Columbia
Advisory Committee, and applicants
must be residents of District of
Columbia to be considered. Letters of
interest must be received by the Eastern
Regional Office of the U.S. Commission
on Civil Rights no later than January 21,
2014. Letters of interest must be sent to
the address listed below.
DATES: Letters of interest for
membership on the District of Columbia
Advisory Committee should be received
no later than January 21, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Send letters of interest to:
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights,
Eastern Regional Office, 1331
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Suite 1150,
Washington, DC 20425. Letter can also
be sent via email to eroaa@usccr.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ivy
Davis, Regional Director, Eastern
Regional Office, (202) 376–7533,
idavis@usccr.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
District of Columbia Advisory
Committee (SAC) is a statutorily
mandated advisory committee of the
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
74105
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
(Commission) pursuant to 42 U.S.C.
1975a. Under the charter for the SAC,
the purpose is to provide advice and
recommendations to the Commission on
a broad range of civil rights matters in
its respective state that pertain to
alleged deprivations of voting rights or
discrimination or denials of equal
protection of the laws because of race,
color, religion, sex, age, disability, or
national origin, or the administration of
justice. SACs also provide assistance to
the Commission in its statutory
obligation to serve as a national
clearinghouse for civil rights
information.
The SAC consists of not more than 19
members, each of whom will serve a
two-year term. Members serve as unpaid
Special Government Employees who are
reimbursed for travel and expenses. To
be eligible to be on a SAC, applicants
must be residents of the District of
Columbia and have demonstrated
expertise or interest in civil rights
issues.
The Commission is an independent,
bipartisan agency established by
Congress in 1957 to focus on matters of
race, color, religion, sex, age, disability,
or national origin. Its mandate is to:
• Investigate complaints from citizens
that their voting rights are being
deprived,
• study and collect information about
discrimination or denials of equal
protection under the law,
• appraise federal civil rights laws
and policies,
• serve as a national clearinghouse on
discrimination laws,
• submit reports and findings and
recommendations to the President and
the Congress, and
• issue public service announcements
to discourage discrimination.
The Commission invites any
individual who is eligible to be
appointed a member of the District of
Columbia Advisory Committee covered
by this notice to send a letter of interest
and a resume to the address above.
Dated: December 5, 2013.
David Mussatt,
Acting Chief, Regional Programs
Coordination Unit.
[FR Doc. 2013–29412 Filed 12–9–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
The Department of Commerce will
submit to the Office of Management and
E:\FR\FM\10DEN1.SGM
10DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 10, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74104-74105]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-29335]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service
Notice of Intent To Review Online Homeownership Education Courses
for Nationwide Use in the Single Family Housing Section 502 Direct Loan
Program
AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: On September 23, 2013, the Rural Housing Service (RHS) Single
Family Housing Direct Program published a Notice in the Federal
Register, ''Notice of Intent To Review Online Homeownership Education
Courses for Nationwide Use in the Single Family Housing Section 502
Direct Loan Program'' (78 FR 58272). Through this action, RHS is
extending the submission deadline of online homeownership education
course packages for National Office approval to December 31, 2013.
DATES: Online homeownership education providers interested in having
their courses reviewed should submit a complete package to the Single
Family Housing, Direct Loan Division on or before December 31, 2013.
Submissions may be sent electronically to
SFHDIRECTPROGRAM@wdc.usda.gov or by mail to 1400 Independence Avenue,
Stop 0783, Washington, DC 20250-0783.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shantelle Gordon,
shantelle.gordon@wdc.usda.gov or (202) 205-9567.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective on May 7, 2007, first-time
homebuyers financed under the direct loan program must successfully
complete an approved homeownership education course prior to loan
closing. 7 CFR Part 3550.11 outlines the order of preference given to
courses. First preference is given to classroom, one-on-one counseling,
or interactive video conference. These formats are generally extensive
and require a significant time and participation commitment from the
Agency applicants. Second preference is given to interactive home-study
or interactive telephone counseling of at least four hours duration.
These formats may only be used if the formats under the first
preference are not reasonably available. Third preference, which can
only be used if all other formats are not reasonably available, is
given to online counseling. The regulation also outlines the
requirements an education provider and their course must meet in order
to be approved for use by Agency applicants.
While approval is generally made by the Agency at the state level,
there is currently one nationally approved online education provider.
To expand the Agency applicants' access to and options of approved
education providers, the Agency will consider approving other online
education providers on a national level. Approval will be subject to
meeting course criteria, a recommendation by the Agency-selected panel
of housing partners, and signoff by the Administrator. Approval will be
given as a third preference format unless the education provider is
able to demonstrate and document how their online course along with a
required supplemented service provides the same level of training and
individualized attention as a first or second preference.
A notice of education providers approved through this process will
be issued via a memorandum to the Rural Development (RD) state offices.
The memorandum will list the format preference assigned to each
provider. A copy of the memorandum will be simultaneously emailed to
all education providers who applied through this notice.
Approvals are not subject to expiration. However, an approval may
be revoked for justifiable cause.
At a minimum, courses submitted for consideration must contain the
following content:
Preparing for homeownership (evaluate readiness to go from
rental to homeownership)
Budgeting (pre and post purchase)
Credit counseling
Shopping for a home
Lender differences (predatory lending)
[[Page 74105]]
Obtaining a mortgage (mortgage process, different types of
mortgages)
Loan closing (closing process, documentation, closing costs)
Post-occupancy counseling (delinquency and foreclosure
prevention)
Life as a homeowner (homeowner warranties, maintenance, and
repairs)
The Agency-selected panel will base their recommendation on the
following considerations:
Certificate of completion
Fee (must be nominal)
Duration
Topics covered
System features (chat function, bookmarks, start-stop, audio,
etc.)
Readability (level of complexity in language used)
User Friendliness
Bi-lingual Spanish
Multi-lingual
Pre/Post assessment of knowledge
Attractiveness of site/course
Submission packages should include course background, copy of
certificate of completion, price sheet, and contact information (name,
phone number, and email address).
If an education provider wishes to be considered as a first or
second format preference, they must express which one in their
submission package, provide strong written justification, and
supporting materials.
Due to the lapse in federal funding that caused a partial closing
of federal government operations from October 1 through October 16,
2013, RHS is extending this notice and submission deadline for review
of online homeownership education courses to December 31, 2013.
Non-Discrimination Statement
USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on
the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where
applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status,
religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, genetic information,
reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived
from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to
all programs.)
To file a complaint of discrimination, complete, sign and mail a
program discrimination complaint form, (available at any USDA office
location or online at www.ascr.usda.gov, or write to: U.S. Department
of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights,
1400 Independence Avenue SW., STOP 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410.
Or call toll-free (866) 632-9992 (voice) to obtain additional
information, the appropriate office or to request documents.
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities
may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339 or
(877) 845-6136 (in Spanish). ``USDA is an equal opportunity provider,
employer and lender.''
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for
communication of program information (e.g. Braille, large print,
audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA TARTET Center at (202) 720-2600
(voice and TDD).
Dated: November 20, 2013.
Richard A. Davis,
Acting Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-29335 Filed 12-9-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P
