Transcript What is an NPRM? And why should I be concerned about it?

Federal Regulations and You
NYSFAAA Conference
October 20, 2010
Presentors
• Irv Bodofsky
– SUNY Upstate Medical University, Emeritus
• Dan Hunter
– Buffalo State College, Emeritus
• Mike McGraw
– Tompkins Cortland Community College, Emeritus
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The Hierarchy of Legal Authority
• Statute
• Regulations
• Sub regulatory guidance
– Federal Student Aid Handbook
– Dear Colleague Letters
–Q&A
– Emails, letters, etc.
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Why be concerned about regulations?
• FA handbook is ED’s interpretation. You may
have a different interpretation.
• Only way to understand what you really can
and cannot do under the law.
• Professional Responsibility.
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Why Create Regulations?
• To implement legislation
– Defines how to comply with the law
– Some legislation is considered to be selfimplementing. Appropriations, for example.
– Sometimes Congress makes certain things off
limits. PJ, for example.
• To solve problems that come to the attention
of the Department of Ed.
– Example, regulations expected November 1
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Negotiated Rulemaking
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What is it?
Authorization
Who can participate?
Protocols
– Consensus
– Failure to achieve consenus
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Negotiated Rulemaking
• Goal is to produce an NPRM
• Notice of Proposed Rule Making
• A formal notice to the public by a government
agency that they intend to create new
regulations or modify already existing
regulations.
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READING & RESPONDING
TO AN NPRM
Or,
How Not to Fall Asleep
THE INTRODUCTION
• Summary
• Dates
• Addresses
• Further Information
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
• The most important part
• Recap of NegReg process and
participants
• Explanation of each major proposal, and
the justification for it.
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Additional Sections
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Proposed Regulations
Reasons
Costs and Benefits
Clarity of Regulations
Regulatory Flexibitily
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
Invitation to Comment
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Master Calendar
Effective Dates
• New regulations effective at the beginning of
the next academic year (July 1)
• Final regs must be published by November 1,
• If not published by November 1, not effective
until the following year.
• 45 day emergency implementation
• Early implementation if deemed
advantageous to schools and specifically
permitted.
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GENERAL RULES
FOR RESPONDING
• Keep it short
• Explain who you are, and why you are
responding
• Submit by the deadline
• Constructive criticism
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GENERAL RULES
FOR RESPONDING
• What Counts?
– Numbers - Associations are only one response
– Content - a good argument can make the point
• What to say?
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If you agree, say so, if you disagree, why?
Is their reason valid?
Are there alternatives?
Is the proposed language clear?
Use examples of how students will be impacted
• Copy FA Associations and your boss!
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Handling Responses
• Yes, the Department staff reads every letter and
every comment that is received.
• Comments are broken down by the section of
the regulation that they apply to, and each is
reviewed.
• A response is drafted for each comment.
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Final Regulations
Or,
Where the Rubber Meets the Road
What to look for
• Introduction
• Analysis of public comments and changes
• Regulatory language
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Sources of Information
• NASFAA, NYSFAAA, EASFAA
• State agencies
• Other associations (NACUBO)
• Media (Chronicle, Insider Higher Ed)
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Compilations of Regs
• NASFAA – need to be a member
• IFAP –
– Under laws and regulations
– Only from 2008
– Or GPO compliation, but compiliations don’t have
preamble, etc. Which is why people like George
save a paper or electronic copy.
• http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/
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A FAMILIAR TOPIC
•Draft of FAFSA for 2011-2012
•Request for comments
•Here is a chance to make a
difference
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Summary
Deadline Dates
Where to
send
response
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FAFSA Forms
affected by
proposed
changes
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Very interesting
In case you
wanted to
know
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The End
How to get copies
of the FAFSA
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NASFAA’S SUMMARY OF CHANGES
• Colors are different
• Design consistent with 2010-2011
• New Question #27 for applicants who indicate
they have a high school diploma. What is the
name of the high school where you or will
receive high school diploma. Write in the
name of high school and the city and state.
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Dropped
enrollment
status
formerly
Question. #30
The word “loan”
was taken out
of the sentence.
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NASFAA’S
SUMMARY OF CHANGES
• Review the Summary of Changes
• A number of questions have been re-worded
• For example:
• #17, – Month and year you were married;
remarried, separated, divorced or widowed
• #60 (2010-11), #59 (2011-12) same change
• May agree with the change, if you do, say that
you agree in your letter
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SEND COMMENTS
• Electronically:
• [email protected]
• Copy to:
• [email protected]
• By Mail:
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue SW,LBJ
Washington, D.C. 20202-4537
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Questions??
• We hope that this presentation gives you
some ideas on how to prepare for and
respond to NPRMs and read final regulations.
• Please consider taking a moment or two to
prepare and send a response to the FAFSA
Notice of Proposed Information Collection.
• Thank You.
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