Early Implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act's Removal of Requirements for Title IV Eligibility Related to Selective Service Registration and Drug-Related Convictions, 32252-32253 [2021-12762]

Download as PDF 32252 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 115 / Thursday, June 17, 2021 / Notices OMB Control Number: 1810–0684. Type of Review: An extension without change of a currently approved collection. Respondents/Affected Public: State, Local, and Tribal Governments. Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 51. Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 1,173. Abstract: This is a request for an extension without change for the 1810– 0684 High School Equivalency Program (HEP) Annual Performance Report collection. The Office of Migrant Education (OME) is collecting information for the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) which is authorized under Title IV, Section 418A of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended by Section 408 of the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA)(20 U.S.C. 1070d–2) (special programs for students whose families are engaged in migrant and seasonal farmwork) and 2 CFR 200.328 which requires that recipients of discretionary grants submit an Annual Performance Report (APR) to best inform improvements in program outcomes and productivity. Although the Education Department continues to use the generic 524B, OME is requesting to continue the use of a customized APR that goes beyond the generic 524B APR to facilitate the collection of more standardized and comprehensive data to inform Government Performance Results Act (GPRA) indicators, to improve the overall quality of data collected, and to increase the quality of data that can be used to inform policy decisions. Dated: June 14, 2021. Juliana Pearson, PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and Strategy Division, Office of Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development. [FR Doc. 2021–12773 Filed 6–16–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Early Implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act’s Removal of Requirements for Title IV Eligibility Related to Selective Service Registration and Drug-Related Convictions Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The U.S. Department of Education (Department) publishes this notice, as required by the FAFSA SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:41 Jun 16, 2021 Jkt 253001 Simplification Act (Act), which was enacted into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, of early implementation of the Act’s removal of requirements for Title IV eligibility related to Selective Service registration and drug-related convictions. DATES: Effective date: June 17, 2021. Implementation date: August 16, 2021. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aaron Washington, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, Room 2C182, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 453–7241. Email: Aaron.Washington@ed.gov. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service, toll free, at 1–800–877–8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department publishes this notice, as required by the Act, of early implementation of the Act’s removal of requirements for Title IV eligibility related to Selective Service registration and drug-related convictions. A Dear Colleague Letter issued by the Department on June 11, 2021, providing information regarding the early implementation of the Act’s removal of these requirements, including actions institutions must take as these changes are implemented in phases across award years 2021–2022, 2022–2023, and 2023– 2024, is available in the Appendix of this notice. Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities can obtain this document in an accessible format. The Department will provide the requestor with an accessible format that may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or text format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file, braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc, or other accessible format. Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations at www.govinfo.gov. At this site you can view this document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal Register, in text or Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the site. You may also access documents of the Department published in the Federal Register by using the article search feature at www.federalregister.gov. PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Specifically, through the advanced search feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published by the Department. Tiwanda Burse, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Management & Planning, Office of Postsecondary Education. Appendix—DCL ID: GEN–21–xx Subject: Early Implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act’s Removal of Selective Service and Drug Conviction Requirements for Title IV Eligibility. Summary: This letter provides information about the early implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act’s removal of Selective Service and drug conviction requirements for Title IV eligibility, as well as actions that institutions must take as these changes are implemented in phases across award years 2021–2022, 2022–2023, and 2023–2024. Certain other aspects of the law being implemented are discussed in separate communications. Dear Colleague: On December 27, 2020, the FAFSA Simplification Act (Act) was enacted into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. The Act makes many important changes to the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). Two changes referred to by this DCL include amending Sec. 484 of the HEA to remove: • The requirement that male students register with the Selective Service before the age of 26 to be eligible for federal student aid under Title IV of the HEA (Title IV); and • Suspension of eligibility for Title IV aid for drug-related convictions that occurred while receiving Title IV aid. Under the Act, the Department of Education (Department) may implement these changes by providing 60 days’ notice in the Federal Register. The Secretary is issuing this notice in the coming days. Institutions may implement the changes as early as the date the Federal Register notice publishes. They must implement the changes no later than 60 days after the date of the Federal Register notice (implementation date). To make Title IV aid accessible to as many students as soon as possible, the Department of Education (Department) will implement these changes in three phases across three award years: The 2021–2022, 2022–2023, and 2023–2024 award years. Other than statutory and regulatory requirements included in the document, the contents of this guidance do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies. 2021–2022 Award Year For the 2021–2022 award year, for which the FAFSA cycle has already begun, the Selective Service and drug conviction questions (as well as the option to register with the Selective Service via the FAFSA) will remain on the FAFSA. However, failing to register with the Selective Service or E:\FR\FM\17JNN1.SGM 17JNN1 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 115 / Thursday, June 17, 2021 / Notices having a drug conviction while receiving federal Title IV aid will no longer impact a student’s Title IV aid eligibility. For the 2021–2022 award year, institutions will still see Comment Codes 30, 33, or 57 for Selective Service issues and Comment Codes 53, 54, 56, or 58 for drug convictions. Each Comment Code will still include messaging that a resolution is required to regain eligibility for federal student aid. For Institutional Student Informational Reports (ISIRs) received on or after the implementation date, institutions must ignore the Comment Codes and the messaging requiring resolution and proceed to award and disburse aid to students if they are otherwise eligible. However, while recommended, institutions are not required to go back and reprocess, package, or award aid for ISIRs they received for the 2021–2022 award year prior to the implementation date unless requested by the student. Federal Student Aid will be proactively sending emails to students who are associated with 2021–2022 ISIRs received prior to the implementation date and who were determined to be ineligible based on their answers to Selective Service and drug conviction questions informing them about the change in the law and their potential eligibility for Title IV aid. Emails will direct students to contact their institution’s financial aid office. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 2022–2023 Award Year For the 2022–2023 award year, we will enhance implementation of the removal of Selective Service and drug conviction requirements for federal Title IV eligibility. Similar to the 2021–2022 award year: • The Selective Service and drug conviction questions (as well as the option to register with the Selective Service via the FAFSA) will remain on the FAFSA; • Failing to register with the Selective Service or having a drug conviction while receiving federal Title IV aid will no longer affect a student’s Title IV aid eligibility; and • Institutions will still see Comment Codes 30, 33, or 57 for Selective Service issues and Comment Codes 53, 54, 56, or 58 for drug convictions, which institutions must ignore and may not use as a reason to deny Title IV aid to a student. However, for the 2022–2023 award year, the Department will include language in the Comment Codes stating that no further action is necessary on the part of the student or the institution. 2023–2024 Award Year For the 2023–2024 award year, the Department plans to completely remove both the Selective Service and drug conviction questions from the FAFSA, as well as the option to register with the Selective Service via the FAFSA. We will also remove any associated Comment Codes and messaging that indicate a resolution is required for federal Title IV eligibility. Questions about our early implementation of these provisions of the FAFSA Simplification Act should be referred to our Contact Customer Support outreach site within FSA’s Help Center, located in the new Knowledge Center. To submit a question, VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:41 Jun 16, 2021 Jkt 253001 please enter your name, email address, topic, and question. When submitting a question related to this Dear Colleague Letter, please select the topic ‘‘FSA Ask-A–FED/Policy.’’ Thank you for your continued support of the Title IV federal student aid programs. Sincerely, Richard Cordray, Chief Operating Officer, Federal Student Aid. Annmarie Weisman, Deputy Assistant, Secretary for Policy, Planning, and Innovation, Office of Postsecondary Education. [FR Doc. 2021–12762 Filed 6–16–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. ER21–2117–000] Little Blue Wind Project, LLC; Supplemental Notice That Initial Market-Based Rate Filing Includes Request for Blanket Section 204 Authorization This is a supplemental notice in the above-referenced proceeding of Little Blue Wind Project, LLC’s application for market-based rate authority, with an accompanying rate tariff, noting that such application includes a request for blanket authorization, under 18 CFR part 34, of future issuances of securities and assumptions of liability. Any person desiring to intervene or to protest should file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426, in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214). Anyone filing a motion to intervene or protest must serve a copy of that document on the Applicant. Notice is hereby given that the deadline for filing protests with regard to the applicant’s request for blanket authorization, under 18 CFR part 34, of future issuances of securities and assumptions of liability, is July 1, 2021. The Commission encourages electronic submission of protests and interventions in lieu of paper, using the FERC Online links at https:// www.ferc.gov. To facilitate electronic service, persons with internet access who will eFile a document and/or be listed as a contact for an intervenor must create and validate an eRegistration account using the eRegistration link. Select the eFiling link to log on and submit the intervention or protests. Persons unable to file electronically may mail similar pleadings to the PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 32253 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. Hand delivered submissions in docketed proceedings should be delivered to Health and Human Services, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852. In addition to publishing the full text of this document in the Federal Register, the Commission provides all interested persons an opportunity to view and/or print the contents of this document via the internet through the Commission’s Home Page (https:// www.ferc.gov) using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. At this time, the Commission has suspended access to the Commission’s Public Reference Room, due to the proclamation declaring a National Emergency concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID–19), issued by the President on March 13, 2020. For assistance, contact the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call toll-free, (886) 208–3676 or TTY, (202) 502–8659. Dated: June 11, 2021. Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2021–12778 Filed 6–16–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No. 2315–167] Dominion Energy South Carolina, Inc.; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene, and Protests Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection. a. Type of Application: Request for a temporary amendment of the reservoir drawdown limit. b. Project No.: 2315–167. c. Date Filed: May 28, 2021. d. Applicant: Dominion Energy South Carolina, Inc. e. Name of Project: Neal Shoals Hydroelectric Project. f. Location: The project is located on the Broad River in Union and Chester Counties, South Carolina. g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)–825(r). h. Applicant Contact: Ms. Amy Bresnahan, Dominion Energy South E:\FR\FM\17JNN1.SGM 17JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 115 (Thursday, June 17, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32252-32253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12762]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Early Implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act's Removal of 
Requirements for Title IV Eligibility Related to Selective Service 
Registration and Drug-Related Convictions

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Education (Department) publishes this 
notice, as required by the FAFSA Simplification Act (Act), which was 
enacted into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, 
of early implementation of the Act's removal of requirements for Title 
IV eligibility related to Selective Service registration and drug-
related convictions.

DATES: 
    Effective date: June 17, 2021.
    Implementation date: August 16, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aaron Washington, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, Room 2C182, Washington, DC 20202. 
Telephone: (202) 453-7241. Email: [email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service, toll free, at 1-800-
877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department publishes this notice, as 
required by the Act, of early implementation of the Act's removal of 
requirements for Title IV eligibility related to Selective Service 
registration and drug-related convictions. A Dear Colleague Letter 
issued by the Department on June 11, 2021, providing information 
regarding the early implementation of the Act's removal of these 
requirements, including actions institutions must take as these changes 
are implemented in phases across award years 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and 
2023-2024, is available in the Appendix of this notice.
    Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities 
can obtain this document in an accessible format. The Department will 
provide the requestor with an accessible format that may include Rich 
Text Format (RTF) or text format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file, 
braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc, or other accessible 
format.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may 
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of 
Federal Regulations at www.govinfo.gov. At this site you can view this 
document, as well as all other documents of this Department published 
in the Federal Register, in text or Portable Document Format (PDF). To 
use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at 
the site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

Tiwanda Burse,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Management & Planning, Office of 
Postsecondary Education.

Appendix--DCL ID: GEN-21-xx

    Subject: Early Implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act's 
Removal of Selective Service and Drug Conviction Requirements for 
Title IV Eligibility.
    Summary: This letter provides information about the early 
implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act's removal of 
Selective Service and drug conviction requirements for Title IV 
eligibility, as well as actions that institutions must take as these 
changes are implemented in phases across award years 2021-2022, 
2022-2023, and 2023-2024. Certain other aspects of the law being 
implemented are discussed in separate communications.
    Dear Colleague:
    On December 27, 2020, the FAFSA Simplification Act (Act) was 
enacted into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
2021. The Act makes many important changes to the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (HEA) and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid 
(FAFSA[supreg]). Two changes referred to by this DCL include 
amending Sec. 484 of the HEA to remove:
     The requirement that male students register with the 
Selective Service before the age of 26 to be eligible for federal 
student aid under Title IV of the HEA (Title IV); and
     Suspension of eligibility for Title IV aid for drug-
related convictions that occurred while receiving Title IV aid.
    Under the Act, the Department of Education (Department) may 
implement these changes by providing 60 days' notice in the Federal 
Register. The Secretary is issuing this notice in the coming days. 
Institutions may implement the changes as early as the date the 
Federal Register notice publishes. They must implement the changes 
no later than 60 days after the date of the Federal Register notice 
(implementation date). To make Title IV aid accessible to as many 
students as soon as possible, the Department of Education 
(Department) will implement these changes in three phases across 
three award years: The 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024 award 
years.
    Other than statutory and regulatory requirements included in the 
document, the contents of this guidance do not have the force and 
effect of law and are not meant to bind the public. This document is 
intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing 
requirements under the law or agency policies.

2021-2022 Award Year

    For the 2021-2022 award year, for which the FAFSA cycle has 
already begun, the Selective Service and drug conviction questions 
(as well as the option to register with the Selective Service via 
the FAFSA) will remain on the FAFSA. However, failing to register 
with the Selective Service or

[[Page 32253]]

having a drug conviction while receiving federal Title IV aid will 
no longer impact a student's Title IV aid eligibility.
    For the 2021-2022 award year, institutions will still see 
Comment Codes 30, 33, or 57 for Selective Service issues and Comment 
Codes 53, 54, 56, or 58 for drug convictions. Each Comment Code will 
still include messaging that a resolution is required to regain 
eligibility for federal student aid. For Institutional Student 
Informational Reports (ISIRs) received on or after the 
implementation date, institutions must ignore the Comment Codes and 
the messaging requiring resolution and proceed to award and disburse 
aid to students if they are otherwise eligible. However, while 
recommended, institutions are not required to go back and reprocess, 
package, or award aid for ISIRs they received for the 2021-2022 
award year prior to the implementation date unless requested by the 
student.
    Federal Student Aid will be proactively sending emails to 
students who are associated with 2021-2022 ISIRs received prior to 
the implementation date and who were determined to be ineligible 
based on their answers to Selective Service and drug conviction 
questions informing them about the change in the law and their 
potential eligibility for Title IV aid. Emails will direct students 
to contact their institution's financial aid office.

2022-2023 Award Year

    For the 2022-2023 award year, we will enhance implementation of 
the removal of Selective Service and drug conviction requirements 
for federal Title IV eligibility. Similar to the 2021-2022 award 
year:
     The Selective Service and drug conviction questions (as 
well as the option to register with the Selective Service via the 
FAFSA) will remain on the FAFSA;
     Failing to register with the Selective Service or 
having a drug conviction while receiving federal Title IV aid will 
no longer affect a student's Title IV aid eligibility; and
     Institutions will still see Comment Codes 30, 33, or 57 
for Selective Service issues and Comment Codes 53, 54, 56, or 58 for 
drug convictions, which institutions must ignore and may not use as 
a reason to deny Title IV aid to a student.
    However, for the 2022-2023 award year, the Department will 
include language in the Comment Codes stating that no further action 
is necessary on the part of the student or the institution.

2023-2024 Award Year

    For the 2023-2024 award year, the Department plans to completely 
remove both the Selective Service and drug conviction questions from 
the FAFSA, as well as the option to register with the Selective 
Service via the FAFSA. We will also remove any associated Comment 
Codes and messaging that indicate a resolution is required for 
federal Title IV eligibility.
    Questions about our early implementation of these provisions of 
the FAFSA Simplification Act should be referred to our Contact 
Customer Support outreach site within FSA's Help Center, located in 
the new Knowledge Center. To submit a question, please enter your 
name, email address, topic, and question. When submitting a question 
related to this Dear Colleague Letter, please select the topic ``FSA 
Ask-A-FED/Policy.''
    Thank you for your continued support of the Title IV federal 
student aid programs.

Sincerely,

Richard Cordray, Chief Operating Officer, Federal Student Aid.
Annmarie Weisman, Deputy Assistant, Secretary for Policy, Planning, 
and Innovation, Office of Postsecondary Education.

[FR Doc. 2021-12762 Filed 6-16-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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