[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 225 (Monday, November 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73040-73041]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-29694]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
[OMB Control No. 2900-NEW]
Proposed Information Collection (Requirement To Present Certain
Health Information for a Service Dog; Activity: Comment Request
AGENCY: Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment
on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are
required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each
proposed collection of information and allow 60 days for public comment
in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the
information needed for Veterans, Veteran Representatives and health
care providers to request reimbursement from the federal government for
emergency services at a private institution.
DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection
of information should be received on or before January 22, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information
through Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) at www.Regulations.gov;
or Brian McCarthy, Office of Regulatory and Administrative Affairs,
Veterans Health Administration (10B4), Department of Veterans Affairs,
810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420 or email:
[email protected]. Please refer to ``Requirement to Present
Certain Health Information for a Service Dog under 38 CFR 1.218(a)(11),
OMB Control No. 2900-NEW'' in any correspondence. During the comment
period, comments may be viewed online through the FDMS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian McCarthy at (202) 461-6345.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44
U.S.C. 3501-3521), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of
information they conduct or sponsor. This request for comment is being
made pursuant to Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA.
With respect to the following collection of information, VHA
invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance of VHA's functions, including
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy
of VHA'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 respondents, including through the use
of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of
information technology.
Titles: Requirement to Present Certain Health Information for a
Service Dog under 38 CFR 1.218(a)(11).
OMB Control Number: 2900-NEW.
Type of Review: New Collection Request.
Abstract: Pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 901, VA may prescribe rules to
provide for the maintenance of law and order and the protection of
persons and property on VA property. VA implements this authority in
regulations at 38 CFR 1.218 pertaining to security and law enforcement.
This final rule will amend Sec. 1.218(a)(11) to require VA facilities
to permit service animals on VA property consistent with 40 U.S.C. 3103
(section 3103) and Public Law 112-154, Sec. 109, 126 Stat. 1165 (2012)
(section 109). Section 3103(a) provides that guide dogs or other
service animals accompanying individuals with disabilities and
especially trained for that purpose shall be admitted to any building
or other property owned or controlled by the Federal Government on the
same terms and conditions, and subject to the same regulations, as
generally govern the admission of the public to the property. Section
109 provides that VA specifically may not prohibit the use of a covered
service dog in any VA facility, on any VA property, or in any facility
or on any property that receives funding from VA, and further defines a
covered service dog as a service dog that has been trained by an entity
that is accredited by an appropriate accrediting body that evaluates
and accredits organizations which train guide or service dogs. Current
38 CFR 1.218(a)(11), however, reads that dogs
[[Page 73041]]
and other animals, except seeing-eye dogs, shall not be brought upon
property except as authorized by the head of the facility or designee.
Our current regulation can be interpreted to allow the head of a VA
facility or designee to bar access to all animals other than seeing-eye
dogs, which is inconsistent with both section 3103(a) and section 109.
We therefore revise our regulation to be consistent with the
requirements in section 3103(a) and section 109. The collection
associated with this regulation revision only applies to those service
dogs that would be staying on VA property with a Veteran for extended
periods of time while that Veteran is being treated in a residential
treatment setting. This collection is not associated with the basic
entry of a service dog generally on VA property. This collection is
also associated with the entry of Animal Assisted Therapy and Animal
Assisted Activity animals on VA property, and residential animals on VA
residential units.
Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
Estimated Annual Burden: 125 burden hours.
Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 5 minutes.
Frequency of Response: Annually.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,500.
By direction of the Secretary.
Kathleen M. Manwell,
VA Privacy Service, Office of Privacy and Records Management,
Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-29694 Filed 11-20-15; 8:45 am]
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