Overview
Title
30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: FLO Professional Development Fellowship (PDF) Application
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The State Department wants to hear people’s opinions about a form that helps decide if they can give special learning opportunities to people married to U.S. workers in other countries. They want to know if the form is important, how long it takes to fill out, and if it could be made better.
Summary AI
The Department of State has submitted a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval of information collection concerning the Professional Development Fellowship (PDF) Application. This application is specifically for spouses and partners of U.S. government employees working overseas. The Department is seeking public comments until February 26, 2021, about the necessity, accuracy, and burden of this information collection process. The comments received will help the Department evaluate and possibly improve the information collection, which is essential for determining the award of professional development fellowships.
Abstract
The Department of State has submitted the information collection described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 we are requesting comments on this collection from all interested individuals and organizations. The purpose of this Notice is to allow 30 days for public comment.
Keywords AI
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AnalysisAI
The notice from the Department of State published in the Federal Register invites the public to comment on a proposed information collection for the Professional Development Fellowship (PDF) Application. This fellowship is designed for spouses and partners of U.S. government employees working overseas. The proposal is submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval. The public has until February 26, 2021, to submit comments. This document is part of an ongoing effort under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 to assess and potentially improve the process of gathering information necessary to award professional development fellowships.
Summary
This notice aims to collect input from stakeholders regarding the necessity and burden of the information gathering process. In this instance, the focus is on applications from those eligible for development fellowships. As a part of government transparency and efficiency measures, these comments will help the Department of State refine its processes.
Significant Issues or Concerns
There are several areas within the document that could raise questions for the public:
Justification and Necessity: The notice mentions the need for information for fellowships but provides limited justification as to why this information is vital for the Department's functions.
Response Time Estimation: The estimated time for completing an application is pegged at 2.75 hours per respondent. This figure might need further explanation, especially on how it was calculated.
Impact on Program Quality: The document states that the information collection aims to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the fellowship program. However, it does not detail specific processes or changes that the collected data will support.
Submission Process: The document suggests using email for comments and requires specific information in the email subject line. This process could be streamlined or clarified to ensure public accessibility and ease.
Burden on Respondents: There is no mention of more modern submission methods, such as online portals, which could potentially reduce the burden on respondents.
Legal References Ambiguity: The cited legal references might be unclear to readers not familiar with U.S. statutes, warranting further explanation.
Impact on the Public
For the general public, especially those connected to U.S. government employees overseas, this notice represents an opportunity to influence the development and administration of a critical professional resource. The proposal underscores the importance of public participation in shaping policies and processes that directly affect individuals and families.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Eligible applicants and their families stand to benefit or be limited by changes to the fellowship application process. Clearer, justified procedures could enhance access to professional development opportunities for spouses and partners. Conversely, burdensome or poorly explained steps might discourage participation and complicate the application process.
In summary, while the document outlines an important facet of bureaucratic process improvement, key clarifications and process efficiencies could make a substantial difference in stakeholder engagement and program success. Public contributions during the comment period are essential to refining these proposals and ensuring they meet the needs of affected individuals effictively.
Issues
• The document does not provide sufficient justification for the necessity of the information collection, making it difficult to evaluate if it is essential for the proper functions of the Department.
• The estimation of an average response time of 2.75 hours per respondent may require further clarification and justification, including the methodology used to arrive at this figure.
• The document does not explain how the collected information will specifically enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the professional development fellowship program.
• The process for submitting comments via email could be streamlined or clarified, particularly regarding the necessity and format for including DS form number, information collection title, and OMB control number in the email subject line.
• The potential burden on respondents could be reduced by exploring more modern or efficient application submission methods beyond email, such as an online portal.
• The legal references (22 U.S.C 2651a and 22 U.S.C 3921) provided are cited without explanation of their relevance to the information collection, which could lead to ambiguity for readers unfamiliar with these statutes.