FR 2024-30492

The document under review is a notice from the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) of the Department of Veterans Affairs, outlining a new collection of information required from potential employees or volunteers. This collection process aims to assess candidates' eligibility for employment and for access to VBA systems, using VA Form 20-10276a. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will evaluate this information collection procedure, inviting public comments within 30 days of publication. The notice anticipates that it will take around 10 minutes for each of the projected 10,000 respondents to complete the information collection, accumulating an annual burden of about 2,167 hours.

Summary of the Document

The primary purpose of the document is to announce the VBA's intent to collect information necessary for conducting background investigations on individuals applying to work or volunteer at VBA. This process is in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ensuring that all necessary procedural steps are followed before implementing such information collection initiatives. The document also provides basic information about how the public can participate in the review process by submitting comments through the OMB's platform.

Significant Issues and Concerns

A significant concern regarding the document is its lack of transparency concerning the expected costs associated with the information collection process. While the document mentions an estimated burden in hours, it omits any mention of financial costs, which could be important for evaluating the practicality and efficiency of this procedure. Additionally, the document uses technical terms and references, such as "PRA submission" and "OMB Control No. 2900-0915," which may not be easily understood by the general public without further explanation.

Another point of confusion is the clarity on the timeframe for public comment. The document mentions a 30-day period but does not provide an exact deadline date, which might cause misunderstandings about when the comment period ends. Similarly, instructions for submitting comments on the OMB website could be more detailed to assist those who might find the process complex or unfamiliar.

Broad Public Impact

For the general public, this document signals a proactive step taken by the VBA to adhere to federal regulations in ensuring a secure and well-evaluated recruitment process. By inviting public comments, the VBA shows a commitment to transparency and oversight, potentially leading to a more robust public trust. However, the lack of clarity and specificity in certain areas might hinder meaningful public engagement or leave stakeholders unsure about the process or its implications.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

For potential applicants—either contractors or volunteers—this document indicates an additional step in the application process that could be seen as both positive and negative. On one hand, it ensures that only eligible and thoroughly vetted individuals access VBA systems and positions. On the other hand, the additional paperwork and time for background checks could be viewed as burdensome or discourage applications, especially if the logistics or implications are not made clear.

Moreover, without transparent details about how individual data will be handled, stored, or potentially shared, applicants might have privacy concerns. Ultimately, the document could benefit from more explicit explanations of these processes, as well as reassurances regarding data protection and applicant rights, which would likely make the procedure more acceptable and comprehensible to those it directly affects.